FLORISTIC, PHENOLOGICAL AND LIFE FORM SPECTRUM ANALYSIS IN VILATHIVILAI AREA, KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, S. INDIA

Floristic composition, phenological and life form analysis of Vilathivilai, Pazhavilai was studied from August 2012 to January 2013.
A total of 60 plant species belonging to 32 families were recorded during the present course of study. Life form spectrum revealed the
dominance of Threophytes (78.3%) and these were followed by Chameophytes (8.3%), Geophytes (5%), Phenorophytes (5%) and
Hemicryptophytes (3.3%). Therophytes were found higher than the normal biological spectrum which indicated that study area is
under biotic pressure. The phenological data of the study area revealed that just on the set of early monsoon shower in the last week
of October and November resulted in the growth of new seedlings. During the post summer season and in the early monsoon, the
study area became green and the area was covered by vegetation. Most of the phenological events in the observed plants are induced
by photo period and temperature. This information may be used as base line for further evaluation of phenological variations in
response of the climate change.