Michelia champaca, Linn.
(Syn. M. aurantiaca)
Family : Magnoliaceae
Common Name : Champ
Telugu Name : Champakamu, Sampenga
General :
A beautiful tree frequently cultivated around temples and gardens. It occurs on deep moist, well drained good quality soil. Identified by grey bark, straight bole, convolute bud, dark shining lanceolate leaves.
Flowering :
Yellow flowers appear from April and thereafter at intervals.
Fruiting :
Fruits ripen in August to September.
Seed Collection and Storage :
Greyish brown ripe fruits are collected from the trees in August to September, heaped in the shade for 2-3 days till they open completely and then the seeds are removed by gentle beating and washing out the red pulp. Seeds are dried under shade. Seeds lose the viability rapidly.
Seed Biology :
No. of seeds per Kg.
Germination percentage (fresh seeds)
Plant percent
Time taken for germination in days
No. of seedlings per Kg. of seed
14,320 to 17,290
70 to 80
40
10 to 14
1430 to 2400
Pretreatment :
Not required.
Nurswery Technique :

Seed mixed with red lead are broadcasted over shaded primary beds covered with thin layers of soil in August to Spetember. 5 to 7 cm tall seedlings are pricked out in the polybags. Growth of t he seedlings in the nursery is very fast and so watering should be controlled after germination.