Abstract
The average annual temperatures are gradually increasing over time since few decades. This has led to global warming and change in climate. The increase in temperature has not only affected the humans but the flora too. In many flowering plants the temperature has altered the phenology (timing) of flowering, example Cassia fistula, Samanea saman, Delonix regia etc. An attempt is made to investigate the tree Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. commonly known as Gulmohar. It is monitored for its flowering time since 2016 to 2019. The area selected for study was Bhayandar, Mira road, Andheri and Vile Parle in Mumbai. The data obtained was further analyzed with the literature from different Flora’s and research papers. The actual flowering time according to the old literature was April to June. Since few years it has been observed that Gulmohar flowered twice i.e. October to December and also April to June. The amount of flowers bloomed during October – December was scanty while mass bloom was witnessed during April to June. The phenology of flowering has shifted earlier in response to warming during October – December. The shift in the timing of flowering may have resulted in reproductive failure in the plant. This behaviour of plants is of great concern. More broadly it is important to mitigate climate change by controlling global warming in order to conserve the D. regia trees. It can be used as bio indicator stating the climate change in Mumbai.
Highlights
Our mother earth has experienced a constant climate change
Studies on phenological response of plants to climate change in an urban environment is done with respect to ecosystem (8)
Current study is an attempt made to know the impact of climate change on the phenology of D. regia
Summary
Our mother earth has experienced a constant climate change. It has affected mankind and the flora and fauna. For example in Nigeria phenological study of Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. was recorded (7). Due to climate change there is an increase in temperature during past several decades (13) This has affected the phenology (timing) of flowering, in many trees such as Cassia fistula, Samanea saman, D. regia etc. Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. belongs to family Caesalpiniaceae and is commonly known as Gulmohar (14). It is a large deciduous street tree of India, native to Madagascar. The Gulmohar was discovered by Botanist Wensel Bojer in 19th Century It is a multipurpose tree planted on eroded sites for erosion control and for soil rehabilitation. This shift of flowering in Gulmohar is of great concern with respect to the ecosystem
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