Many thanks Viplav for sharing this excellent set of photographs and delightful information.
-- Regards, Sonia Chauhan On Sunday, August 19, 2012 7:27:09 PM UTC+5:30, vip...@gmail.com wrote: > > Sharing some pictures of a Kair tree [*Capparis decidua*] from East > Kachchh. Usually, it is very common as a spiny bush in the dry region of > Vagad, East Kachchh. > > Had clicked these pictures on the 3rd of August, 2012 while wayfaring > through Suvai, East Kachchh. The rains have eluded Kachchh this year but > Kair was flowering and fruiting with impelling vigour, I suppose this can > be attributed to the amazing survival strategies of this xerophyte in the > extreme conditions of an arid biotope. > > In a very interesting paper on this plant, Dheeraj Singh & Ranjit Singh > have indicated that being an excellent "climate change indicator" in the > dry parts of Western India, "Kair will be fully laden with flowers and > fruits if there are drought and high temperatures, whereas in the case of a > good monsoon, it bears only average flowers and fruits ... It seems > paradoxical that plants should produce flowers and fruits during the driest > period when there is maximum water stress. But a close inspection will > reveal that this is an important adaptation for continuity of > the populations. By producing flowers about 1-2 months before the rainy > season the species ensures that the seeds are already in the ground when > the rainy season begins. The plant can afford this behaviour because of its > ability to draw moisture from deeper soil layers." > > Have also attached the PDF file of this paper for those interested. > > Best wishes, Viplav > --
