Does Achyranthes Bidendata Blume (Amaranthaceae) Occur in Andaman & Nicobar Islands?

2009·1.2 MB·

by  L Rasingam

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Ecology:The speciesgrowsonleaflitteras wellason depends on its association with mycorrhizal fungi for
the roots of Quercus spp. and the members of Family nutrition, whichinturn are usually associated withthe roots
LauraceaesuchasCinnamomunglanduliferum(Wall)Meissn of selected tree species. The survival and reproduction of
andPerseaodoratissima(Nees)Kosterm.Thefungalspecies M. hypopitys seems to be extremely sensitive to forest
that had mycorrhizal association with M. hypopitys were microenvironment that encourages the mycorrhizal
Russula lepida Fr., Boletus luteus L., B. edulis Bull, and association between the angiosperm tree roots and fungi.
Tricholoma saponaceum (Fr.) P. Kumm. The other fungal Thus, the protection ofthe habitat holds key to the species
speciespresentinthelitterwereSclerodermaaurantium(L.) conservation.
Pers,Amanitaphalloides(Vaillex.Fr.)LinkandHygrophorus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
limacinus Kalchbr.
Distribution: China, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand,
Russia, Pakistan, Europe, North America, Mexico and WethanktheDirectoroftheBotanicalSurveyofIndia,
India. Eastern Circle, Shillong, for allowing us to consult the
Threatstatus: FollowingIUCNclassificationscheme herbaria and identify the species. The second, third, fourth,
Version 3.1 (2001), the species is assigned to the category fifthandseventhauthorgratefullyacknowledgetheUniversity
‘Criticallyendangered’. Grants Commission, New Delhi, for financial assistance in
Being anachlorophyllousplant,Monotropa hypopitys the form offellowship.
REFERENCES
Haridasan, K. & R.R. Rao(1985): ForestFloraofMeghalaya. Vol. 1. NewYorkBotanicalGardens, NewYork. 189pp.
Bishen Singh and Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. 451 Strachey, R. (1974): Catalogue ofthe plants of Kumaon and ofthe
pp. adjacentportionsofGarhwalandTibet 1: 104.
FIooker,J.D.(1882):FloraofBritishIndia:Monotropea.Reeve&Co., Wallace, G.D. (1975): Studies on the monotropoideae (Ericaceae):
London, vol. 3.476pp. taxonomy anddistribution. WasmannJ. ofBiol. 33: 1-88.
Leake,J.R.(1994):Thebiologyofmyco-heterotrophic(‘Saprophytic’) Zhengyi, W., P.FL Raven & H. Deyuan (eds) (2005): Flora ofChina.
plants.NewPhytol. 127(1): 171-216. Vol. 14. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. St. Louis, Missouri,
Maas, P.J.M. (1986): Flora Neotropica: Saprophytes pro-parte, the USA. 592pp.
DOES ACHYRANTHES B1DENDATA BLUME (AMARANTHACEAE)
20.
OCCUR IN ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS?
L. Rasingam14 P.G. Diwakar2,5 and Shubhangi Ingole3
,
‘BotanicalSurveyofIndia,Andaman& NicobarCircle,PortBlair744 102, India.
“BotanicalSurveyofIndia,WesternCircle,Pune411 001,Maharashtra. India.
’Bar.R.D.I.K. andN.K.D.College.Badnera-Amravati,Maharashtra,India.
4Email: [email protected]
’Email: [email protected]
The species Achyranthes bidendata Blume is widely hooksaroundtheglomerulesofflowers.Thus,Achyranthes
distributed in the tropical countries mainly in Africa and bidendata Blume may not occur on Andaman &
Asia. In India, the species has been reported throughout Nicobar Islands. The present paper gives nomenclature
m
the country from sea level to 1,000 altitude. Vasudeva and concise description of Cyathula prostrata together
Rao (1986) reported this species from Nicobar Islands along with its distribution in the world and habitat.
based on the earlier collections deposited in the Botanical Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume, Bijdr. 549. 1825;
Survey of India regional herbarium. Port Blair (PBL). Hook, f.,FI. Brit. India4:723. 1885;Ridl.,FI. MalayPenins.
Later,Sinha(1999)includeditinhisworkbasedontheabove 3: 7. 1924; Backerin Steenis, FI. Males. Set: 7, Spermat. 4:
report and collections. A critical examination of earlier 82,t. 4. 1949; Larsen inFI. Thailand5(4): 393, t. 86(7-13).
collections with relevant literature reveals that all the 1992. Achyranthes prostrata L. Sp. PI. ed. 2, 296. 1762.
specimens hitherto identified as Achyranthes bidendata A. bidendatasensu VasudevaRaoinJ. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 8:
BlumeinPBLbelongtoCyathulaprostrata(L.)Blume.The 140. 1986; Sinha, FI. Great Nicobar Isl. 351. 1999. (non.
genus Cyathula is closely allied to the genus Achyranthes Blume, 1826).
L.,butdiffersfromitbyhavingrhombateleavesandfascicled Erectorprostrateherb,upto80cmhigh;stemreddish-
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009 129
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
brown, obtusely quadrangular, densely white hairy. Leaves andsemi-evergreenforests.
simple,opposite,membranous,rhombate,2-7x 1-3cm,acute Specimens Examined: Little Andaman Island: Way
atapexandbase,marginentire,ciliate,patentlyhairyonboth towards Unnis nallah dam, 27.iv.2006, L. Rasingam 20984;
surfaces, reddish-brown above, greenish-brown beneath; North Nicobars: Katchal Island, West bay, l.v.1977,
petioles5-7 mm long,channeledabove, hairy. Inflorescence RChakraborty5578;SouthNicobars: GreatNicobarIslands,
terminal, racemose, up to 26 cm long, densely pubescent; 35kmoneast-westroad,20.vii.1976,N.P.Balakrishnan3898;
peduncles up to 8.5 cm long. Flowers in glomerules, sterile 36.8 km on east-west road, 17.vi.1977, N.P. Balakrishnan
flowers often found in the lower parts and modified into 5824.
mm
hooked fascicles. Tepals lanceolate, c. 3 long, densely
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
villousandpubescentwithin. Stamens5,filamentsatthebase
with a short connate cup; free parts alternating with dentate,
pseudo-staminodes;anthers2-celled.Ovaryobovoid,c. 1 mm WearegratefultoDr. M. Sanjappa,Director,Botanical
long;styleveryshort.Seedsupto 1.2mmlong,shiningbrown. Survey ofIndia, Kolkata, forfacilities. We are alsothankful
FI. & Fr.: March-August. to Dr. D. Kannan, Thiyagaraja College, Madurai, for
Distribution: india: Throughout; Africa to China, encouragement,andofficialsofAndamanandNicobarIslands
throughout south-eastAsia andAustralia. Forest Plantation and Development Corporation Limited
Habitat: Not common along the edges of evergreen (ANIFPDCL) forfield support.
REFERENCES
Sinha, B.K. (1999): FloraofGreatNicobarIsland. Botanical SurveyofIndia, Kolkata, 525 pp.
VasudevaRao. M.K. (1986):ApreliminaryreportontheAngiospermsofAndamanand NicobarIslands. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 8(1): 107-184.
21 PANDANUS UNIPAPILLATUS DENNST.: ANEW RECORD FOR MAHARASHTRAAND GOA, INDIA
.
RahulL. Zanan1-2 KantilalV. Wakte1-3 andAltafhusain B. Nadaf1-4
,
‘DepartmentofBotany,UniversityofPune,Pune411 007,Maharashtra.India.
Email: [email protected]
’Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
In November 2007, we collected a species from A large shrub or small tree up to 8 m height; more or
Maharashtra at Sawantwadi (15° 51’ 33 N; 73°50' 38 E) of less erect stem, branching neartop with a few prop roots at
Sindhudurg district and in December 2007 from Goa at base. Leaves up to 1.5-2 m x 3-5 cm, margin with sharp
Paingen (14°58' 03 N; 74°05' 19 E) of Canacona district. curved prickles and midrib prickly along its whole length.
The collected specimen when compared with the 7-8 spines on midrib (per 10 cm), spines 3 mm long,
authenticallyidentifiedspecimensdepositedattheBotanical 15-16on margin (per 10cm)in threerows, leafcolourdeep
Survey of India, Western Circle, Pune, was identified as to light green.
P. unipapillatus. Male inflorescenceephemeral,fragrant, terminal with
Pandanus unipapillatus Dennst. (Pandanaceae) yellowish 10-12bracts;spikesupto 12-20cmlonganddense,
mm mm
has been reported for the first time for the states of stemonophore 3-6 long; stamen 5-8 long with free
Maharashtra and Goa (Sharma et al. 1996; Rao 1986; up to 1 mm long filament; anther 3-5 mm long. Female
Kulkami 1988). In this report, a detailed description ofthe inflorescenceterminal,bracteate,6-8bractsofvariablelength;
species is given. solitary,oblong-rounded25-30cmx 18-20cm,carpelsimple,
P. unipapillatus Dennst. Schlussel Hortus Malab. 27. hexagonal,4.5cmlong, 1 cmindiameter,singleforked, style
(1818). 1 cmlong. Growsattheborderofpaddyfieldsandalongthe
MaterialExamined: india: Maharashtra(Sindhudurg bankofstreams.
district, Sawantwadi, 7 km from Sawantwadi towards Flowering & Fruiting: FI.: August to October,
Londha)femaleplant,RahulZanan7;GoaCanaconadistrict, Fr.: Septemberto December.
Paingen, male plant, Rahul Zanan 5, female, Rahul Distribution: india: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Zanan 6. MaharashtraandGoa.
130 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009