Abstract

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. is a rare and endemic medicinal plant locally known as “Maramanjal” belonging to the family Menispermaceae. Due to its high economic and medicinal value, the species is overexploited from the wild and it is very rare and need high conservation value. The species is under severe threat due to several reasons including its reproductive inefficiency. The present study aimed to analyze the seed biological characters and germination rate in the natural as well as in the laboratory condition. The fresh seeds showed 65% viability and 28% germinability. But the seeds pretreated with GA_3­ (1000-4000 ppm) showed 55 to 70% germinability and 79% of the seed germination observed after 6 months.

Key words: Coscinium fenestratum, endangered, medicinal plant Seed biology, Western Ghats.