Seed germination behaviour of Terminalia paniculata Roth (Combretaceae), an economically important endemic tree to peninsular India

Terminalia L. (Combretaceae), commercially important taxa with winged fruits, is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions mainly in semi-evergreen, dry and moist deciduous forests. It is well known for its timber and traditional medicinal uses. Sixteen species of Terminalia were reported from India, and among them 12 species from mainland including 2 exotics, 4 from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India (Gangopadhyay & Chakrabarty, 1997). Terminalia paniculata Roth is one of the multipurpose tree species endemic to Peninsular India and is distributed in Karnataka and Kerala. Massive fruiting in the deep red color of the species during the summer gives red coloration to the canopy and which leads the naming Flowering Murdah (Figure 1). Normally the tree grows up to 30 m height and more than 2.50 m diameters at breast height and distribution ranged from 8001200 MSL (Pillai, 2017). Wood is commonly used for construction, agricultural implements, boat building, plywood, blackboards, packing cases, and non-wood products are used for drug preparation, tannins, gums, oils, fodder and certain organic compounds (Narayanan et al., 2011; Nazma et al., 1981; Trotter, 1959). FAO, Botanical Garden Conservation International and several other agencies listed T. paniculata as one of the common commercially important tree species in India (FAO, 1984; Mark et al., 2014; Nair, 1971; Nazma et al., 1981; Trotter, 1959).