Phenological attributes of Ajuga bracteosa: an unusual case from Kashmir Himalaya.

There is a general belief among the ecologists that the high altitude flowering plants attain their blooming peak during short growing season and exhibit synchronous flowering. We made observations on the phenology of a common roadside herb Ajuga bracteosa in Kashmir Himalaya during April to December 2012. Unlike most of the angiosperms in Kashmir, this species had bimodal amplitude and relatively low flowering synchrony. The total flowering duration was divisible into three phases i.e., first peak, lull, and second peak. The species exhibited a prolonged flowering episode which lasted for about 23 - 26 weeks. The mean flower longevity was 5.8 days. In addition to longer flowering durations, individual plants also had more evenly distributed amplitude. Fruit set ranged from 85% to 92%. These traits make A. bracteosa much more adaptive and allows it to grow in a wide range of habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]