Abstract:

In India the family Araceae is represented by 29 genera and sbout l50 pecies. In Western Ghats, there are about 50 species beloning to l8 genera of which 35 species are endemic. one or the other member of the family is found in flOwering state in a given month of the year. The mimbers show pe variations with refernce to vegetative and reproductive growth, bloonming time and spadix architecture. While Amorphophallus sPP., saurmatum pedatum, Remusatia vivipara are hysteranthus; Ariopsis eltata, Arisaema sPP., Theriophonum dalzellii, and Typhonium spp. are synanthus; whereas Cryptocoryne spp. show intermedi-ate Stages and Lagenandra ovata, Pistia stratiotes, Pothos scandens and Rhaphidophora spp. are leafy through year with fixed flowering season. The present Study reveals the influence Of climatic factor on the development of distinct morphological and phe-nological adaptive strategies in Araceae of Westen Ghats.

Key words: Phenological adaptation, spadix architecture, Araceae, Western Ghats.