POLLINATION BIOLOGY AND FERTILIZATION IN SANTALUM-ALBUM L (SANTALACEAE)

Studies have revealed that flowers of Santalum album are self incompatible and are strictly adapted for cross Pollination by insects. Commonest pollinators include flies (Phytomia argyrocephala, Eristalinus arvorum, Dolichomerus crassa) and bees (Apis florea, A. cerana, A. dorsata), which visit the flowers for the nectar available in a cup-like disc. The freshly opened dull green flowers and 1-day old pale pink flowers are receptive to pollination while 2-day old red and dark red flowers show fertilization stages. It has been possible to dissect out and photograph for the first time the extra-micropylar fertilization stages in sandal.