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@article{186729,
        author = {Dr.R.Sreebha},
        title = {Floral Ecology and Apicultural Potential of Coral Vine (Antigonon leptopus) in Southern Tamil Nadu},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {6},
        pages = {3095-3097},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=186729},
        abstract = {The Coral Vine or Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn., family Polygonaceae, is a perennial, herbaceous, fast-growing climber, native to Mexico and now widely naturalised in tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is characterised by slender twining stems with tendrils, heart- to arrow-shaped leaves and showy racemes of bright pink or white flowers where the sepals are petaloid and vivid. The small actual flowers are pentamerous, with showy persistent sepals and produce pollen and nectar attractive to foraging insects. Field surveys along the Churulacode roadside, near the Perunchani reservoir in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, documented a stand of this vine established for approximately five decades, flowering almost year-round in the roadside fences. Observations revealed frequent honey-bee (Apis spp.) foraging, occasional humming-moth visits, and rare butterfly visits; no bird-pollinator visits were recorded. A veteran apiculturist, Mr. H. Jeyapaul, age 80, 65 years’ experience, endorsed the species for bee forage due to its reliable pollen availability. The vine also thrives in disturbed and moderately polluted environments. Given its durable growth habit, continuous flowering and attractiveness to bees, A. leptopus is strongly recommended as a companion plant for apiculture and pollinator-support plantings in southern Tamil Nadu.},
        keywords = {Antigonon leptopus, Coral Vine, Polygonaceae, pollen source, apiculture, honey-bee foraging, perennial flowering vine, Kanyakumari},
        month = {November},
        }