''Lagerstroemia microcarpa'' is a flowering tree that is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the Western Ghats mountain range, located in southwestern India.

Description

The tree grows more than tall. It is easily distinguishable by its smooth white bark that peels off in large papery flakes. In the Western Ghats it naturally occurs in moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, usually in openings. It is a light demanding tree in the later stages of its life. It has beautiful white flowers as well. Even though in the natural forests enormous specimens of ''Lagerstroemia microcarpa'' are abundant, seedlings are usually absent. As per KFRI's research, every year this tree is known to produce millions of seeds out of which very few to none germinate on account of the non-viability of majority of seeds (due to the lack of a viable embryo, except rarely) and also the gap between seed dispersal and the rainy season. KFRI also found that the rate of natural regeneration is adversely affected by forest fire. Assisted germination using

vermiculite Vermiculite is a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral which undergoes significant expansion when heated. Exfoliation occurs when the mineral is heated sufficiently; commercial furnaces can routinely produce this effect. Vermiculite forms by the weathe ...

or foam sheet have been found to give fairly reasonable germination percentages. Such trials may need to be conducted in the future to prevent the disappearance of this species from the forests.

Gallery

File:Lagerstroemia Microcarpa tree.jpg, Tree File:Lagerstroemia microcarpa 3.jpg, Bark File:Lagerstroemia microcarpa seed germinating 04.jpg, Germinating seed File:മുളച്ച വെൺതേക്കിൻ്റെ വിത്ത് (Lagerstroemia microcarpa germinated seedling plucked from germination medium) 01.jpg, Seedling with seed coat File:Lagerstroemia microcarpa seedlings - വെൺതേക്കിൻ്റെ ചെറിയ തൈകൾ 6.jpg, Seedlings with cotyledon File:Lagerstroemia microcarpa seedling വെൺതേക്കിൻ്റെ തൈ 07.jpg, Seedling

References

microcarpa Endemic flora of the Western Ghats {{Myrtales-stub