REPRODUCTION PHENOLOGY OF Hydriastele beguinii (Buret) W.J. Baker & Loo IN BOGOR BOTANIC GARDENS

Abstract

Hydriastele beguinii (Burret) W.J. Baker & Loo is an endemic palm from Moluccas Island. The palm is commonly used as an ornamental plant because of its unique characteristics. Reproduction is an important part of plant life’s cycles to maintain and sustain their existence. The reproduction ability of H. beguinii is relatively low in its natural habitat, therefore studies on its reproduction aspect are required. The main objective of this study is to assess reproduction phenology of three living collections of H. beguinii at Bogor Botanic Gardens. Three individuals of H. beguinii at initiation phase were selected. There are several main observations that were carried out on this study, namely the duration of every phase, the morphological changes in every phase, the biotic and abiotic factors that affect reproduction phenology of H. beguinii . According to the observation, the initiation phase took 12-16 days, bud towards anthesis phase took 8-10 days, anthesis phase took 14-16 days, and young fruits to maturity phase took 110-124 days. The result of this study showed that each of reproduction phenology phase has a different time period and morphological changes. In addition, reproduction phenology phases were not directly affected by abiotic factors. Trigona laevicep was an insect visitor that was suspected as a pollinator of H . beguinii .