Reproductive ecology and conservation prospects of a threatened medicinal plant Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. in Nepal

Lack of biological information is a major constraint to the development of the medicinal plant sector in Nepal. We monitored phenology, population structure, and regeneration strategies of Curculigo orchioides, a threatened medicinal herb of tropical to subtropical Asia, for 1 year at five sites in the inner Terai, Central Nepal. Only 20 - 26 % of mature individuals were in the reproductive phase during the phenologically most active months (June - July), and about 55 % of flowering individuals developed fruits. Soil moisture, stored reserves, and biotic pressure appeared to govern phenological patterns. Fruiting frequency was high under conditions of a partially open canopy and a thin litter layer. Seeds showed physiological dormancy and germinated 10 - 12 months after dispersal in natural habitats. Clonal propagation from leaves was induced by mild mechanical damage, high soil moisture, and humidity. Low regenerative potential through sexual reproduction and high vulnerability to habitat disturbance appear to be the major constraints to maintaining natural populations of C. orchioides.