Gmelina arborea, Linn. |
Family : Verbenaceae |
Common Name : Gamhar |
Telugu Name : Gummudu, Gumuidu-teku |
General :
It is found throughout the state mainly in deciduous forests but never occurs gregariously. Identified by light grey bark, broad-ovate acuminate leaves with cordate base and presence of 2 to 4 shining prominent glands on the under surface of the leaves between the primary nerves. It shows preference for fertile, deep, well drained, sandy loam soils in moist valleys.
Flowering :
The panicle of yellow tubular flowers appear from February to March when the tree is leafless. |
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Fruiting : |
Fruits ripen from the end of April to June. |
Morphology of the Fruit / Seed : |
Fruit is ovoid, yellow, succulent drupe, 1.8 to 2.5 cms long, having a sweetish pulp and enclosing a hard bony stone. The stone is 1.5 to 1.8 cms long, ovoid, pointed at one end, usually 2-seeded. |
Seed collection and Storage : |
Ripe brown fruits are collected from April to June from the ground, duly rejecting the green and black ones. Fruits are heaped under or buried in a pit for 4 to 5 days and then washed to remove the pulp. Although seeds can be stored for one year with slight decrease in viability, it is advised to use the fresh seeds. |
Seed Biology : |
No. of depulped seeds per Kg. |
Germination percentage |
Plant percent |
Period of germination in days |
2500 |
13 to 90 |
30 to |
15 to 21 |
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Pretreatment : |
Pretreatment of seeds not necessary. Pre-germination in damp sand is sometimes practised. |
Nursery Technique : |
Seed is dibbled to a depth of 2 cms in the soil of polybags in June to July. Considerable amount of heat and moisture is needed to stimulate the germination and so the beds are covered with a layer of hay. The growth of the taproot is slow. |