Stages | Average duration from bud initiation in days (June–October) | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
1st flower bud initiation | 0 days | Flower bud is enclosed by fused hairy three tepals, brownish in colour |
Tepal removal | 17.5 ± 1.5 days | Tepals were shed naturally; candle-shaped crimson white flower bud left |
First flower opening | 22 ± 1 days | Petals become enlarged; cup-shape corolla, candle-shaped stigma is visible |
Stigma receptivity | 22 ± 1 days | Stigma is whitish in colour; curved shape, high starch content |
Flower closing | 22 ± 1 days | Flower completely closed |
Floral visitors availability | 22 ± 1 days | Bees, beetles and thrips are dominant |
Second flower opening | 23 ± 1 days | Stigma contains ample amount of secretory substance, yellowish in colour |
Anther dehiscence | 23 ± 1 days | Anthers start to dehisce from periphery |
Petals begin to drop | 27 ± 1 days | Petals start to decay and turn darkish yellowish in colour; stigma turned darkish; retained the remnants of stamen attachment below the candle-shaped stigma |
Fruit formation | 41 ± 1 days | Swelling of the candle-shaped stalk of stigma |
Fruits start to dehisce | 75 ± 1 days | Dehiscence start from the tip of the fruit; fruit is green to reddish in colour |