Autecology of Tecomella undulata (Roxb.) Seem. in southern Iran

This study aimed to identify the silvicultural characteristics, geological structure, soil and climatic characteristics, and to form a table for the ecological needs of the Tecomella undulata (Roxb.) Seem.. Six T. undulata habitats in southern Iran were selected following specification of their range of occurrence. The results indicated the distribution of T. undulata in warm and southern Iran, from the coast of Persian Gulf at a height of 10 meters a.s.l in Moqdan (Bushehr) to 1612 meters a.s.l in Esfandaghe (Jiroft). Annual rainfall of the study area is 100 to 200 mm with an average annual temperature of 5 to 50 °C. The habitats had mostly light to moderate and more sandy to loamy sandy soil texture with low water storage capacity. The soil was rich in potassium, yet very poor in nitrogen and organic matter, the average acidity of saturated sand was 7 to 8 and its conductivity was 0.5 mm/m, which predominantly lie on sediments of the Quaternary and Tertiary periods. The average density of T. undulata per ha in the six habitats was 75. In addition, results showed the maximum height of 10.2 m and the mean diameter of 47.35 cm. The mean canopy area was 13.2 m2 (ranging between 1 and 20.5 m2). The flowering stage of T. undulata species usually starts in late march to the middle of May. Furthermore, seed ripening occurs in late June and early May in the habitats associated with the best acorn production (Dasht-e kooch- Jiroft).  Natural propagation of T. undulata is carried out through the seeds and roots sprouts. The results of this study provided useful information about autecology of T. undulata.