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2013) PRASAD : ANEW VARIETY OF CYPERUS PACHYRHIZUS st NELUMBO 55:51-54,2015 ISSN 0976 5068 ‘ANEW VARIETY OF CYPERUS PACHYRHIZUS FROM LAKSHADWEEP, INDIA. VB PRs (Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India "PO. Botanic Garden, Howrah-711103, Inia E-mail: prasad [email protected] ABSTRACT Cyperus pachyrhicus var. umetis described sa new variety fom Inia. Theifrence between this andthe typical C.paclyrhius is explained and a detailed description of the new varity is provided along ‘withinformationon the habitat and distbuton. Thedflerenoebetween the closely related conglomeras snd pachyrhizsisalso explained. Keywords. Cyperus, new variety, Lakshadweep ‘While revising the genus Cyperus L. for the flora of Indi, few interesting specimens fom Lakshadweep ‘were found in CAL, Howrah. The oldest collection ofthese sedge specimens ae of greathstorcal valueas these were collected in 1875 by Allan Octavian Hume, a versatile personality, civil service oficer, politcal reformer, ‘naturalist and horticulturist of British Inia. A detailed stad ofthe specimens revealed that these canbe treated asa distinct variety of Cyperus pachyrhizus Nees ex Boeckeler because ofthe difference between this and the typical C packyrhizus. Hume's collection was originally identified as C. pallidus Heyne but later on C.B. Clarke corrected the identity a C.pachyrhicus Nees, Wadood Khan tentatively identified it as C. conglomerarus Rot subsp. conglomerats. However, the plant is allied to C, pachyrhizus and cannot be treated as an intraspecific taxon of C. conglomeratus merely because of the presence of rays inthe inflorescence. Most vegetative and. ‘oral characters match with that of C.pachyrhicus, anit grows in similar habitats, on sandy seashore. Also the specimens in question were collected from within the distribution range of C. pachyrhisus. In CAL there are specimens from Gujarat coast that are wrongly identified as C. pachyrhicus. These Gujarat specimens can be treated as a variant of C. conglomeratus or as different taxon allied toi. The report of C.pachyrhizus fom Pakistan (Kukkonen, 2001) also need to be verified, because C.pachyrhizus has limited distribution range along. the coastline of Sr Lanka and souther Inia (including the Lakshadweep), extending to Male and Sychelles. It thas been observed that C. conglomeratus is not distributed slong the coastal areas of southern India oF Lakshadweep, but restricted to the North-Westem region (Rajasthan and Gujarat), The Punjab specimens identified as C. conglomeratusinCAL are actually C.atkinsoniiC:B, Clatke, Purther, itis clarified that considering the differences between typical C.conglomeratus and C.pachyrhicus it is prefered here to teat the later as a distinct species as done by Clarke (1893), Fischer (1931) and Karthikeyan & a, (1989), notas a subspecies as treated by Koyama (1980, 1980a) and Govaerts & al, (2007). ‘The Lakshadweep specimens show the characters of C. pachyrhicus, but vary mainly in the nature of inflorescence. The differences foundareshownin thetablebelow. Based onthe above differences the plant collected by A.O. Hume from Lakshadweep and a few other later collections is deserbed here as anew variety. Images ofthe Isotype of Cyperus packyrhizus Nees ex Bocckeler (Barcode: KO00592544) and Holotype (Ace. No. 562673) of the new variety (CAL) are provided for a comparison (Plat 1). Inthe protologue of Cyperus pachyrhizus, Boeckler (1868) has clearly mentioned that ‘captuloslitario' and this is corectin all the specimens from the southern coast ofthe mainland India Sri Lanka and Maldives. The umbellat inflorescence was found only in the Lakshadweep specimens, nowhere else. It is worth mentioning ‘hatumbellate inflorescence is found in the allied species, C. conglomeratus which is restricted tothe sandy arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Pakistan and tropical A‘rica. But C: pachyrhizus including the proposed new varity) can easily be differentiated from C. conglomeranus mainly by the nut characters (Plat 2). In Da ofpbtewin 30 Deonbe, 2013 Rese OPOT2013 + Ae 30042013 ‘© Savy on 2013 82 NELUMBO vols ‘Table 1: Ditterenoes between Cyperus paclyrieus and the specimens fom Lakshadweep ‘Cyperus pachyrhizus Nees Lakshadweep specimensbyA.O. Hume exBocekeler (Ace. No, 562673 and 562676, Stems 2-3mmithick 3.5- Smmthick Inflorescence Asinglegloboseheadof spikelets, Umbellatewith 4-5 globose heads, 2-4 Semacross. 5-Semacross. Rays Absent 45 CC pachyrhicus the nuts flat on the ventral surface and smaller in size (1.7 -2eumlong), butin the later the nuts rather thin, prominently concave on the ventral surface with both sides curved inward and bigger in size 2 - 2.2mm long). Also in C.conglomeratus plants are smaller, upto SOem high and the spikes with less spikelets (4- 2013) PRASAD : ANEW VARIETY OF CYPERUS PAGHYRHIZUS 8 13), In C. pachyrhicus plants are stout, up to around “oem high and the spikes with many t0 numerous spikes (apt 38inthe proposed new variety) Cyperus pacyrias var homed VP. Pass \ Type : India: Lakshadweep Union Teritory, Bangaroo (Bangaram Island), 4.0. Hume .n (Ace. No. 862673), 20 -2 - 18754lolo : CAL: Ace. No. ‘ 4 562676 othe same gathering isslected asthe Isotype a: Yn ts ti at of: Cpe cngmene CAL Tas Cpa Nt ce So cee ems Tuned perennial with ik ascending time, 35 «Tem highs Roots wooly (with entangled sand particles oni), Stems cbs tigonoos,35Smm hick. Lever mod shore, bt fo exceeding te stm Carlctt, oe scabrous on the mais toward the bes; sheaths papery on te mara purplish Won towards th base. norescenceumbelat, with spss crowded on loose heads atthe tip of 4 Sry 5 Semasos Rays 1.3-Sem long. nol rcs 3-4; the lowest up fo em lon. Spies pobose, 23 em across, closely packed with 28 - 38 spikelets. Spikelets oblong-lanceolate, acute at apex,10-12 x 3 - 3.5mm, compressa bt oem sight baled long theming, 18-20. lowered. Racha wingesy, with am lng internodes. Glumes ovate, mucronate at apex, c. 4.5 x 2.2mm, with brownish streaks on both sides, hyaline at the ‘margins; nerves 3 - 4 on both sides; mid-nerve passing into a keel; keel prominent in the upper half, gradually tapering tno « prominent mmc. Somers 3y femoris wp to Adem long, sndiss tear cong €.2Smmlong, wt promincat conective appendage a epex. Spec. nm log tips, p02 Song. Nut Plnoconvex, wth an nconpiovus engl nthe dor sre anda ental sre, lipo 1.7 Oi, minty opiate a be aha open shining black when mate Fl & Fras: December Api Heabat:SeashortTsans with sandy si Distrib: Endemic Lakshadweep Specimens examined (other than the type) : Lakshadweep: Betra par (Bitra Island), A.O. Hume s.n. 1875 (CAL); Kalpatti Island, B.M. Wadhwa 48976, 23-2-1959 (CAL); Kalpatti, K.S. Srinivasan s.n., 23-2-1959 (CAL) Aga sand, Wah 65904, 1-12-1960 (CAL); Kana, M.Saniapa 20, an, 2008 (CAL) Kadina, Lalshminarasimhen $4213, 2-4.2008(CAL). Consersaton tans Not assee, However, considering he mb of specimens vial in CAL ts sumed tates isn immeiat teat eapecis, ‘Etymology : The plant is named in honour of Allan Octavian Hume for his contributions in Indian natural bison. Asa natural beset is, He abo collected plant specnens from the bet Isiands of Latshadwocp. Moree ype specnensofthe new variate wer collected by him. Note:The pith pachyhzs i ofen spel as pachyrrhizs at seis lvel or as infapeii taxon However, inthe protologue (Boeckeler,c.), the spellings packyrhizus and hence, that has tobe followed. [ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘The autor is gf to the Dieter, Botanical Survey of India, Kalina andthe Head of Ofc, CAL, Howrah forthe fits, Tanks re defo the Director and Board of Tastes, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ‘UK forthe ind pein to repodice an age ofthe lsotype of Cypess pach Nes ex Becket (Barcode: K000392544, Thanks re doo Dr. V3. Nat, forme it Director, MI, Coimbatore forbs opinion shout nsningofthonw variety. Thanks ral duct Mt Ansnd Kuma, Botniea Astin, oti Survey ofa KolitforscnningtbeCAL. specie se NELUMBO vols [REFERENCES ‘Boeke, 0, 1868. Cyperaceen ds Koniglichen, Hebarlms zu Belin.n Linnoea 38545 (CLAMKE, CB. 1893. Cyperacee In: JD. Hooker, FloraafBrish India Vl.6:p, 603. London. isc, CE.C:1931 Cyperacea in: Gamble, Flora ofthe Presidency Madras Pt 9. p. 1640. (vol. 3.p. 1140. 1957, rep. ot), London. Govasrs, R, SMUSON, D. A, BRLML, J, EOOKOVA, T, GOETOUEBEUR, Pe WILSON, K. 2007. World Checks of (Cyperaceae 311, Roya Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. KARTIKEYAN, S, JAI, SK, NAYAR,M.P.& SANAPPA, M 1989. ForaeIndicaeEnumeratio: Monoconledonae p46. ‘Botanical Survey nda, Kokstad. ‘KUKKONEN, T2001 n All SL & M. Quis (Eds) Flora of Pakistan No, 206.126. Univesity of Karachi, Karachi & ‘MissouBotanical garda, Missouri, USA, KovAMA, 1980. Further Notes onthe Cyperaceac of Ceylon, Bot. Mag (Toyo) 93:34, 1980a. In Dassanayake & Fsberg (Ed). ARevised Handbook tothe Floraof Ceylon vol. $,p.211 ards, aren & arate rego a Ue aT TE ao 90 arc area 8 ite Seo A ange Geogr ae Bh ar ahs Pear rar Bi gett argder are a eT re ee A TT a eT aL ger Re a ee eee eT eee OPrergrreT tee ot eee PRA a BL