25

R E S U L T S A N D D I S C U S S I ON

A . S Y S T E M A T I C T R E A T M E N T

Commelinaceae R. Br., Prod. 268. 1810. (“Commelineae”) nom. cons. Type

genus– Commelina Plum. ex L., Gen. Pl. ed. 5. 25. 1754.

Annual or perennial, herbs with various habits (Figure 1). Leaves basal or

cauline, alternate, sheaths closed, lamina simple, entire, often succulent.

Inflorescence terminal or terminal and axillary, or all axillary, sometimes leaf-

opposed, cymose, composed of scorpioid cymes, thyrsiform or variously reduced,

sometimes enclosed in spathes. Flowers perfect or perfect and staminate, rarely

perfect and pistillate or polygamous, the plants then andromonoecious or

polygamomonoecious; sepals 3, free or connate, usually subequal and sepaline,

occasionally petaline; petals 3, free or connate, equal or unequal, petaline,

deliquescent; stamens 6, all fertile or some staminodial or lacking (rarely all

stamens lacking), filaments glabrous or bearded, anthers longitudinally (rarely

poricidally) dehiscent. Ovary bi or trilocular, locules 1–many ovulate, ovules

uniseriate or biseriate; style simple, usually slender, stigma simple or rarely

slightly lobed, enlarged or not. Fruits loculicidal capsules, rarely indehiscent or

berries. Seeds 1–many per locule, hilum punctiform or linear, embryotega

(embryostega or operculum) covering the embryo.

The generic limits and delimitation of the tribes and subtribes of Faden and

Hunt (1991) were followed. Flowers of Commelinaceae lack nectar and are

ephemeral, lasting only a few hours. Although flowers seldom well preserved in

dry specimens, the arrangement and degree of development of the androecium and

gynoecium can readily be determined by in situ dissection of mature buds. x= 4–

17, 19, 20, 29.

A family of 41 genera and 640 species, distributed mostly in the tropical and

warm temperate regions of the world. It represented in India with 14 genera and 85

species (Karthikeyan et al., 1989). In present treatment, 15 genera and 91 species

(including ornamentals) are identified and recognized, a detail table has been

provided with respect to endemic and total number of the species in India [Table

2]. Several species of Tradescantia, Callisia are commonly cultivated and possibly

26

become naturalized locally, including Callisia fragrans and Tradescantia zebrina.

Seen or documented ornamentals of family Commelinaceae in India are also

included in present study.

Likewise, Faden (2000), generic delimitation of the tribes and subtribes of

Faden and Hunt (1991) followed in present work.

1. Stamens 6, all fertile and equal; flowers actinomorphic (stamens unequal and flowers

zygomorphic in Tinantia)…………………………….…………..Tribe Tradescantieae

1. Stamens 6, all fertile but unequal or 3–4 staminodal or lacking; flowers

zygomorphic…………………………………………………..….. Tribe Commelineae

Key to the genera of tribe Tradescantieae

1. Flowers zygomorphic; stamens equal……………………….……………….... Tinantia

– Flowers actinomorphic; stamens unequal ………………….………………….…..….. 2

2. Climbers; leaves cordate…………………….………..………..…..…..…. Streptolirion

– Annual or perennial herbs; leaves other than cordate……………………..……..……..3

3. Ephiphytic herbs; capsule hairy……………………..………...………...... Belosynapsis

– Terrestrial or aquatic herbs; capsule glabrous……………………………………..……4

4. Cymes pairs subtended by small, inconspicuous bracts…..…....……...…….…. Callisia

– Cymes pairs enclosed or subtended by pairs of large, conspicuous spathaceous bracts…5

5. Petals free…………......…..………………………………….…………….Tradescantia

– Petals fused (at least st base)………….…………………………………..…………… 6

6. Cymes terminal (axillary in Cyanotis axillaris) enclosed in biseriate imbricating

bracteoles.…...……...…………………..………………………..……...……...Cyanotis

– Cymes axillary enclosed by inflated sheathing bases of leaves……………...…….…...7

7. Plants with various habits but not scandent; anthers dehiscent usually

longitudinal………………........................................................................Amischotolype

– Plants scandent or trailing herbs; anthers dehiscent poricidal.................……. Porandra

Key to the genera of tribe Commelineae

1. Inflorescences enclosed in or closely subtended by leafy bracts (spathes); flowers

strongly bilaterally symmetric, usually blue ..……….…………….….…… Commelina

27

– Inflorescences not enclosed in or closely subtended by leafy bracts (although

sometimes axillary); flowers radially or bilaterally symmetric, variously coloured…...2

2. Staminodes apically entire and sagittate, or 3-sect; fertile stamens 3 (sometimes 1 or 2

aborted), all inserted, opposite to sepals………………..……….……….…Murdannia

– Staminodes apically dumbell-shaped; fertile stamens 2 or 3, inserted in posterior or

anterior position………….………………………………...………………………..….3

3. Sepals glandular pubescent ………………........................................................Floscopa

– Sepals not glandular pubescent (excluding Tricarpelema glanduliflorum)………...…..4

4. Capsule indehiscent………….……...…..…………………………………..……. Pollia

– Capsule dehiscent………………….….……………………………..……..…..……….5

5. Fertile stamens anterior; capsule cylindric; seeds 4–8 per locule….......…Tricarpelema

– Fertile stamens posterior; capsule globose; seeds 1 per locule…..……..…....………...6

6. Capsule sessile, glabrous; petals not clawed, usually white……………Dictyospermum

– Capsule stipitate or sub-sessile, adhesive to touch, covered with glandular, hooked

hairs; upper petals shortly clawed, pale lilac…………….....…………….Rhopalephora

1 . A M I S C H O TO L Y P E

Hassk., Flora 46: 392. 1863; Pichon, Notul. Syst. 12: 233. 1946; Hara, Fl. East.

Himalaya 1: 399. 1966; Morton, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 60: 167–221. 1967; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23. 1989. Type– A. glabrata Hassk. (designated by

Pichon, 1946).

Forrestia A. Rich. in Dumont d’Urville, Voy. Astrolabe 2: 1. 1834; Miquel, Fl.

Ned. Ind. 3: 547. 1855; Hasskarl, Flora 47: 625. 1864; Hasskarl, Commelin. Ind.

83.1870; Hooker f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 383. 1894; Brückner in Engler and Prantl,

Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 169. 1930; Backer and Backh. f., Fl. Java 3: 15.1968;

non Rafin.1806. Type– F. hispida A. Rich. [= A. hispida (A. Rich.) D. Y. Hong]

Campelia auct. e.g., Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 7. 1827; Kunth, Enum. pl. 4: 109.

1843, pro parte; Hasskarl in Miquel, Pl. Jungh.154. 1852; non L. C. M. Rich.

1808.

Amischotolype (Greek, amischos= without stalk; tolupe= cluster) refers to the

sessile glomerules of flowers.

[modified after Faden, 1998; Duistermaat, 2012]

28

Perennial, small to gigantic herbs; roots fibrous; rather succulent, exudate

sticky and colourless. Stem solid, nodes very short and not thickened. Leaf sheath

tubular, closed, tightly covering the internode, the lower withering and deciduous

as the plant matures, generally green, longitudinally veined, more transversely

veined, glabrous or variously hirsute; leaves distichous, oblong to linear-

lanceolate, surface glabrous or variously pubescent, base attenuate, apex acuminate

to caudate, submarginal hairs present or absent. Inflorescences very compact or

more lax and globose, composed of 2–several cincinni. Flowers sessile to

subsessile or shortly pedicellate; sepals subequal, sepaline or coloured; petals free,

equal not clawed; stamens 6, equal or subequal, filament bearded or partially

glabrous, anthers dehiscing longitudinally or by apical pores. Capsule usually

dehiscent, succulent, white, pink, red, lilac, brown–purple or green, trilocular;

seeds (1–)2 per locule, 3-lobed at apex or not, valves finally free to fused for up to

4/5 of length. Seeds embedded in a red, fleshy aril, uniseriate, reniform, surface

coarsely rugose, hilum linear. x = 9 (Morton, 1967).

Distribution and ecology– Paleotropic, c 26 species, mainly in S, E and SE Asia

(excluding Sri Lanka), 4 species in tropical Africa; primary forest and along forest

streams, surviving a long time after disturbance, on rather dry to swampy soils,

also on limestone (Duistermaat, 2012).

In India, this genus is represented by three species (modified after

Karthikeyan et al., 1989). Hook. f., (1894) in his treatment of Flora of British India

reported five species (Forrestia mollis Hassk., F. griffithii Clarke, F. marginata

Hassk. F. hookeri Hassk. and F. glabrata Hassk.), of which first three are known

to occur in Java and Malaysia respectively, these are excluded from present

treatment. Recently Duistermaat (2012) revised genus Amischotolyle for Asia and

provided detailed taxonomic account of genus. She has described eight new

species, out of which A. dolichandra Duist. is from India. In present treatment, an

account of A. dolichandra is highlighted with its present distribution and detailed

description.

African Amischotolype tenuis (Clarke) R. S. Rao enumerated by

Karthikeyan et al. (1989) in India is mistaken because the species is strictly

29

restricted to Tropical Africa. In addition, A. mollissima (Blume) Hassk. is limited

in its distribution to Java and Sumatra. In Java it is not known 600 m asl, whereas

in Sumatra it occurs up to 1420 m asl (Duistermaat, 2012). Indian specimens in

various herbariums that tagged as A. mollisima, major of them turned out to be A.

hookeri or A. glabrata, while few possibly identified as a recently described

species ‘Amischotolype dolichandra Duist.’

Apart from Amischotolype tenuis, Rao (1971) made two new combinations

for A. mollissima var. glabrata, both Campelia glabrata (=A. glabrata) and

Forrestia hookeri Hassk. (A. hookeri) but in Indian scenario these two are distinct

species. Rao has neither give descriptions, nor does he cite material for his

varieties. Therefore, his new combinations were nomina confuse (Duistermaat,

2012). In present treatment, one of his combination A. mollissima var. glabarta is

considered as a valid one and synonym of A. glabrata. Because Rao (1971) has

written “recent collection of this variety from Andhra Pradesh, new record for the

Peninsular India” and it is based on the collection of G. V. Subba Rao 82049

(MH). After screening, the herbarium specimens placed at MH, this turn out to be

A. glabrata only.

1. Capsule exceeded from sepals…………………………………………..…... A. hookeri

– Capsule not exceeded from sepals…………………………………………..…….…….2

2. Filament bearded; capsule valves free ….…………………...…………..…. A. glabrata

– Filament glabrous; capsule valves fused ……………………………..…A. dolichandra

1. Amischotolype dolichandra Duist. In Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 64(1): 51–

131. 2012. Type– India, Manipur, Karong, 1050 m alt., in deep forest, 1950 Koelz

26448 (holo– L).

Forrestia mollis Hassk., Flora 47. 628. 1864, nom. illeg.; Hassk., Commelin. Ind.

84. 1870; Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 236. 1881, pro parte; Hook. f., Fl. Brit.

India 6: 383.1894, pro parte.

Amischotolype mollissima auct. sensu, Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

23. 1989. pro parte (non Hassk. 1863).

30

Perennial, erect, c 1–1.5 m high herb; roots fibrous; basal part of stem

ascending and bearing a long roots at each node; internodes glabrous or hairy. Leaf

sheath glabrous or with a line of brown hairs on one side, mouth densely to

sparsely ciliate; leaves shortly petiolate, oblanceolate 6–15(–20) × 3–6 cm, apex

acuminate, base attenuate, lower surface glabrous or pubescent, upper surface

glabrous. Inflorescence leaf opposite, piercing the sheaths, forming a densely

globose, few to many flowered. Flowers sessile; sepals pink or red, sparsely ciliate

along the margins or glabrous and fleshy; petals as long as sepals, elliptic, white,

glabrous; stamens 6, filament c 8 mm long, glabrous; anthers, yellow. Capsule

trilocular, obovoid, 0.6 × 0.4 cm, shorter than sepals, apex ciliate, whitish to pink;

seeds 1–2 per locule, when two trapezoidal, otherwise broadly ellipsoid, 0.3–0.5 ×

0.2 cm, embryotega lateral, hilum deeply inserted, forming curved cavity like

structure, testa foveate to foveolate–scorbiculate, black to metallic black, aril not

seen.

Flowering and fruiting–Throughout the year.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to north East India: Arunachal

Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura (Map 1A); undergrowth of

evergreen forests, along stream, in gorge, on roadside, on alluvial, fertile soil.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Changlang district, Tirap

forest division (NEFA), 19th Aug. 1958, R. S. Rao 14463 (ASSAM). Manipur–

Dzuko Valley and Surram hills, Kujeree forest, 5th Aug. 2006, A. A. Mao and R.

Gogoi 112531 (ASSAM). Mizoram– Tengawl, Lushai Hills, Nov 1927, N. E.

Parry 286 (K); North Varnlaphai, Mizo hills, 21st Jan. 1963, D. B. Deb 31104

(ASSAM). Nagaland– Hakchang, Tuensang district, 9th Dec. 1983, T. M.

Hynniewta 84705 (ASSAM). Tripura– Sabual, North Tripura, 28th Jan 1962, D.

B. Deb 27233 (ASSAM).

Note– The species closely resembles with A. glabrata, which has a much wider

distribution and has longer sepals, stamens with hairy filaments and much shorter

anthers and capsules with basally fused valves.

31

2. Amischotolype glabrata Hassk., Flora 46: 392. 1863.

Campelia glabrata auct. sensu, Hasskarl in Miquel, Pl. Jungh. 154. 1852–53.

Forrestia glabrata (Hassk.) Hassk., Flora 47: 630. 1864; Hassk., Commelin. Ind.

94. 1870; Clarke, Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal. 62. 1874, t. XLII; Clarke in DC.,

Mon. Phan. 3: 238. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 384.1894; Brückner in Engler

and Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2: 169. 1930.

Forrestia mollissima (Blume) Koord. forma glabrata (Hassk.) Backer, Handb. Fl.

Java I, 3:33.1924, pro parte; Backer and Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java

3:15.1968, pro parte.

Forrestia mollissima (Blume) Koord. var. glabrata (Hassk.) Subba Rao and

Kumari, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 12: 209. 1970. (nom. inval.: Vienna Code Art. 33.4,

no full reference to basionym). Lectotype–– Junghuhn s. n., Java: Ungaran prope

Medini (L: L0041658 designated by Duistermaat, 2012). Other syntypes––

Junghuhn s.n., Java: Merapi (L), Gede et Tangkuban prau (L).

Campelia marginata var. b, Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 7.1827; Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4:

109.1843. Type–– Zippelius s. n., Java (L).

Forrestia hispida auct. sensu, Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan. 3:236.1881. pro parte

Amischotolype hispida auct. sensu, Hong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12:4. 461. 1974.

Amischotolype mollissima of Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23.1989.

pro parte (non Hassk. 1863). Fig. 2; Plate 1A–B

Scrambling, rhizomatous, c 2–2.5 m high, perennial herb with erect to

ascending stem; root fibrous, numerous on basal, ascending nodes; internodes

glabrous or puberulous and moderately long. Leaf sheaths, glabrous, mouth

usually ciliate or glabrous; leaves shortly petiolate, oblanceolate, 10–20 × 3–6.5

cm, apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate, upper surface glabrous while lower

sparsely pubescent. Inflorescence dense and leaf opposite, 5–15 flowered; flowers

shortly pedicellate; sepals green to white or pink, fleshy, persistent, tip hooded;

petals c 6 × 3 mm, as long as sepals, elliptic; stamens with filaments c 11 mm

long, exserted , sparsely bearded with white hairs, anthers deltoid, white or off-

white. Capsule 6 × 5 mm, obovoid, not exserted from sepals, red to pink in colour,

32

upper half sparsely cililate or glabrous; seeds probably 1 or 2 per locule, colour of

aril and seed testa not clearly distinguished from herbarium specimens.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– East Asian countries and India: Andhra Pradesh,

Assam, Karnataka, Meghalaya, West Bengal (Map 1B); occasionally found in

undergrowth of forests.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Hulichal Ghat, Karwar, 9th Nov. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar A011 (SUK). Meghalaya: Shillong, 18th Dec. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 812

(SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Minumuluru, Paderu Mandal,

Visakhapatanam district, 23rd Dec. 1967, G. V. Subba Rao 73648, 73649;

Palamagudi, Visakhapatanam district, 14th Oct. 1972, G. V. Subba Rao 82049,

82050 (MH). Assam– Kimin River bank, 14th Feb 1962, G.Panigrahi 27879;

eastern bank of Mehao Lake, 25th Nov. 2011, D. K. Singh and Party 97691

(ASSAM). Meghalaya– Tura top, West Garo Hills district, 12th Dec. 1969,

Panigrahi 22429; on the way to Garo Hills (Tura Peak), 7th Sept. 1975, M. K. V.

Rao 63973 (ASSAM); Khasia, Shillong, Oct 1872, C. B. Clarke 19048; Shillong,

Aug 1886, C. B. Clarke, 44390B (CAL); Tura Peak, s. d., Myrthong 1941 (NEHU

Herbarium). West Bengal– Garidoora, 500 ft, Darjeeling, 26th May 1884, C. B.

Clarke 35539 (CAL). Planted specimen in Shivaji University, Department Garden,

brought from West Bengal University campus, 18th Dec. 2010, S. R. Yadav 812

(SUK).

Note– Amischotolype glabrata is the most widespread species, occurring from E

Pakistan through China to S. Japan (Ruykyu Islands) and south to Nusa Tenggara

(Lombok), excluding the Philippines and Sulawesi; primary or disturbed

(mountain, oak-laurel) evergreen, mixed or deciduous (monsoon) forests, often

near stream, on dry to moist sandy or loamy (Duistermaat, 2012). Occasionally

occurs in the hilly areas of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh [Subba Rao

73648 (MH); Rao and Kumari, 1970] otherwise common in north Eastern states of

India.

33

3. Amischotolype hookeri (Hassk.) H. Hara, Fl. E. Himalaya, 1: 399. 1966;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23. 1989.

Forrestia hookeri Hassk. Flora 47: 629. 1864; Hassk., Commelin. Ind. (1870) 89;

Clarke, Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal 61. t. XLI. 1874; Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan.

3: 237. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 384. 1894; Brückner in Engler and Prantl,

Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2: 169. 1930; Rao et al., Proc. Indian Sci. Congr. (1960)

366. Syntypes– Hooker and Thomson s.n., s.d., India contin. regionem tropicam

montium Khasiae (inter 1–4000’) (CAL, MH) [B (sh. no. B 10 0296341].

Vernacular– “Slaw-sai-sum” (Khasi).

Fig. 3; Plate 1 C–E

Rhizomatous, perennial herb; stem stout and grows up to 1–4 m high;

internodes moderately 3–4 cm long, hairy along the margin only, otherwise

glabrous; nodes swollen, sparsely hairy. Leaf sheath 9–14 mm diam., 0.5(–1) cm

long, mouth densely ciliate; leaves crowded at the top, oblanceolate, 30–40 x 10

cm, apex acute, base gradually to rather abruptly narrowed into indistinct pseudo-

petiole, veins on lower surface densely hairy, 0.1–0.5 mm long hairy, upper

surface glabrous; submarginal hairs densely covered on lower surface along the

margin. Inflorescence on erect stem, sessile, c 2–3 cm, dense with branches

obscure, leaf opposite, 10–15 flowered. Flowers sessile, white to pink; sepals

persistent, connate at base, 8 × 3 mm, green to deep purple, glabrous or rarely

sparsely ciliate margin, tip hooded; petals c 8 × 3.5 mm, as long as sepals, white to

pale pink, glabrous, fleshy; stamens 6, filament c 1 mm long; anthers, yellow,

opening by a longitudinal slit. Capsule 1–1.5 × 0.5.–0.7 cm, ovoid, much exserted

(3–5 mm) from sepals, pink or purple, sparsely hairy, hairs long; valves free to

fused in basal half, apex acute, lobes absent; seeds 2 per locule, 5 x 3 mm, testa

variously reticulate, grey, hilum linear, embryotega not distinguished but lateral,

embedded in scarlet coloured fleshy aril.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– Bangladesh and India: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Sikkim (Map 1C); in evergreen forests, on slopes, in forest undergrowths.

34

Specimens collected– Meghalaya: Experimental Botanical Garden, Umiyam,

Shillong, 11th Oct. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1239 (SUK).

Specimens examined–INDIA: Assam– Sibsagar, Hollongpar, Sivasagar district,

16th May 1940, R. N. De 19608; Daldali Reserve Forest, Mikir Hills, Karbi

Anglong district, 23rd Jan 1974, R. S. Rao 55242 (ASSAM). Manipur– below

Nasum Vagaleneli, for Fl. Manipur, Dec. 1908, A. Meebold 3689 (MH).

Meghalaya– Umsaw forest, Khasi and Jainta Hills district, 23rd Sept. 1935, Shri

Ram Sarma 12427; Umling, Nongph district, 12th March 1966, J. Joseph 43797

(ASSAM). Sikkim– Mongtow, 1000 ft, 5th Oct. 1884, C. B. Clarke 36264 (MH).

2 . B E L O S Y NA P S I S

Hassk., Flora 54: 259. 1871. Type–– Belosynapsis kewensis Hassk.

Greek belos “an arrow” plus syn “with, together” and apto “to fasten”.

Dalzellia Hassk. Flora 48: 593. 1865. non Wight 1852. nom. illeg. Type– Dalzellia

vivipara (Dalzell) Hassk.

Perennial herbs, sometimes epiphytic or lithophytic; inflorescences terminal

and axillary, consisting of 1–2 cincinni; bracts small or large, persistent; cincinni 1

to several flowered; flowers bisexual, subsessile or pedunculate; sepals equal;

petals free, not clawed; stamens 6, free, filaments not swollen apically, anther

dehiscence longitudinal; style not swollen apically. 2n= 36, 40, 52 (Faden, 1998).

About four species, distributed in Madagascar and India to New Guinea

(Faden, 1998); two species in India, both the species are apparently endemic to

India. The occurrence of Belosynapsis vivipara in Bhutan (Karthikeyan et al.,

1989) is erroneous.

1. Leaves ovate; inflorescence terminal or axillary, umbel, 2 to 4 flowered……..B. kewensis

– Leaves elliptic to lanceolate; inflorescences axillary, from the uppermost leaves;

4– many flowered…………………………...……………………….………B. vivipara

1. Belosynapsis kewensis Hassk. Flora 54: 259. 1871; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres.

Madras 2: 1551. 1931; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989.

35

Cyanotis kewensis (Hassk.) Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan. 3: 243. 1881; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India 6: 388.1894. Fig. 4

Repent hirsute herb, covered with brown hairs, spreads c. 45 cm long with

rooting at nodes; stem densely covered with brown wooly hairs, internodes short,

0.5–1 cm long. Leaves distichous, ovate, (0.8–) 1–4 × (0.5) 0.7–2 cm, apex acute,

base cordate, margins entire, densely covered with brown hairs beneath while

sparsely covered with silky hairs above. Inflorescence axillary from the uppermost

leaves, 2–4 flowered umbel; flowers with foliaceous bract; pedicilate; pedicel 0.3–

0.5 cm long, pubescent; sepals ovate to elliptic, c 0.3 × 0.1 mm, densely covered

with brown hairs. Capsule elliptic, trilocular, 0.2 mm long, densely hirsute

apically; seeds 1–2 per locule, elliptic to ovoid or trapezoid, testa gray, variously

striated, embryotega terminal exserted , hilum punctiform to elliptic.

Flowering and fruiting– October to January.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic plant of Western Ghats of India:

Tamil Nadu (Map 1D); cultivated in some European Gardens; growing on rocks.

Speciemens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Shivili falls, Maramalai, 14 miles

from Azhagiapandyapuram, Kanyakumari district, 2nd Jan. 1963; Mahendragiri

reserve forest, Kanyakumari Henry 53248 (MH). SCOTLAND: cultivated at Royal

Botanical Garden Edinburgh, Jan 1957, Rolla Rao 2327 (ASSAM).

Note– It is known to occur only in the southern districts of Tinnevelly and

Kanyakumari (Nayar and Sastry, 1988). No recent collections has been observed

from India, it is considered endangered or possibly extinct in the Indian state of

Tamil Nadu. Needs further detailed explorations to conclude its occurrence and

distribution

2. Belosynapsis vivipara (Dalz.) C.E.C. Fischer, Bull. Misc. Inform. 252. 1928;

Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 2: 1551. 1931; Rolla Rao, Notes Roy. Bot.

Gard. Edinburgh 25(2): 189. 1965; Lakshminarsimhan in Sharma et al., Fl.

Maharashtra (Monocot.) 147. 1996; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

24.1989.

36

Cyanotis vivipara Dalz. in Kew J. Bot. 3: 226. 1851; Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan.

3: 244. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 388. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2:

785.1908. Type– It grows on trees in forests of Sahyadri ranges Western Ghats.

Dalzell s. n. (Possibly at Kew)

Dalzellia vivipara (Dalz.) Hassk. in Flora 594. 1865. Type–– India, Malabar and

Konkan, Herb. Hook. and Thomson, Stocks and Law s. n. (P, sh. no. P02173462)

Belosynapsis epiphytica (Blatt.) Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1889. 1931;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989.

Cyanotis epiphytica Blatt. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 76. 1929. Type––

India, Karnataka, North Kanara, Gersoppa Ghat, Hallberg 35002 (holo–BLAT!,

iso– BLAT!). Fig. 5; Plate 1 F–H, 2

An epiphytic herb, consisting of a creeping rootstock bearing tufts of leaves

which are linear, acute, narrowed at both ends, 10 x 0.8 cm when mature, the

young ones much shorter and rather fleshy, clothed with rufous hairs densely

above, sparsely below, often sprinkled with purple dots. Scapes many from below

the tufts of leaves, slender, often more than 10 cm long, hairy, creeping and

rooting at the nodes, viviparous at the apex (from which a new plant develops),

having up to 10 internodes and bearing small, elliptic–oblong, acute leaves, one at

each node, densely hairy above, sparsely below, with c 2 mm long membranous,

rufous-hairy sheaths. At some of the central nodes of a scape sub-erect peduncle

arises, sometimes 2 or 3 from the same node and always below the sheath, not

axillary; peduncles like the scapes, often with 2 internodes reaching about 1 cm

long, bearing much shorter leaves than the scapes, the uppermost gathering into a

false whorl due to the shortening of the remaining internodes and functioning as

bracts for the inflorescence which forms a kind of terminal umbel, generally

consisting of two to three flowers; pedicels about 2 mm long, clothed by sparsely

rufous hairs. Flowers bisexual, greenish pink; sepals 3, 3 mm long, linear-oblong,

acute, villous with rufous hairs; petals 3, white, about as long as the sepals, oblong,

sub-acute, nearly free to the base. Stamens 6, three longer than the rest, filaments

white, densely bearded with white moniliform hairs, anthers yellow, those of the

longer stamens larger; ovary 1.5 mm long, ovoid, obtuse, sub-trigonous, hispid,

37

especially near the apex; style several times longer than the ovary, but included

and twisted, stigma small, yellow. Capsule 3.5 mm long, cylindrical, obtusely

trigonous with rounded corners, trilocular, dehiscent, slightly broader towards the

hispid apex; seeds 2 in each locule, elliptic–conical, slightly compressed, dorsally

flat with long ridge, ventrally semi-globular, 0.1 × 0.05 mm, with a translucent

greenish outer layer when fresh through which the brown core may be

distinuished, testa smooth, hilum punctiform, embryotega terminal pointed at one

end (modified from Blatter, 1928).

Flowering and fruiting–August to October.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to Western Ghats of India:

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu (Map 1E); epiphytic on densely

moss-covered trees.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Dhabbe Falls, Karwar, Sept. 2009, M. D.

Nandikar B001; Thalakauvery, Coorg district, 14th Oct. 2010, R. V. Gurav & M. D.

Nandikar B002 (SUK). Kerala: Silent Valley National Park, Palghat district, 26th

Dec. 2010, M. D. Nandikar B003 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Aliran Estate, Charmadi Ghat,

Chikmanglur district, C. Saldanha s. n. (BLAT); Agumbe, near PWD lodge, on the

way to Balehalli, 12th Oct. 1962, Rolla Rao s. n.; Yedur near Hulical, Shimoga

district, 4th Oct. 1962, Rolla Rao s. n.; Bhimgundi, Sampage Ghat, Kodagu district

(on the large tree trunk of Cedrela toona), 23rd Oct. 1963; Talacauvery, Kodagu

district, 26th Oct. 1963, A. S. Rao 95144 (BSI). Kerala– Anathode, Kollam district,

10th Oct. 1975, K. Vivekanthan 46605 (CAL, MH); Meenmutty, Iddukki district,

2nd Oct. 1982, C. N. Mohanan 79917 (CAL); Valiyaparathode, Palghat district,

15th Sept. 1982, C. Satish Kumar 11236; Kalladi–Thollayiram–Meppadi, Wynad

district, 25th Sept. 1984, R. T. Balkrishnan 40683; Bonnacord estate, Trivendrum

district, Fl. Agashymala, 24th Nov. 1989, N. Mohanan 8131; Arjunamkotta, Periyar

district, 10th Oct. 1996, Jomy A. 16286; Pookode, Wynad district, 11th Oct. 1997,

K. C. Sindu 50523 (CALI); Darbbakulum, Ponamudi, Trivendrum district, 15th

Sept. 1977, N. C . Nair 51090; Hanging bridge, Silent Valley, Palghat district, 5th

Oct. 1979, N. C. Nair 64308; Valiyaparathode, Palghat district, 12th Dec. 1980, N.

38

C. Nair 69514; Kalvery Mountains, Iddukki district, 8th Nov. 1981, B. Ramanujam

72427 (MH). Maharashtra– Chandoli National Park, Sangali district, 21st July

2007, Shrinath Kavade 645 (BSI). Tamil Nadu– Lower Nirar to Italiyar,

Coimbatore district, 6th Sept. 1983, K. Ramamurthy 78454 (MH).

Note– Dalzell collected this species from Parvar Ghats (not Parva), it is located in

Sattari Tehsil, North Goa district (Hunter, 1885). It is one of the richest areas of

Western Ghats, protected by department of Forest and comes under Mhadei

Wildlife Sanctuary. The species occurs occasionally in evergreen forests of

Western Ghats. It is abundant in the area of Madikeri and Jog Falls of Karnataka.

Recently (Kavade et al., 2012) reported this species from northern Western Ghats

of India.

3. CALLISIA

Loefl. Iter Hispanicum 305–306. 1758. Neotype– Callisia repens (Jacq.) L.

Neotype designated by N. L. Britton et P. Wilson, Sci. Surv. Porto Rico 5: 147.

1923.

Aploleia Raf., Flora Telluriana 2: 17. 1836. Type– Aploleia diffusa Raf.

Phyodina Raf., Flora Telluriana 2:16. 1836. Type– Phyodina gracilis (Kunth) Raf.

Hadrodemas H. E. Moore, Baileya 10: 134. 1963. Type– Hadrodemas

warszewiczianum (Kunth & Bouché) H. E. Moore.

Leptorhoeo C. B. Clarke ex Hemsl. in Diagn. Pl. Nov. Mexic. 3: 55. 1880. Type–

Leptorhoeo filiformis (M. Martens and Galeotti) C. B. Clarke.

Perennial or annual herbs; roots thin, rarely tuberous; ptyxis supervolute or

conduplicate; inflorescences terminal and axillary, composed of paired or sessile

cincinni, subtended by small bracts, flowers often aggregated forming compound

inflorescences; flowers bisexual and female; petals free, not clawed, stamens 6,

fertile equal or subequal, filament glabrous; capsule bi or trilocular, locules one to

two seeded; seeds with dorsal embryotega and punctiform hilum (Faden, 1998).

Mexican ornamental genus, about 20 species; two species cultivated as

ornamentals in India.

1. Plant repent; leaves ovate, c 0.5 × 2 cm………...……………..………...Callisia repens

39

– Plant erect; leaves broadly oblong or lanceolate, c 30 × 5 cm…….……...…C. fragrans

1. Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woodson in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden

29(3): 154. 1942.

Spironema fragrans Lindl. Edwards's Botanical Register 26: pl.47. 1840.

Lectotype– Edward's Bot. Reg., n.s. 26(3): t. 47. 1840, lectotype designated by

Hunt, Fl. Mesoamer. 6: 168 (1994) “Basket Plant, Chain Plant or Inch Plant”

Plate 4 A

Herbs, perennial, robust, stoloniferous. Stems ascending, bromeliadlike 1

m. Leaves spirally arranged; blade oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 15–30 × 2.5–5cm

(distal leaf blades much narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened),

apex acuminate, glabrous. Flowers not seen. Introduced for its beautiful foliage or

domestic use, nursery purposes, native of Mexio.

Naturalized in Botanical Garden of Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

Specimens collected– INDIA: Maharashtra– Timber Market Nursery, Kolhapur,

26th Sept. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 20 (SUK) (2n= 18).

2. Callisia repens (Jacq.) Linn. Sp. Pl., ed. 2. 1: 62. 1762. Plate 4 B

Hapalanthus repens Jacq. Enum. Syst. Pl. 1, 12. 1760. Type–Martinique, Jacquin

s.n.(?)

Herbs perennial. Stems repent, forming mats, much branched, rooting at

nodes. Leaves distichous, gradually becoming smaller distally along flowering

shoots; leaf blade ovate to lanceolate, 1–4 × 0.6–1.2 cm, glabrous except for

scabrid margin and apex, base clasping, subcordate or obtuse, apex acuminate.

Inflorescence of paired (sometimes solitary), sessile, dense cincinni in axils of

distal leaves. Flowers unisexual or male. Sepals green, linear-oblong, 3–4 mm,

hirsute along midvein, margin scarious. Petals white, lanceolate, 3–6 mm. Stamens

3; filaments long exserted; connectives broadly deltoid. Ovary oblong,

subtrigonous, 2-loculed, apex pilose; ovules 2 per locule. Style filiform, long.

Capsule oblong, c 1.5 mm, bi-locular; seeds 2 per locule, brown, c 1 mm, rugose.

40

Native of New world (possibly from Mexico), naturalized on roofs of

houses on a wet places. Naturalized in Botanical Garden of Shivaji Universtiy,

Kolhapur.

4 . C O M M E L I N A

Plum ex. L., Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 25. 1754.

Type–– Commelina communis L. [Lectotype designated by N. L. Britton and A.

Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U. S. ed. 2. 1: 457. 1913]

Phaeosphaerion Hassk., Flora 49: 212. 1866. Type–– Phaeosphaerion leiocarpum

(Benth.) Hassk. ex C. B. Clarke.

Commelinopsis Pichon, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 12: 227. 1946. Type–– Commelinopsis

persicariifolia (Delile) Pichon.

Heterocarpus Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2067. 1953. Type–– Heterocarpus hirsutus

Wight [=Commelina hirsuta].

Perennial or annual herbs; roots thin fibrous to thick tuberous; leaves

usually distichous, ptyxis involute or supervolute; inflorescences terminal and leaf

opposed, composed of 1–2 cincinni enclosed in a folded spathe; spathes solitary or

clustered, sessile or pedunculate, margins fused or free, often filled with

muscilaginous liquid; flowers zygomorhic, pedicellate; sepals free or anterior 2

fused; petals free, unequal, posterior two larger and clawed, anterior petal usually

reduced or small; stamens 2–3, unequal, usually longer than staminodes, filaments

free, glabrous; staminodes 2–3, equal or unequal, usually 4–6 lobed; capsules

(uni–) bi or trilocular, bi or trivalved, dehiscent or indehiscent, locules 0–2 seeded;

seeds uniseriate, elliptic to variously shaped, testa smooth or variously reticulate,

hilum linear, embryotega lateral. 2n= 16–150. [description modified after Faden

1998, 2000 and 2012]

Cosmopolitan genus Commelina Plum. ex L. consist of 170 species (Faden,

2000) and it is one of the largest genera in the family, diversified in tropical Africa

with about 120 species (Faden, 2012). In India, it is represented by 23 species

(modified after Karthikeyan et al., 1989). Many of the species naturalized as

weeds in crop fields, but few are typically found in forests.

41

The genus shows a great range of variation in habit, inflorescence, flower

colour, capsule dehiscence, seed number, its texture and chromosome number.

Inflorescence enclosed within folded spathes is the key character for the genus.

Spathes provides protection for flower buds and developing fruits. Most of the

species are chiefly occurs in weedy places, along road sides, in cultivation field but

few of them are restricted or exclusively known from the forests. In India, the

genus is represented by 23 species (modified after Karthikeyan et al., 1989), in

which Commelina tricolor Barnes, C. hirsuta (Wt.) Clarke and C. alisagarensis

Kumar and Deodikar are apparently endemic.

Clarke (1881) in his legendary work entitled “Monographiae

Phanerogamerum” has reported c 21 species of Commelina for India. Of which,

four species are also known from Tropical Africa. He classifies the genus

Commelina in two-subgenera viz., Didymoon (locule two seeded) and Monoon

(locule single seeded). In addition, he has divided these subgenera in six different

sections based on capsule characters. Apart from his monographic work, in 1874

he has contributed few species in Indian flora. Hooker (1894) in his treatment of

Flora British India followed Clarke’s depiction and documented 20 species. He has

excluded Commelina communis as doubtful and indeterminable species from his

work. Bruckner in 1930, highlighted important features of the genus but also

follows Clarke’s portrayal. After a gap, Kumar and Deodikar (1941) described

Commelina alisagarensis, wards further synonymised under C. petersii, but the

identity of the species is still uncertain. However, so during present study it is

treated as a distinct species. Barnes in 1946, added C. indehiscens and C. tricolor

to Indian flora and documented floristic details of south Indian Commelina.

Raizada in 1958 correctly proposed new name for Wight’s Hetreocarpus glabra as

C. wightii. Thereafter, Kammathy and Rao (1961–1971) worked on the cyto-

taxonomy, distribution and nomenclature of some Indian Commelina. Rao (1964)

in his series of miscellaneous notes on Commelinaceae documented the

nomenclature details of many Commelina species. He has synonymised and

erected large number of species in his published works. Karthikeyan et al. (1989)

enumerated 24 species of Commelina for India. In recent times Joseph and Nampy

42

(2012) superbly summarized the capsule and seed morphology of Indian

Commelina. Subsequently, Joseph et al. (2012) described C. clavatoides and

related it very closely to C. clavata (one of the wide spread species of Commelina).

In present treatment it is felt that C. clavatoides are within a range of C. clavata

(except very few characters), and thus the C. clavatoides is relegated to a variety.

The other works on genus Commelina include the treatments in regional

floras by various authors like Woodrow (1899), Cooke (1908), Fischer (1931),

Kanjilal et al. (1934–1940), Griffith (1939) and Joseph (1968). In other words, an

account of genus Commelina in India is summarized by a number of botanists in

pieces of works.

1. Spathes with margins free to the base (except C. alisagarensis)……………..…….….2

–– Spathes with margins fused at base……...…………………………………..………..15

2. Capsule bilocular …….………………………..…………………………...….……….3

–– Capsule trilocular …………...…………………………………..………………….….6

3. Capsule single seeded and indehiscent …………..…...…...…….…Commelina wightii

–– Capsule more than one seeded, dehiscent or indehiscent …………...………….….….4

4. Dorsal locule well developed and 2 seeded…………….....………………….C. tricolor

–– Dorsal locule not developed or empty……………………………..………….………..5

5. Seeds appendaged at both ends…………………....…….…….………...…C. attenuata

–– Seeds not appendaged…………...……...…………………..………...………C. clavata

6. Capsule single seeded, dorsal locule aborted or empty……................ C. appendiculata

–– Capsule 2–5 seeded, ……………...……………………….…………...………..…….7

7. Ventral locules empty, dorsal locule single seeded, indehiscent ............ C. indehiscens

–– Ventral locules 1–2 seeded, dorsal locule 1 – 2 seeded, dehiscent or indehiscent……8

8. Dorsal locule single seeded or empty and indehiscent …………...…………...…….. ..9

–– Dorsal locule 1–2 seeded and dehiscent……………...…….………..………………. 13

9. Ventral locules two seeded …………………………………………….....….……….10

–– Ventral locule single seeded…………………...…...………..………………………..12

10. Seeds reticulate………………………………..…...………………..………. C. diffusa

–– Seeds not reticulate………………………………………………...…………………11

11. Seeds transversely furrowed to tuberculate……..……………..................….C. petersii

–– Seeds smooth ……………………………………………......…….......C. alisagarensis

43

12. Seeds foveate to reticulate……………..……………………..……...…C. suffruticosa

–– Seeds smooth and covered by capsule wall…….............................................C. hirsuta

13. Seeds smooth, appendaged at a side or blunt…………………………..... C. longifolia

–– Seeds variously reticulate, not appendaged………………...………..…………....…14

14. Seed faintly alveolate……………………………………………..……. C. caroliniana

–– Seed strongly ribbed …………………………………………..…..…….....C. subulata

15. Spathes sessile or pedunculate; if pedunculate, peduncle >0.7 cm long …….………16

–– Spathes pedunclulate, peduncle <0.7 cm long……………………………………….21

16. Dorsal locule scabrid or muricate or absent, indehiscent…...……...….………….… 17

–– Dorsal locule smooth or lacking, dehiscent……………………………....…………..20

17. Plants with fibrous roots ..…………………………………………..….... C. albescens

–– Plants with the thick or tuberous roots……… ………...………………..…….……..18

18. Sheaths lacking rusty hairs; dorsal locule always lacking or empty….........C. ensifolia

–– Sheaths puberulous, mouth ciliate; dorsal locule scabrid, single seeded………….…19

19. Sheaths green to reddish brown, mouth densely ciliate with brown hairs.. C. maculata

–– Sheath, green, puberulous, mouth ciliate but not with brown hairs……………C.kurzii

20. Seeds reticulate………………………….…….……………….…….. C. benghalensis

–– Seeds smooth…..…..……………………………….……………….……. C. paludosa

21. Root tuberous .……........................................................................……….. C. coelestis

–– Root fibrous…………………………………………………………………………..22

22. Plants with underground cleistogamous flowers; seeds 5………………...C. forskalaei

–– Plants not as above; seeds 3………………...………...…….………..…...…C. paleata

1. Commelina alisagarensis Kumar and Deodikar, Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 13:

168. 1941. Type– India: Andhra Pradesh (Hydrabad State), Nizamabad

(Nizamabad) district, Ali Sagar, Plains of Godavari River, 12th Aug. 1939, L. S. S.

Kumar s.n. (holo–K, sh. no. K000794490). Fig. 15; 17a; Plate 3

[From Kumar and Deodikar, 1941]

Dichotomously branched annuals with fibrous roots; stem slender glabrous.

Leaf sheaths ciliate, leaves pubescent, elliptic with rounded apex. Spathes axillary,

clustered, cucullate, pubescent, shortly pedunculate, base free. Flowers bisexual,

blue. Capsule pubescent, five seeded; two ventral locules each of two seeds,

dehiscent while dorsal locule one seeded, indehiscent. Seeds deep black, smooth,

44

ovoid, truncate at both sides with a white linear appendage, embryotega exserted,

pointed.

Flowering and fruiting– August to September

Distribution and ecology– Endemic to India, known only from type locality, Ali

Sagar: Andhra Pradesh (Map 1F); hills along the Godavari River basin.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Ali Sagar, Nizamabad district,

5th Sept. 1934, L. S. S. Kumar and S. Saloman 1513 [from the Herb. Eco. Bot.

Agri. College, Pune ‘specimen placed at BSI’].

2. Commelina albescens Hassk. in Schweinf., Beitr. Fl. Aethiop. 210. 1867;

Boiss., Fl. Or. 5: 346. 1881; Clarke in DC., l.c. 184. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India,

373. 1894; Woodr. Journ. Bombay Nat. 12: 524. 1899; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres.

2: 785. 1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989. Type–– On

mountains 4000-5000' above the Gageros in Ethiopia, 8 Sept. 1854, Tigre name-

Mäschill. (Schimper) (S).

Commelina albescens Hassk. var. occidentalis Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3:185.

1881.

Commelina multicaulis Hochst. ex Clarke in Mon. Phan. 3: 184. 1881. Type––

Ethiopia, Gageros, 14th Sept. 1854, 1219 m, Schimper 2268 (K, S).

Commelina schimperiana Hochst. ex Clarke in Mon. Phan. 3: 184. 1881. Type––

Ethiopia, Gageros, 1853, 1219 m, Schimper 1242 (S). Fig. 17o

Annual? or perennial, glabrous, erect herb with thick fibrous roots. Stem

erect, striate, branched from the base. Leaf sheaths membranous, whitish, 1–2 cm

long, mouth ciliate otherwise glabrous. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate 5–10 ×

0.5–1.2 cm, apex acuminate, margin scabrous, entire, often undulate, with

scattered long hairs at the base. Spathes sessile or minutely pedunculate, solitary

or 2–3 clustered at apex of the stem, axillary, opposite, turbinate, semi-ovate

(falcate), pointed at apex, almost acuminate, whitish at margin, striated with

parallel veins, glabrous, enclosing 3–5 flowers. Flowers solitary or 2–3(4), white

or blue (Clarke, 1881), pedicel 5–7 mm long; sepals unequal, oblong, outer 2–3 ×

1.5 mm, inner two keeled, 4 × 3.5 mm; petals white, turning blue, clawed 1 cm

45

long with suborbicular limb. Capsule c 3(4) × 3 mm, ovate to suborbicular, tri– or

bilocular, dorsal locule indehiscent, scabrid or muricate (like in C. kurzii), ventral

locules smooth, 1–2 seeded; seeds rounded at the ends and on the back, somewhat

angular on the inner face, testa grey to black, smooth, hilum linear, embryotega

lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– September to April.

Distribution and ecology– Arabia (Yemen), Pakistan, Tropical Africa and India:

Diu Daman, Gujrat and Rajasthan (Map 2A); the species so far collected from the

desert mountain of Arabian countries and Pakistan. In India, during present

investigations very handful collections of Commelina albescens, made by Stocks

are seen which are confined to Sind (it is a part of Pakistan). Apart from this, only

two specimens has been traced out [T. A. Rao 76568 (BLAT) and G. L. Tiwari 929

(BJBO)] and these are from arid areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Rao (1966: 354)

added one more collection from the rocky crevices of the creek of Diu Island

(former Portuguese colony of the Saurashtra coast), with a little sandy habitat,

along the coast.

Specimens examined–– INDIA: Diu Daman– Nagoa village, in rocky crevices,

along the sea shore, 17th Sept. 1964, Rolla Rao 102600 (CAL). Gujarat– Dwarka,

Jamnagar district, 16th Oct. 1961 (for Fl. of Saurashtra coast), T. A. Rao 76568

(BLAT); s. loc. s. d., Herb Wallich 8981 (P–‘as C. stricta’). Rajasthan– on the

hills of Mandore garden, Jodhpur district, 14th Sept. 1973, G. L. Tiwari 629

(BSJO); Gopalpura hills, for Fl. of Chouru district, 1550 ft. alt. 17th July 1976, G.

P. Roy 2682 (CAL). PAKISTAN: Balochistan province– Uthal, Lasbela District,

23rd June 1904, Herb REP 23076 (CAL); without locality from Balochistan, 1857,

Hooker f. and Thomson s. n. (P– sh. no. P01742760). Sind (Scinde) province– s.

d., Stocks s. n.; Jemidar Ka Landa, near Karachi (Kurrachee), 1851, Stocks s.n

(CAL). YEMEN: Al Hudaydah (Hodeidah)– Ginnat, Nov. 1837, Botta s. n. (P–sh.

no. P01742757); 28th April 1887, A. Deflers 55; 2nd March 1887, A. Deflers 154

(P).

Note– Very similar to Commelina nigritana Benth., but differs in having tough

stem base, sheath edge with long cilia. The color of the entire habit also similar to

46

C. stricta Edgew., but differs in softly pubescent leaves beneath while scabrous

above, puberulent sheaths, procumbent stem and complicated spathe. It also

similar to C. angustifolia Mich., but differs in hirsute, subpetiolate, lanceolate

leaves and hisrute sheaths. It appreantly look likes C. aurantiaca Hochst, but

differes in weak stem, linear leaves, cordate–ovate leaves. It also shows

similarities with C. ensifolia R. Br. in procumbent stems and leaves, but differs in

flowering characters. It look likes C. longifolia Lam., but differs in rarely villous

spathes etc. a brief description of the less recognizable and not provided properly

in earlier literature.

The species is restricted to the south to Saurashtra coast and near to

Jodhpur. Apart from that, no one has collected this species from Indian region.

Therefore, the occurrence of this species is rare. Flowers reported as ‘whitish-pink

and blue’ by some collectors, in addition to its white colour, but it needs further

observation within population to conclude its range. During present study this

species found similar to Commelina kurzii in its thick roots, perennial habit,

falcate, marginally fused, solitary to 2–3 clustered spathes, trilocular capsule with

dorsal, scabrid indehiscent locule, smooth seed surface and haploid chromosome

number n= 45 [Kammathy and Rao, 6(1): 1964]. However, it differs in having

distinct geographical occurrence, dwarf habit, linear, glabrous leaves,

membranous, less hispid spathes, haploid chromosome count n= 15 [in Indian

population by Rao (1966)] and 30 [in African populations by Lewis (1964)].

3. Commelina appendiculata C. B. Clarke, Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal., t. 13.

1874; Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 186. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Br. India 6: 374. 1894;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 189. 2000. Type– India, Sikkim Himalaya, Commelyna sp.

4, ex. Herb Hook. f. et Th. (P, sh. no. P01742747).

Commelina alba Buch. Ham. ex C. B. Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 186. 1881.

Commelina communis var. acuminata Wall. Cat. 8978 K, non Linn.

Fig. 17b; Plate 4C

47

Erect to ascending, perennial herb; roots thickened fibrous, usually rooting

from the lower nodes. Leaf sheaths 1 to 5 cm long. Leaves distichous, sessile,

linear or linear–lanceolate, 5–20 × 0.5–1.5 cm, margin entire, apex acuminate,

base cuneate–attenuate, glabrous. Spathes long, pedunculate, peduncle c 2–7 cm

long, solitary, lanceolate, c 5–10 cm long, slightly falcate, exterior surface

glabrous, interior often sparsely pilose (usually densely pilose in C. attenuata),

apex caudate–acuminate, base free, deeply cordate. Flowers 3–6 per spathe,

pedicel sub-sessile or stalked in the spathes, bisexual, but lower cincinnus usually

solitary and male, early deciduous, articulated; upper cincinnus consist of 3–6

perfect flowers, blue; sepals sub-orbicular; petals blue, paired petals 1 cm wide,

medial petal ovate, comparatively smaller than paired; staminodes 3, equal, with

yellow antherodes; stamens 3, unequal, middle one deformed as usual in other

Commelina’s. Capsule c 1 × 5 cm, trilocular, all locules one seeded but the dorsal

locule is smaller and more usually aborted, indehiscent, 2 ventral large seeds sub-

fusiform, usually reticulate to scorbiculate, when mature white appendage at each

end, especially the top, dorsal small seed without appendage.

Flowering and fruiting– April to September.

Distribution and ecology– Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India: Arunachal

Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (Map 2B); occasionally

occurs in marshy places, in a rocky outcrops and hill slopes.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Kalaktang, West Kameng

district, Kameng forest division, N. E. F. A., 7th May 1958, G. Panigrahi 15128

(ASSAM). Assam– Matharguri, Kamprup districts, 12th July 1957, R. S. Rao 9905

(as ‘C. salisifolia’); Lukikhas forest, 2 miles from south of Singra, Kamprup

district, 26th June 1964, A. S. Rao 39136; Manas, 2 kms from Mothanguri on the

way to Bansbari, 8th June 1974, P. K. Hajra 57611 (ASSAM); s. loc. s. d., Jenkins

s. n.; s. loc. s. d., Simons s. n.; Fakiragram, Gopalpara, 18th Aug. 1974, Satyendra

Das 51259 (CAL); s. d., ex. Herb. Hook. f. et Thomson, Masters s. n. (P– sh. no.

P01742750). Meghalaya– Amlighat, Nongpoh, 22nd Sept. 1964, N. P.

Balakrishnan 39386 (CAL). Uttar Pradesh– Bhapwanpur, Gonda district, 7th

Nov. 1987, Khanna and Saran 39153 (CAL). West Bengal– Terai, Darjeeling,

48

500 m, 15th Aug. 1870, C. B. Clarke 12065 (CAL, K). Locality unknown– East

Bengal, Herb. Griffith 5510 (P). SRI LANKA: Locality unknown – Walker 1517

(P).

Note– The general appearance of the species is similar to C. longifolia in its leaves

and habit. Otherwise, it is exclusive Commelina species easily identified by its

long, lanceolate, glabrous, spathes; showy blue flowers and ventral seeds with

white appendages.

4. Commelina attenuata Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 168. 1806; Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan.

3: 172. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Br. India 6: 372. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 784.

1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989; Faden in Dassanayake,

Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 188. 2000. Type–– India, König.

Commelina rajmahalensis C. B. Clarke in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 444. 1871. Type–

– India, Jharkhand, the Rajmahal hills to 500 feet. alt. Kurz (CAL?).

Commelina clavata var. attenuata (Vahl) Trimen, Syst. Cat. Fl. Pl. Ceylon, 95.

1885. Fig. 17c–c1

Much branched annual, decumbent, glabrous to sparsely hairy herb; roots

fibrous, rooting at lower nodes. Leaf sheath upto 1 cm long, ciliate, often scarcely

distinct from the leaf blade; leaves distichous, linear to linear lanceolate, 2–10 × 1

cm, midrib prominent, apex acute to sub-obtuse, base rounded. Spathes solitary,

pedunculate, peduncle c 1–3 cm long, glabrous or pubescent, spathes 1–5 × 0.5

cm, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, acute to caudate–acuminate, glabrous outside,

densely to sparsely pilose inside, upper cincinnus exserted , single flowered, lower

cincinnus 1–3 flowered. Flowers pedicilate, bisexual, dark blue; sepals c 2 mm

long, ovoid; paired petals 5 × 5 mm, dark blue, while medial petal small, rounded

and concolurless; staminodes 3, subequal, middle one is shorter than the laterals;

stamens lateral and bright yellow. Capsule subquadrate–oblong, compressed,

membranous, not constricted in the middle, bi-locular, 5 × 5 mm, dorsal locule

sometimes abortive or not developed, ventral locule with 1–2 seeds. Seeds when

solitary large c 5 × 4 mm, otherwise 2.5 × 2(2.5) mm, testa ash or straw coloured,

smooth, with a white appendage at both the ends.

Flowering and fruiting– September to January.

49

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya

Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Orissa, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh

(Map 2C); Sri Lanka; rarely occurs in lateritic, sandy stone plateaus, slopes of the

grasslands; in rice field edges.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh–Osmania University campus,

Hyderabad, 17th Sept. 1961, R, V. Kammathy 73977; Anantpur, 15th Sept. 1961, R.

V. Kammathy 73955; Alisagar flower garden and adjoining, 10 miles from

Nizamabad, 30th Sept. 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81282; Alisagar, Nizamabad, 5th

Sept. 1984, Kumar and Salmon 1537 (BSI); Andhra (Waltair) University Campus,

Visakhapatnam district, 21st Oct. 1956, H. Santapau and S. K. Wagh 76570 and

76571 (BLAT); Kailasakona, Tirupati, for Fl. of Chittoor district, 18th Oct. 1987,

Ranga Charyulu 1725 (CAL); Samathagram, Anantpur district, 3rd July. 1981, N.

Yesoda 202 (MH). Karnataka– Badami, Bagalkot district, 17th Oct. 1894, Talbot

2789 [Cooke (1908) cited under C. clavata]; Pora, 10 miles from north Tumkur,

Mysore district, 27th Aug. 1961, Rolla Rao 73248; Gokak, Belgaum district, 5th

Sept. 1984, G. Y. Gaikwad 1539; Badami Hills, Bagalkot district, 1st Sept. 1912,

Paranjpe 1541 (BSI); Maisore and Carnatic, Herb Ind. Or. Hook. f. and Thomson,

G. Thomson as ‘Commelyna 2’ (P– sh. no. P01742730). Kerala– West Hills,

Calicut University, Calicut district, 8th Oct. 1970, V. V. Shivarajan 552 (CALI);

Mullurkkara, Trissur district, 15th Sept. 2003, Aneesha and Joby 938 (DEV).

Madhya Pradesh– Pasan, Bilaspur district, 3rd Nov. 1970, Panigrahi 13281;

Kharsia, Raigarh district, 25th Sept. 1974, Radhakrishnan N. C. 21096; Khajuraho,

Chhatarpur district, (for Fl. of Central India), Nov. 1905, Meebold 3038 (CAL);

Churna, Hoshangabad district, 27th July 1961, J. Joseph 12875 (MH). Manipur–

Jhirighat, (for Fl. of Manipur district), Nov. 1908, Meebold 5963 (as ‘C.

salicifolia’) (CAL). Maharashtra– Chichpalli forest opposite to rest house,

Chandrapur district, 8th Sept. 1963, Rolla Rao 91334; Kasapkhori, near

Osmanabad, 27th Aug. 1963, Rolla Rao 90638 (BSI). Orissa– Goulabunda,

Ganjam district, 7th Sept. 1895, Samadder and Party 237 (CAL). Pondicherry–

1828–1830, Bilanger s. n. (P–sh. no. P01742748). Tamil Nadu– Vallantharavai,

Ramnathpuram district, 7th Feb. 1987, V. Balasubramaniyam 1182; Mogilipenta,

50

Gudalur district, Sept. 1889, Gamble s. n. (CAL); Anamoolamalai, Coimbatore

district, 16th Aug. 1962, C. P. Sreemadhavan 80; Vellamalai–Shivaganaga,

Ramanathapuram (Ramnad) district, 13th Sept. 1965, K. Ramamurthy 24700;

Karikili Water fall, Chingulput district, 27th Jan. 1976, A. N. Henry 47087 (MH);

Thuraiyur, Tiruchirappalli district, 22nd Sept. 2006, N. P. Murugesan 310 (Herb. of

Madras Christan College, Chennai). Uttar Pradesh– Banmonari, Mirzapur

district, 16th Oct. 1969, Panigrahi 12595 (BSA, CAL).

Note– In India, the species is sometimes mistakenly treated under C.

appendiculata, may be because of its long peduncled spathes, but it can be easily

distinguished by its repent to decumbent dwarf habit, spathes more densely pilose

inside, small blue flowers and bilocular capsule with 2–4 seeds.

5. Commelina benghalensis L. Sp. Pl. 1: 41. 1753; Graham, Cat. Bombay Pl. 223.

1839; Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2065. 1853; Clarke, Commel. Cyrt. Bengal, t. 4.

1874; Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 159. 1881; Hassk, Commel. Ind., 28. 1870;

Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 253. 1861; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India 6: 371. 1894;

Woodr. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 524. 1899; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2:

782. 1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989; Faden in

Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 190. 2000. Conserved type– India, s.

coll., Herb. Linn. no. 65.16 (LINN).

Commelina nervosa Burm. Fl. Ind. p. 18; t. 7, f. 3. 18. 1768. non Ruiz and Pav.

1798. Type–India, South Eastern India, Coromandel Coast (Cormandeli).

Commelina cucullata L. Mant. p. 176. 1771; Moon, Cat. 5. 1824. Type–India.

Commelina mollis Jacq. Collect. 3. p. 235. 1791. Type– India.

Fig. 17p; Plate 4 D, E

Annual, roots fibrous. Underground stem with cleistogamous flowers; airel

stem diffusely branched from the base, glabrous or pubescent, ascending or

scrambling, rooting at the nodes. Leaf sheath 0.2–1.8 (–2) cm long, pubescent or

villous, margin ciliate or sometimes bearded with rofous hairs, leaves distichous,

shortly petiolate to sessile, ovate to oblong, 1–(6–) 8 × 1–5 cm, pubescent or

villous on both surfaces, base oblique, rounded, cuneate to cordate, apex acute–

51

rounded, margin undulate. Spathes 1–3, together, sessile or subsessile, funnelform

or turbinate, pubescent or hirsute, 0.5–2 × 0.5–1 cm, margins fused at base, ciliate;

upper cincinnus 2–3 flowered while lower 1–2 flowered. Flowers small, 1.5 cm

wide, blue to lavender; sepals free, white, elliptic; petals blueto lavender, paired

petals large (0.7 wide), medial petal small, ovate, concolurless; staminodes 2–3,

usually medial vestigial, antherodes yellow; stamens 3, medial stamen half in

length of laterals; ovary small, ovoid, style as long as lateral stamens, stigma

simple. Capsule oblong–subquadrate, c 5 × 4 mm, bi-locular, 1–2 seeded; dorsal

locule with usually single, elliptic otherwise seeds ovoid, testa grey–brown,

foveolate–reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 2D); Paleotropical, naturalized

in the New World (Faden, 2000); abundant in fields, in cultivation, along

roadsides, hilly slopes, riversides, in grasslands, along sea shores.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Shivaji University Campus, Kolhapur, 2nd

Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0233; Agriculture college campus, Coimbatore, 24th

Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 241 (SUK). Karnataka: Belgaum, 12th Oct. 2011, M.

D. Nandikar 0987 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Kondapalli, Krishna district,

24th Aug. 1956, S. K. Wagh 76577; Madgula, Vizag district, 24th Aug. 1956, S. K.

Wagh 76578 (BLAT); Gooty railway station, Anantapur district, 31st Aug. 2010,

Sheba and Nampy 3414 (DEV); Simhachalam Hills, Vishakapattnam district, 7th

Oct. 1964, G. V. Subbarao 21497; Anakapalli, Vizag district, 24th Sept. 1921, s.

coll. 85995; Neelithottikandriga, Satyavedu, Chittoor district, 8th Oct. 1974, M.

Chadrabose 45266; on the way to Jammalakona, Chittoor district, 27th Sept. 1974,

G. V. Subbarao 45820 (MH). Andaman and Nicobar– Mayabunder, Middle

Andaman, 14th Aug. 1974, N. Bharghva 4641; near Head quarter, Car Nicboar,

23rd Sept. 1976, N. G. Nair 10626; Port Blair, Cave Road, Brookesbad, Junglighat,

Camp. no. 1, Havelock island, 15th March 2008, S. Kumar 21690; south Andaman,

30th Aug. 1977, R. K. Premnath 13430 (PBL). Gujarat– Unai, northward along

Ambika river, Dangs district, 31st Oct. 1953, H. Sanatapau 76645 (BLAT).

52

Kerala– Calicut University campus, Calicut district, 20th June 1971, V. V.

Shivarajan 1238; Vadapuram, Malappuram district, for Fl. of Nilambur, s. d.,

Mathew 34557 (CALI); Wagamon, Iddukki district, 9th Dec. 2010, Sheba and

Nampy 4048 (DEV). Maharashtra– Versova, Andheri, Mumbai district, Sept.

1917, Blatter and McCann 76639; Byculla, Mumbai district, Sept. 1925, R. D.

Acland 76575; Monkey Hill, Khadala, Pune district, 4th Oct. 1944, Harman and

Santapau 76648; Khandala, Safety line, Pune district, 4th Oct. 1945, Harman and

Santapau 76644; Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai district, 14th

Oct. 1952, R. R. Fernandez 76573; Malwan, Sindhudurg district, 12th Sept. 1961,

Saldhana 76653 (BLAT); Katraj ghat, Pune district, 20th Oct. 1961, R.V.

Kammathy 86094; Hills opposite Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad district, 6th Nov.

1961, Rolla Rao 36820; Bhimaram felling services, Allapalli division, Chandrapur

distirct, 10th Sept. 1963, Rolla Rao 86045 (BSI). Meghalaya– Way to Jowai,

Jaintia Hills district, 1st Sept. 2011, Nampy 4730 (DEV); Dawki, Jaintia Hills

district, s. d., Myrthong 1630 (Herb. NEHU, Shillong). Rajasthan– Sheo, Barmer

district, 9th Oct. 1960, Rolla Rao 21078; Dugarpur on Mataka Magra hill slopes,

23rd Sept. 1962, K. C. Kanodia 80636 (BSI). Sikkim– Kalimpong, 15th July 1962,

Rolla Rao 36820 (BSI). Tamil Nadu– Vannathura, Annamalai, Chidambaram

district, 12th Sept. 1961, 86097; Sirumalai top, near Dindigul, 4th Jan. 1963, R. V.

Kammathy 86111 (BSI); Kodaikanal, Dindigul district, 16th Oct. 2010, Sheba and

Nampy 3279 (DEV). Tripura– Charilam, Agartala district, 28th Aug. 1957, Deb

1041 (CAL). Uttar Pradesh– Meerut, 15th Aug. 1961, Y. S. Murthy and V. Singh

86088 (BSI); Vedanthangal, Chingulpet district, 27th Sept. 1974, A. N. Henry

45473 (MH).

Note– One of the common herb; main element of herbaceous flora after rains.

Occurs throughout India, easily identify because of its ovate to oblong leaves with

undulate margins, funnel shaped spathes, and cleistogamous, underground flowers.

Flower colour is varying from blue to lavender, rarely whitish pink flowers

observed in the field. Leaves are useful as, vegetable and fodder (Ambasta, 1986

and Jain, 1991).

53

6. Commelina caroliniana Walter, Fl. Caroliniana, Secundum: 68 .1788; Faden,

Taxon. 38(1): 43–53. 1989; Noltie, Fl. Bhutan. 3(1): 237. 2000. Lectotype––

Walter s. n.; USA: South Carolina (BM: Walter Herb, p. 35, upper right corner)

designated by Faden, Taxon 38: 50. 1989.

Commelina hasskarlii C. B. Clarke, Commel. Cyrt. Bengal. 13, t. 3. 1874; Clarke

in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 157. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 371. 1894; Woodr. in

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12. 524. 1899; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 781. 1908.

Type–– India, Jharkhand, the Rajmahal hils, Kurz s. n. (holo–CAL!) Fig. 17i

Much branched, spreading, annual herb; roots at nodes, fibrous. Stems

decumbent to scandent. Leaf sheaths 0.5–1(2) cm long, with a broad base, ciliate at

mouth; leaves narrowly lanceolate to elliptic or lanceolate-oblong, 2–10 × 0.5–2.5

cm, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute to sub-acute, base rounded. Spathes

solitary, bright green, paler basally, pedunculate, peduncles 0.5–2.5 cm long,

spathes puberulous, slightly falcate, 1–3(4) × 0.5–1 cm, margins distinct, usually

ciliate, apex acuminate, glabrous or very sparsely pilose; flowers included,

bisexual, upper branch with 2–4 flowers while lower with 1–2 flowers; sepals

ovoid, petals all blue, medial petal white, membranous, smaller; medial stamen

with white connective; staminodes 3; antherodes yellow, often with central maroon

spot, cruciform. Capsules tri-locular, elliptic, 5–8 × 4 mm; dorsal locule one

seeded while ventral with two seeds. Seeds 5, ovate, 2.5–4 × 2 mm, testa dark

brown, smooth to faintly alveolate.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December.

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 2E); Bangladesh, China,

Vietnam, introduced in United States; mainly occurs in marshy places, riversides,

margin of the small seasonal pools, in moist locations under shade.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Bihar– Kaldam, 15th Dec. 1957, Panigrahi 11793

(ASSAM). Madhya Pradesh– Sidha, Gandhigram, 22nd Oct. 1962, G. Panigrahi

5547 (CAL); Khari Reserve forest, Mandla district, 28th Nov. 1961, J. Joseph

13462; Kondagaon paddy fields, Bastar district, 19th Nov. 1958, K. Subramanayam

7192 (MH). Maharashtra– Dattatray road, Malad-West, Mumbai district, 17th

Nov. 1956, G. L. Shah 76769 (BLAT); Pashan, Pune district, 16th Nov. 1960, K. N.

54

Subramaniyam 17497; Sherewadi hill, Khed, Ratnagiri district, 10th Sept. 1961, K.

P. Janardhanam 62138; Peiut, Nashik district, 12th Sept. 1967, John Chenan

66667; Kalsubai hills, Ahemadnagar district, 7th Oct. 1970, B. N. Wadhwa 77365;

Patri, near Umari village, Yawatmal–Pandhar–Kawada Road, 23rd Sept. 1978, S.

Karthikeyan 104768 (BSI); Bhosari, Pune district, 3rd Sept. 2010, Sheba and

Nampy 3273 (DEV); Deolali, Nashik district, Aug. 1925, R. D. Acland 76795; ;

Agriculture field, Nagpur district, 14th Nov. 1957, K. Subramanayam 4601;

Ambavada, Pune district, 4th Nov. 1955, V. D. Vartak 76798; Khandgaon,

Ahmednagar district, May 1985, Raju Shinde 101440; Khandala, behind Tata

Power House, Pune district, 20th Oct. ?, , Blatter 76777 (MH). Rajasthan– On the

way to Kodra Dam, Mount Abu, 28th Sept. 1960, Rolla Rao 17501 (BSI); Bondal,

Sawai Madhopur district, 26th Dec. 1963, D. M. Verma 1918 (CAL). West

Bengal– Champadanga, Hooghly district, 3rd Dec. 1967, Subir Sen 162 (CAL).

Kerala– Pongalpara, Trivendrum district, 14th May, 1988, N. Mohanan 9795

(CALI). Sikkim– Hiralat district road, beyond Kumidini Vidyashram, Kalimpong,

15th July 1962, R. V. Kammathy 86142 (BSI). Uttar Pradesh– Ishapur, Lucknow

District, 6th March 1962, Rolla Rao 47777 (CAL). Uttarakhand– Dehradun,

March 1894, J. S. Gamble 24573 (BSI). UNITED STATES: North Carolina–

Town of Atkinson, Pender County, 18th Oct. 1966, A. E. Radford 45341

[distributed from Herb. Uni. North Carolina, NCU] (CAL).

Note– The species treated under binomial as Commelina hasskarlii Clarke, in

many regional flora’s in India. Faden (1989) has solved the nomenclatural

complex of this species and stated that, the species was described 100 years before

Clarke’s C. hasskarlii (1874), in 1788 by Walter as C. caroliniana. Even though

the species is native of Asia, it was an old introduction from South Carolina,

possibly with rice seeds from India. Apparently, the species looks like C. diffusa

but differs in falcate, shortly pedunculate spathes, dehiscent capsule and smooth

seeds.

55

7. Commelina coelestis Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol. 1: 69. 1809; Hook. f., Fl. Brit.

India 6: 369. 1894. Type–– From a plant cultivated at the Hortus Berolinensis (B-

W?).

Commelina tuberosa L., Sp. Pl. 41. 1753; Bailey, Stand. Cyc. Hort. 1:836. 1958;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. Lectotype– Mexico (LINN-

65.8). Lectotype designated by Hunt, Fl. Mesoamer. 6: 173. 1994. Fig. 17q

Erect perennial herb with strict branches, roots of fusiform tubers, scabrous

above as usually also the leaves and peduncles. Leaf sheath glabrous, margin

ciliate, to 2.5 cm long, leaves c 30 × 5 cm, lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate,

base cordate, margin undulate. Spathes 2–4 cm long, sparsely puberulous, falcate

or broadly ovate, pedunculate, peduncle 2–8 cm long; lower cincinnus 1–2

flowered while upper one is with 4–10 flowered. Flowers not seen. Capsule

elliptic, trilocular; seeds 5, testa foveolate-rugose, like in C. benghalensis.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout the year.

Distribution and ecology– A handsome robust pubescent or tomentose large feed

species, a native of Mexico, is cultivated in gardens (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu)

and occurs as an escape at Darjiling and probably elsewhere (Map 2F).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Ootacamund, Ooty Botanical garden,

2nd Sept. 1961, R. V. Kammathy 73903 (BSI); Ootacamund, Nilgiris district, 12th

Aug. 1878, King s. n. (CAL). Uttarakhand– Mussoorie, Dehradun district, 21st

July 1964, U. C. Bhattacharyya 31155 (CAL). West Bengal– Darjiling Botanical

Garden, 16th July 1967, R. V. Kammathy 81240 (BSI). Darjiling, 11th July, 1862. T.

Anderson 1315; Darjiling, 7500 ft., 17th Sept. 1870, C. B. Clarke 9362 (CAL).

8. Commelina clavata C. B. Clarke, Commel. et Cryt. Beng. t. 5. 1874; Clarke in

DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 171. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 371. 1894; Woodr. in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 524. 1899; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 783. 1908;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 24. 1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 185. 2000.

Type– India: Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri Hills, Nilgiri district, Herb. Hook. Schmidt, s.n.

(K, sh. no. K000794512).

56

Commelina clavata Clarke var. hohenackeri C. B. Clarke in DC. Mon. Phan.

Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 171. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 371. 1894.

Type– India: Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri hills, Hoemacker 1066 (P, sh. no. 01742606).

Commelina salicifolia Roxb. var. angustata Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 321. 1864;

Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 185. 2000. Type– Sri Lanka:

Maturata, Sept. 1853, Thwaites s.n. [C.P. 3215] (PDA).

Erect to a scending or scrambling, much branched, annual to perennial herb,

with thick fibrous roots. Sometimes rooting at the lower nodes. Leaf sheath 2–4

cm long, glabrous, ciliate at mouth, green or mottled with red lines; leaves

narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate to elliptic 3–15 × 0.5–2 cm, apex acute to

acuminate, base cuneate, usually entire, rarely undulate, not serrulate, both the

surfaces glabrous to hirsute. Spathes leaf opposed, solitary, narrowly lanceolate

with broad cordate base, nearly falcate, pedunculate, peduncle 1.5–10 cm long,

apex acuminate, base ciliate otherwise surface glabrous to sparsely pilose or

puberulous; upper cincinnus exserted, 1–2 flowered, lower cincinnus 2–6(–7)

flowered. Flowers bisexual, blue to sky blue; sepals free, white, elliptic–oblong;

paired petals blue, orbiculate, medial petal concolourous, deltoid; stamens 3,

unequal, lateral long while medial half in length of lateral; staminodes 3, equal,

antherode violet with yellow to creamy yellow lobes; ovary elliptic, style curved.

Capsule oblong to elliptic, 2–6 per spathes, bilocular, 5 × 4 mm, dorsal locule not

developed or empty, ventral locule 1–2 seeded, when with solitary seed, it is

elliptic in shape, when seeds 2 per locule it is oblong to ovoid, 2.5–4 × 2 mm, testa

black to dark brown, reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– September to January .

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 3A); Sri

Lanka, Java; occasionally found along the forest borders, grassland slopes, and

along the riverbeds.

One of the variable species of Commelina in India. In the field one of the

form appear little distinct and it was recently described as C. clavatoides by

Nampy et al. (2012). C. clavatoides distinguished based on few quantitative

57

characters and in present study trivial variation in C. clavata, considered as a

variety rather than a distinct species.

var. clavata Fig. 6, 17e; Plate 4 F, G

Erect to ascending, perennial herb with thick roots; spathes shortly

pedunculate, peduncle 1.5–4(–5) cm long; capsule 2–3 per sheaths.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Badami, Bagalkot district, 11th Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 0238 (BLAT, BSI, CAL, CALI, MH, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Charmudi Ghat, South Kannara, 28th

Oct. 1960, Saldhana 76656 (BLAT). Kerala– Kannur (Coonoor, Niligiris),

Kannur district, J. S. Gamble 330 (BSI); upper Vagavurrai to Devicolam,

Kottayam district, 10th Aug. 1967, B. V. Shetty 28367; Kundipuzha Dam site,

Palghat district, 10th March 1975, E. Vajravelu 46259 ‘as C. undulata var. retusa’

(MH); Thekkady, Idukki district, KCG s. n. (Herb. of Govt. Museum, Chennai).

Tamil Nadu– Naduvattam, Nilgiris district, 19th Feb. 1962, R. V. Kammathy

73909 ‘cultivated in Pune’ n= 45; Annamalai, Chidambaram district, 19th Feb.

1962, R. V. Kammathy 73946 (BSI); Chembotti river side, Niligiris district, Fl. of

Silent Valley, 4th Dec. 1981?, C. Sathish Kumar 10504 (CALI); Near Sims Park,

19th July 2007, Joby and Shibin 1020; near Lams rock, Gudalur, Niligiris district,

20th July 2007, Joby and Nampy 1024; Chembra peak, 20th March 2011, Manudev

3714 (DEV); Devala, south East to Wynaad district, 4000 ft, Nov. 1884, J. S.

Gamble 15673 ‘as Coomelyna (Heterophysis)’; Kodaikanal Ghat (Pulneys),

Dindigul district, 2nd July 1901, Bourne 2077 ‘as C. salicifolia’; Krishnagiri,

Salem district, 24th Dec. 1916, s. coll. 13886; Near Martin’s Hut, Tirunelveli

district, 24th Sept. 1945, Parthasarthy and Sunderaj 20733; Gudalur to

Naduvattam road, Niligiris district, 17th Nov. 1958, K. M. Sebastine 7324;

Mahendragiri slope, Kanyakumari district, 30th July 1966, B. V. Shetty 28044;

Kalhatti, Nilgiris district, 27th Aug. 1970, B. D. Sharma 35809; Ootacamund,

Niligiris district, 30th Nov. 1883, s. coll. 52180 (MH).

58

One of the wide spread species in southern Western Ghats of India and Sri

Lanka, vary in habit, sometimes ascending, repent, erect; rooting at nodes common

in ascending plants; leaves from linear elliptic to linear lanceolate or narrowly

lanceolate. In vegetative, it looks like Commelina longifolia and C. diffusa, and

due to this reason, many Indian specimens deposited in various herbaria and

identified as C. longifolia or C. diffusa. In addition, spathes also similar to C.

attenuata and C. appendiculata in size and shape.

var. clavatoides (Nampy and S. Joseph) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat. nov.

Commelina clavatoides Nampy and S. Joseph in J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 6(1): 119–

122. 2012. Type––India: Kerala, Idukki district, Adimali–Munnar roadside, 19

Nov. 2010, Sheba M. Joseph and Santhosh Nampy 4016 (holo–DEV!; iso–BRIT,

CALI!) Fig. 7; Plate 4 H

Scrambling, robust, perennial herb with thick fibrous roots; spathes long

pedunculate, peduncles 6–10 cm long; capsules 5–6 per spathes.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to southern Western Ghats of

India: Karnataka and Kerala (Map 3B); the species has been so far collected from

Kerala states of India, from the forest margins and along the river side.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Charmadi Ghats, South Kannara, 8th Nov. 2011,

M. D. Nandikar 01120 (SUK). Kerala: on the way to Cheruvathur to Payyanur,

Kannur and Kasargod district, 3rd Sept. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 01228 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Karpara river side, Palghat district, 20th

Dec. 1980, N. C. Nair 69674 (CAL, MH); Paithalmala, Kannur district, 14th Sept.

2002, Nampy and Joby 829; Marayoor, Iddukki district, 21st Oct. 2009, Nampy

2293; Nelliyampathy, Palakkad district, 19th Nov. 2010, Sahina and Joseph 4024

(DEV).

Note– On the examination of types and live collection of recently described

species viz. Commelina clavatoides, along with a few other specimens of it and

typical C. clavata, it is clear that the C. clavatoides is most closely to C. clavata,

only the long peduncle and number of capsules per sheaths could be the key

characters to distinguish it from C. clavata. Apart from this, all morphological

59

characters are within a range of C. clavata. In view of the little variation in C.

clavata it is considered as a variety rather than a distinct species.

9. Commelina diffusa Burm. f., Fl. Ind. 18, t. 7, f. 2. 1768; Moon Cat. 5. 1824.

Type– from India, South Eastern India, Coromandel Coast (Cormandeli) Burman

s. n. (G, sh. no. G00360106).

Commelina sabatieri Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 146. 1881. Type– Africa, from

the Sources of the White Nile, 1842, Sabatier 4647 (P, sh. no. P00173825) syn.

nov.

Commelina communis of Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 252. 1861. non Linn. 1753.

Commelina nudiflora of Moon, Cat. 5. 1824, non L., 1753; of Clarke in DC., Mon.

Phan. 3: 144. 1881, non Linn., 1753; of Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 369. 1894, non

Linn., 1753; of Woodr. in J. Bombay Nat. His. Soc. 12: 524. 1899, non Linn.,

1753; of Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 781. 1908. non Linn. 1753.

Annual to perennial, much branched diffuse, glabrous, ascending to erect

herb; roots fibrous, usually at nodes. Leaf sheath 2–2.5 cm long, glabrous, ciliate at

mouth, leaves linear to lanceolate or lanceolate to elliptic, sessile, 2–10 × 0.5–2

cm, glabrous. Spathes solitary, pedunculate, peduncle c. 1–3 cm long, spathes free

at margins, ovate–lanceolate, 3–3.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm high, base rounded or

cordate or oblique, cilaite, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous to puberulous; upper

cincinnus 1–3 flowered while lower cincinnus of several flowers. Flowers

bisexual, dark blue to faint blue; sepals elliptic, free; two interior petals or paired

petals obovate with long claws, dark blue, the medial one subsessile, orbicular,

small, a pale blue or bluish white; staminodes 3, equal, antherodes cruciform,

yellow; stamens 3, anther of medial stamen with short, violet connective; ovary

obovoid to elliptic, style as long as filaments of lateral stamens, stigma capitate.

Capsule oblong to elliptic, 5–8 × 4 mm, trilocular, dorsal locule indehiscent one

seeded, ventral locules 1–2 seeded, dehiscent. Seeds oblong to ovoid or elliptic in

outline, 2–3.2 × 1.5–2 mm, testa tuberculate or reticulate, or pitted to doubly

reticulate, brown or dark brown to black.

Flowering and fruiting–Throughout year.

60

Distribution and ecology– Pantropical and warm temperate; chiefly found along

the roadside, margins of pools, along the railway tracks, Ghats, on the forest

margins, in paddy and rice fields, along the river beds, it is common element of

wet places.

Note– In Indian scenario this plant considered in wide way, earlier the species was

treated under various binomials like Commelina nudiflora and C. communis, but C.

diffusa is a distinct one and wide spread throughout India. It can be easily identifed

by its much branched, diffused habit, with numerous rooting nodes, glabrous

sheaths, elliptic to lanceolate leaves and 5 seeded capsule.

After screening a type of Commelina sikkimensis Clarke (1874), specimens

by Clarke, Hooker and Thomson placed at CAL and live collections from the type

locality reveled that, C. sikkimensis is based on merely quantitative charachtres. In

addition, many Indian botanists followed Clarke’s portrayal without considering

the range of characters. In conclusion, most of the characters of C. sikkimensis are

within the range of C. diffusa and therefore it is treated as geographic variety of C.

diffusai in present investigation, while considering a different species. Similarity

seen in characters like habit, leaves, flowering spathes, capsule, seeds from the

herbarium sheets. Following morphological variations were observed in C. diffusa

and C. sikkimensis with specimens collected from north Eastern states of India.

Spathes are more lanceolate and narrow, paired petals slightly larger, capsule

smaller, seeds brown to black without farinose. Two distinct types that are

morphologically separate can be recognize as follows

1. Leaves and spathe acute; seed reticulation without groove ……….…var. diffusa

– Leaves and spathe finely acuminate; seed reticulation deeply grooved..var. sikkimensis

var. diffusa Fig. 17d; Plate 7 A

Leaves lanceolate, 3–7 × 1–1.5 cm, acuminate at apex, entire, base rounded,

glabrous. Spathes c 2 cm long, conduplicate, acuminate, glabrous, base slightly

cordate. Capsules trilocular, dorsal locule indehiscent; seeds broadly ovate to

elliptic in outline, testa brown to gray, doubly reticulate with white farinose.

61

Distribution– Variety diffusa is a wide spread throughout India (Map 3C); chiefly

occurs in marshy and in waste land.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Shivaji University Kolhapur, 21st Oct. 2009,

Nandikar 232; Manohar Man Santosh Gad, Kudal, Sindhudurg district, 2nd Oct.

2011, M. D. Nandikar 244 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Pecheruvu, Kurnool district, S.

K. Wagh 76678 (BLAT); Kurnool, 16th Sept. 1961, R. V. Kammathy 86222;

Golconda fort, Hydrabad, near Adensoia tree, 28th Sept. 1962, R. V. Kammathy

86237 (BSI). Andaman and Nicobar Islands– Nimbudera roadsides on cemented

wall, North Andaman, 20th July 1974, N.Bhargava 1879; 10 kms, towards Poona

Nallah, Inland forest, on sandy loam soil, 100–150 mts, 25th July, 1976, N.

Bhargava 4234; Way to forest nursery, Hut Bay, Little Andaman, 1st Jan. 1976, N.

Bhargava 3284; Way to Carbyns Cave, Port Blair, 17th May, 2008, S. Kumar

26943 (PBL). Goa– Borda village, Margao, 22nd Aug. 1963, K. C. Kanodia 85072;

Satrem, north Goa district, 25th Sept. 1970, N. P. Singh 81212 (BSI);

Malaparamba, Kozhikode district, 14th Nov. 2009, Shisy Jose 736 (DEV).

Gujarat– Ahwa, Dang District, 10th April, 1958, G. S. Puri 28632; Chikhli,

Navsari district, 10th Sept. 1968, R. S. Raghvan 95633 (BSI). Karnataka–

Dharwad, north Kannara, Dec. 1918, Blatter and McCann 76674 (BLAT); for Fl.

North Kannara, W. A. Talbot 331 (BSI). Kerala– Cheruvandoor, Kottayam

district, 22nd July 1970, Shivarajan 731; Calicut University campus, Calicut

district, 16th Dec. 1981, C. P. Suja 137; Pulpally, Wayanad district, 22nd Feb. 1990,

Rejitha 1986; Athirumala, Trivendrum district, 6th Feb. 1988, N. Mohanan 9419;

Thanmikkardy, Periyar, 12th July 1993, A. Jomy? 12157 (CALI). Maharashtra–

Paymaster Garden, Matheran, Raigad district, 28th Sept. 1960, B. M. Wadhwa

17485 (Spathes slightly broader, resemble with var. sikkimensis); Igatpuri, near

rest house, Nashik district, 13th Sept. 1962, Rolla Rao 86239; Mulshi, Pune

district, 6th Sept. 1964, B. Venkata Reddi 68731; Raipur, Amaravati district, 25th

Aug. 1976, M. Y. Ansari 127072 (BSI). Meghalaya– Balaiba Tilla, Nongpoh

district, 17th Sept. 1965, J. Joseph 43607 (ASSAM); Nongpoh forest, Eastern side,

Nongpoh district, 27th June 1962, R. V. Kammathy 86235 (BSI). West Bengal–

62

Kalimpong on the way to Tessta, Darjeeling district, 16th July, 1962, R. V.

Kammathy 862396 (BSI).

var. sikkimensis (Clarke) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat. nov. Fig. 8; 17m

Commelina sikkimensis Clarke, Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal. t. 6. 1874; Clarke,

in DC, Mon. Phan. 3: 147. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 369. 1894; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989; Noltie, Fl. Bhutan. 3(1): 236.1994. Type–

India: Sikkim Rungbee, 03rd July1870, C. B. Clarke 12139 (holo–K, iso–CAL)

Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3–10 × 0.7–2.5 cm, sessile, rounded

at base, entire, acuminate at apex, peberulous on upper surface, glabrous on lower

surface. Spathe ovate–narrowly lanceolate, 3.5–5 cm long, apex acuminate, base

cordate. Capsules trilocular, dorsal locule indehiscent; seeds rugose, testa black,

deeply pitted, reticulate.

Distribution and ecology– Occur in North East India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,

Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizhoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal (Map 3D);

Bhutan; along the roadside or in undergrowth.

Specimens collected– Meghalaya– Umsaw hills, Shillong, 11th Oct. 2012, M. D.

Nandikar 1235; Umiyam forest, on the way to Agri. University, Shillong, 11th Oct.

2012, M. D. Nandikar 1236 (SUK).

Following herbarium specimens of Commelina diffusa var. sikkimensis [as

‘C. sikkimensis’] deposited at various herbaria in India were examined:

Arunachal Pradesh– Sheliang, Lohit NEFA, 13th Nov. 1957, Rolla Rao 10522

(ASSAM); Deshari, Dibong Valley, 23rd Aug. 2000, M. Bhoumik 3152 (CAL).

Assam– North Lakhimpur, 14th March 1962, Panigrahi 27855 (ASSAM); Lohit

Valley road, May? March 1916, Alexander 19 (CAL). Manipur– Yhirrghat,

Manipur, Nov. 1908, Meebold 6196 (CAL). Mizhoram– Teirui-Dampa, Dampa

Tiger Reserve, 30th Oct. 2007, B. K. Sinha 117181 (ASSAM). Nagaland–

Pulebadje Protected Forest, Kohima, 20th Oct. 1973, C. Bahadur 55563 (CAL).

Meghalaya– Near Tripura Castle, Shillong, s. d., R. V. Kammathy 81230; Mamlos,

Cherapunji, 25th June 1965, R. V. Kammathy 81208 (BSI). Sikkim– Labdali,

Sikkim, 7th June 1903, Dr. Prain s. n.; Junction of Great and Little Nangieb,

63

Sikkim, Kurz. s. n. (CAL). West Bengal– St. Mary hill, way to Darjeeling, 8th

Sept. 2011, Nampy 4798 (DEV).

10. Commelina ensifolia R. Br., Prodr. 269. 1810; Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3:

188. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India, 6: 374. 1894; Rolla Rao in Blumea 14: 352.

1967; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989; Faden in Dassanayake,

Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 195. 2000. Type– Australia, Opposite Grooto Island,

Carpentaria Island, 21st Nov. 1802, R. Brown 5733 (holo–BM, annotated by Rolla

Rao, 1967).

Commelina ensifolia R. Br. var. pubescens R. Br. ex Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3:

188. 1881; Rolla Rao in Blumea 14: 352. 1967. Type– Australia, Carpentaria

Island, 21st Nov. 1802, R. Brown 5734 (holo–K, annotated by Rolla Rao, 1967)

Commelina undulata var. setosa Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3: 179. 1881; Fischer

in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1539. 1931.

Commelina longifolia of Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 322. 1864, pro parte, non

Lamarck, 1791. Fig. 17t; Plate 6A

Erect to ascending, perennial herb; root thickened fibrous with prominent

root stock, when ascending rooting at lower nodes. Stem sometime reddish brown.

Leaf sheath 0.5–4 cm long, puberulous, ciliate at mouth; leaves distichous, sessile,

linear to lanceolate, 2–12 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate,

surfaces variously hirsute or puberulous. Spathes pedunculate, peduncle c 1–1.5

cm long, funnel shaped or slightly falcate, 1 × 1.5 cm, terminal, usually solitary or

in cluster of 2–3, margins, fused basally, pilose to puberlous, never glabrous; upper

cincinnus 1–2 flowers while lower several flowered. Flowers blue; sepals c 5 mm

long, elliptic; paired petals large, blue, medial petal small, elliptic like sepals,

concolourous or light blue; staminodes 3, equal in length, antherodes yellow;

anthers, medial anther short on yellow connective; ovary elliptic, green, style as

long as lateral stamens, stigma simple–capitate. Capsules 1–3 per spathes, elliptic,

c 5 × 6 mm, bilocular; dorsal locule empty or vestigial, ventral locule single

seeded. Seeds ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.5 × 3 mm, testa dark brown, white material

deposited around the margins.

64

Flowering and fruiting– July to March.

Distribution and ecology– North Australia to India [Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,

Kerala, Tamil Nadu] (Map 3E) through Malaysia and Sri Lanka (Rao, 1966);

occasional or rare in rocky crevices, along the forest edge, in slopes of grasslands,

undergrowth of forest.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Badami, Bagalkot district, 11th Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 0237 (SUK). Tamil Nadu: Murudmalai temple, Coimbatore, 24th

Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 242 (BSI, CAL, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Kondvidu, Guntur district, 7th

Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 76698 (BLAT); Puttur to Kailasakona, Chittoor district,

26th July 1969, G. V. Subbarao 32033; Brahma Devudu Gundam, Chittoor district,

3rd Oct. 1974, G. V. Subbarao 45965 (MH). Karnataka– Ranglibatta,

Devarayadurg, Mysore district, 1050 mts, 28th Aug. 1961, Rolla Rao 73302;

Gokak, Belgaum district, 2nd Dec. 1961, Ansari and Kammathy 78746; Kolar

district, 10th Sept. 1961, R. V. Kammathy 73932; Saundatti hills on the way to

Gokak, Belgaum district, 9th Nov. 1963, A. S. Rao 86860 (BSI). Kerala–

Thiruvananthapuram museum, 5th Nov. 2010, S. Joseph and Nampy 4006 (DEV).

Tamil Nadu– Virapalli reserve forest, 12th Oct. 1958, M. Y. Ansari 28578;

Tadikarankonum, Azhagiapandyapuram, Kanyakumari district, 1st Jan. 1963, R. V.

Kammathy 82625 (BSI); Kalakkadu, Tirunelveli district, 8th Nov. 1962, J. Joseph

15169 (CAL); Jekkumalai in West area, for Fl. Courtallam, Tirunelveli district,

29th Sept. 1975, K. N. Nair 1207; way to five falls, for Fl. Courtallam, Tirunelveli

district, 2nd Oct. 1975, K. N. Nair 1301 (CALI); Kalakkad, Nagarkoil, 22nd July,

2011, Manudev 4557 (DEV); on the slopes of Kurudimalai, Coimbatore district,

16th Sept. 1956, K. Subramanyam 706, ‘as C. undulata var. setosa’; 13th Dec.

1956, K. Subramanyam 1771, ‘as C. paleata’; Ayilandanpillai Estate, near

Thirukurungudi, Tirunelveli district, 24th July 1966, B. V. Shetty 27950; near

Paapnashnam, Thanjavar district, 19th Sept. 1977, K. Ramamurthy 51326 (MH).

Note– Exclusive species of Southern peninsular India, rarely found in rock

crevices, on grassy slopes. Very similar to C. kurzii and C. paludosa in habit and

spathe characters, but can be easily distinguished by its tough, rhizomatous root

65

stock, linear to lanceolate, puberulous leaves with long sheaths, spathes pilose to

variable puberulous, never glabrous, but lacking rusty hairs (found in C.

paludosa), capsule bilocular (trilocular with dorsal smooth locule in C. paludosa

while dorsal locule spinulose in C. kurzii), seeds with white deposition on

periphery.

11. Commelina forskalaei Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 172. 1806; Clarke in DC, Mon.

Phan. 3:168. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India, 371. 1894; Woodr. in J. Bombay. Nat.

Hist. Soc. 12: 524. 1899; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay, 2: 781. 1908, ‘as C.

hasskarlii’; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras. 2: 1073.1931; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989 ‘as C. forsskalaei’.

Type–– Arabia, Forsskal s. n. (C). Fig. 9, 17r; Plate 7 B

Much branched, diffused, spreading, often forming dense mat, annual herb.

Roots fibrous, at nodes, with cleistogamous, underground or sub-terranian

flowering shoots. Stem glabrous or pubescent, sometimes scaberulous. Leaf sheath

0.3–1.8 cm long, pubescent or glabrous, usually striate with red pubescence, ciliate

at mouth; leaves sub-sessile, linaer to linear oblong, 1–5(–7) × 0.5– 1.5 cm, apex

obtuse or sub-acute, base cuneate, margin usually undulate or crenulate, scabrous,

surfaces glabrous. Spathes pedunculate, peduncle 0.5–1.5 cm, axillary, solitary,

broadly ovate, leaf opposed, funneliform, c 1–1.5 × 1 cm, densely ciliate on both

surfaces, margins fused; cincinnus pubsecsnt, upper cincinnus 2–5 flowered, while

lower cincinnus 1–2 flowered. Flowers exserted and showy, azure or bright blue

coloured; sepals 3, elliptic to ovate, white to faint blue; paired petals, azure or

bright blue coloured, obovate, with a very long slender claw, medial one small;

stamens 3, equal, lateral two with long and curved filament forming a heart shaped

structure while medial one with short filament, and broad anther; staminodes 3,

equal, antherodes yellow; ovary elliptic, style as long as medial staminal filament;

stigma simple to capitate. Capsule obovoid, c 5 × 4 mm, 1–2 per spathe, trilocular,

dorsal locule 1 seeded, ventral locules 2 seeded; seeds of dorsal locule irregularly

angled, 2.5 × 2 mm, while seeds of ventral locule orbicular, compressed, 4 × 3.5

66

mm, testa orange–brown, smooth. Capsule from underground, cleistogamous

flowers are indehiscent.

Flowering and fruiting– August to February.

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan,

Tamil Nadu (Map 3F); Tropical Africa and Arabia. It has also been introduced to

Florida in the United States; the species is considered a weed in many areas

because of its hardiness and ability to produce cleistogamous flowers (Faden,

2012); chiefly found in the dry tracts of India, along the roadsides, among the

grasslands, in agricultural field and along the sandy shores. It prefers fully exposed

sunny situations.

Specimens collected– Karanataka: Gokak to Badami Road, Bagalkot district, 11th

Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 235 (SUK). Maharashtra: Shivaji Univeristy campus,

Kolhapur district, 19th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 225b (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Gujarat– Vijarkhi dam site, 8 miles south East,

Jamnagar district, 26th Oct. 1945, H. Santapau 76726; Rajkot near river bed, 19th

Aug. 1952, H. Santapau 76728; Rajkot Railway compound, 18th Aug. 1952, H.

Santapau 76728; Okha, Saurashtra district, 13th Oct. 1953, H. Santapau 76720;

Sasan, Iran River upstream, Saurashtra district, 6th Oct. 1953, H. Satapau 76717

(BLAT); Chasai, Mahesana district, 28th Dec. 1977, Singh 5517 (CAL).

Karnataka– Hampi, Bellary district, 14th Oct. 1919, s. coll. 52238, ‘as C. paleata’

(MH). Maharashtra– Devalai, Nashik district, Oct. 1919, Blatter and McCann

33896; Kolhapur, Nov. 1927, R. D. Acland 76702; Malad, along railway track,

Mumbai district, 6th Aug. 1955, G. L. Shah 76731; Khandgaon, Ahmednagar

district, March 1985, Rajendra Shinde 101439 (BLAT); Mahalakshmi, Mumbai

district, 16th Oct. 1902, G. A. Ryan 1556; Pune, along the railway line, 19th Aug.

1902, L. D. Garade 1561; Aundh, Pune district, 5th Sept. 1934, Devadikar 1568;

Kukadi river bed, Junnar, Pune district, 1st Nov. 1964, K. Hemadri 72072; behind

Makabara Tomb, Aurangabad, 5th Nov. 1961, R. S. Rao 36822 (BSI). Rajasthan–

Sawai Madhopur district, 1919, R. D. Acland 76749; Kota, 4th Nov. 1945, H.

Santapau 76748 (BLAT); Rajpura, Churu district, 7th July 1959, Dr. Stower W. T.

86115; Daboke, Udaipur district, 2nd July 1964, K. C. Kanodia 85012 (BSI); Sunda

67

hills, Dantalawas, Jalore district, 24th Oct. 1977, B. L. Vyas 5188 (CAL). Tamil

Nadu– Bharthiyar University Campus, Coimbatore, 27th Nov. 2010, Sheba and

Nampy 3982 (DEV).

Note– Very distinct species, easily recognized by its, ovate, ciliate spathes; azure

or bright blue flowers with curved, heart shaped staminal filaments.

12. Commelina hirsuta (Wight) Clarke in DC, Mono. Phan. 3: 163. 1881; Hook.

f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 163. 1894; Barnes, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 46: 74. 1946;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989.

Hetereocarpus hirsutus Wight, Ic. t. 2067. 1853. Type– India, Tamilnadu,

Avalangy, Nilgiris district, Oct. 1852, Wight s. n. [holo–K, sh. no. K000794514,

annotated by Clarke, 1881]. Fig. 17g; Plate 5

[modified after Wight 1853, Clarke 1881 and Barnes, 1946].

Small, erect, hirsute, annual herb, with thick fibrous roots. Stem branched

from the base. Leaf sheaths hirsute, 1.5–2.5 cm long, leaves linear to lanceolate, 2–

10 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate to cuneate, surfaces

hirsute. Spathes solitary, leaf opposite, on long peduncles, peduncles 2–7 cm long,

hirsute, often reddish, spathes ovate to lanceolate, 1.8–4 × 1–1.5 cm, base rounded

or somewhat cordate, apex acuminate, margin dark red, ciliate, surface puberulous,

upper cincinnus 3–5 flowered while lower cincinnus with single perfect flower or

rudimentary flower. Flowers deep turquoise blue; sepals broadly elliptic, fused

near the base, concave, discolourous; paired petals orbicular, unequal sided at the

base, margin irregularly crenate or shallowly toothed, medial petal smaller,

cordate, apex bluntly triangular; staminodes 3 with slender filaments, as long as

lateral stamens, antherodes small and variable in shape; lateral stamens with blue

filaments and large yellow anthers, medial stamen with short filament and turned

downwards; ovary tomentose, style as long as lateral stamens. Capsule 4.5 mm

long; ventral half ovoid–oblong, green, hairy with slightly narrowed tip, dorsal half

broadly semi-ovoid, glabrous, yellow and slightly keeled and wrinkled, trilocular,

indeshiscent, ventral locule single seeded, dorsal locules empty or undeveloped;

68

seeds ovoid, flattened on one side, c 4 mm long and covered by firmly adhering

capsule wall.

Flowering and fruiting– September to December.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to Western Ghats of India: Tamil

Nadu (Map 4A) with very narrow distribution; it is the characteristic plant of the

high grasslands (2000 mts and above) grows on wet places.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– down lands within a radius of 4 miles

of Murkurti Dam, on the Pykara River, Nilgiris district, 15th?25th Nov. 1951, M. J.

Hacknery 76837 (BLAT); along the roadsides, about 2 miles from Naduvattum

towards Pykara, Nilgiris district, 3rd Sept. 1961, R. V. Kammathy 86137;

Ootacamund forest, Nilgiris district, s. d., from Cooke’s Herbarium s. coll. (BSI).

Note– Barnes (1946) has detailed the Flowering and fruiting characters, with its

distribution. He has noted that small staminodes with irregular antherodes and the

dark turquoise blue petals are characteristic while in Fischer’s (1931) description

“yellow coloured flower” is erroneous and it was apparently taken from Hooker’s

(1894) description.

In addition to this, Barnes (1946) has observed individuals with tuft base in

short grass, probably owing to grazing, in thickets and tall grass it grows with long

and straggling stem.

The species has nomenclature troubles, and it was synonymised under

Commelina coelestis Willd. (69: 1809) [ref. IPNI, TROPICOS, KEW

CHECKLIST]. However, these citations were seems to be erroneous, because C.

hirsuta (Wt.) Clarke is very distinct from C. coelestis in habit, leaves, capsule and

seed characters. C. hirsuta is a dwarf hirsute, annual herb apparently endemic to

India, with thick fibrous roots, much-branched stem, linear to lanceolate, hirsute

leaves and single seeded indehiscent capsules. In opposite C. coelestis is a

Mexican, robust, perennial herb, with fusiform, tuberous roots, lanceolate c. 30 cm

long leaves and 5 seeded, dehiscent capsule. In addition, C. coelestis was treated as

C. tuberosa in much Indian literature, inspite C. coelestis was well known to

Clarke (1881).

69

The name Commelina hirsuta was used plenty of times by many authors,

Clarke’s C. hirusta apparently seems to be not a unique name, later homonym and

become an illegitimate. However, in present treatment, C. hirsuta (Wt.) Clarke is

considered as it is a ‘legitimate name’ because “Clarke (1881) was the first to

make a valid and legitimate use of the combination for C. hirsuta [=Heterocarpus

hirsuta]”. Following nomenclatural details can support the above statement. (from

personal discussion with Dr. Jan-Frits Veldkamp).

In 1814, Robert Brown listed Commelina hirsuta R. Br. in Salt, Voy.

Abyss., 62. 1814, but he has not provided authority for this and due to this it

becomes a nomen nudum. – Type: Salt s.n. (BM), Ethiopia (“Abyssinia”), and

afterwards it was synonymies under Commelina benghalensis L., Sp. Pl.: 41.

1753.

In 1820, Commelina hirsuta Willd. ex Link, Jahrb. Gewächsk. 1(3): 74

(“73”), nomen nudum. – Voucher: Humboldt 2131 in Herb. Willdenow 1061 (B-

W, IDC microfiche 7440).

On a page no. 13 of Jahrbücher der Gewächskunde, Volume 1(3), it is

showing that the citation of Willdenow as the author of this paper which is

erroneous. Its subject is the collection of plants in the Botanical Garden of Berlin

and those in the Willdenow Herbarium (B-W). While on page no. 74, it clears that

the collection was by Humboldt. “From Humboldt there is next to C. hirsuta only

C. prostrata Nov. Gen. et Sp. 1. p. 205. in the herbarium”. The specimen is

Humboldt 2131 in Herb. Willdenow 1061 (B-W, IDC microfiche 7440), where it

can be seen that the combination Commelina hirsuta was by Willdenow. Page 205

is an error for page 259, where we found C. prostrata, but not C. hirsuta. Callisia

hirsuta is an error for Callisia ciliata on page 261, not 207.

In 1843 (17-19 July), Kunth used Commelina hirsuta Hort. Berol. ex Kunth,

Enum. Pl. 4: 660, which was based on C. karwinskii. “Hort. berol. 1841”, but the

fact is ‘Commelyna hirsuta’ (1843) mentioned under C. karwinskii. “Hort. berol.

1841” refers to Kunth, Index seminum horti berolinensis 1841 of late 1841 or early

1842. On the other side, C. scapigera Mart. var. β hirsuta Kunth is a new

combination for C. karwinskii Mart. (Hort. Reg. Monac. Seminif.: [4]. 1839; FYI:

70

Ad calcem: at the end, as the pamphlet is unpaged). There is no C. karwinskiana

here as was suggested by Kunth (1843) and repeated by other sources as IPNI and

the World Checklist. Now both the species viz. C. karwinskii and C. scapigera

would be synonyms of C. elliptica Kunth. Resulted C. hirsuta Hort. Berol. ex

Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 660 is a nomen nudum.

In 1842, Cyanotis hirsuta Fisch. and C. A. Mey. in Fisch., C. A. Mey. and

Avé-Lall., Index Seminum St. Petersburg 8: 57. 1842 [after 25 Jan. 1842, see p. 74

for date of censor’s imprimatur] (authorship as given by IPNI corrected). --- Type:

Schimper It. Abyss. 14, Ao 1840 (LE, holo: K, L, etc.), Ethiopia (“Abyssinia”;

“Commelina hirsuta Hochst.” in syn.). “Radix tuberosa” is the validating

diagnosis. There is also a Schimper 14 of Schimper Pl. Abyss,. Ed. 2, Ao 1852 (L).

On the basis of diagnosis and after examining the types it turn out to be Cyanotis

vaga (Lour.) Schult. and Schult. f. in J. J. Roemer and J. A. Schultes, Syst. Veg. 7:

1153. 1830, World Checklist, Kew synonymies Cyanotis hirsuta Fisch. and C. A.

Mey. in C. barbata D. Don.

The type is Schimper 14 of the U.i. (Unio itineraria, or Esslinger Reiseverein)

of 1840 (there is also a Schimper 14 of Schimper Pl. Abyss, Ed. 2, 1852). The

holotype is presumably in LE, isotypes in K, L, etc.

In 1850, Commelina hirsuta Hochst. in syn. sub Cyanotis abyssinica A.

Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2:344. Because Richard included the combination by

Hochstetter validated by Fischer and Meyer for Schimper 14, he was not allowed

to change the epithet, whether he knew about Fischer and Meyer, or not (most

unlikely because of the scarcity, ephemeral nature and limited distribution of

seeds). Cyanotis abyssinica A. Rich. is therefore superfluous. Clarke in 1881

made a combination ‘Commelina hirsuta (Wight) C. B. Clarke, in A. and C. DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 163’. The combination was based on Heterocarpus hirsutus

Wight [Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient: 29, t. 2067, Mar 1853]. – Type: Wight s.n. (K, holo;

iso possibly at many places), India, Nilgiri, Avalangy.

Based on above discussion it seems to be Commelina hirsuta earlier to

Clarke (1881) is valid one, therefore the C. hirsuta (Wight) C. B. Clarke is treated

as a legitimate name in present work.

71

13. Commelina indehiscens E. Barnes, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 46: 74. 1946;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 191. 2000. Type– India: Karnataka, Mysore, Minchiguli

valley, Billigirirangan Hills (BR hills), June 1939, E. Barnes 2164 (K; MH)

Fig. 10

A much branched, repent and scrambling, perennial herb with erect

flowering shoots. Roots long fibrous, at nodes; underground stem produces

cleistogamous flowers at the tip (during May–July). Stem glabrous, often with red

longitudinal striations with short internodes. Leaf sheaths 1–2.5 cm long, strigose,

mouth ciliate, often lax and striated with red, leaves petiolate, petiole c. 1 cm,

ciliate, unequal sided, ovate to lanceolate, 1.5–13 × 1–4 cm long, apex acute to

acuminate, base rounded. Spathes pedunculate, peduncle 1–3 cm long, solitary,

leaf opposed, spathes c 1–3.5 cm long, broadly cordate or falcate, apex acute to

acuminate, margins free, surfaces puberulous or beneath glabrous; upper cincinnus

single flowered, lower cincinnus few flowered. Flowers blue; sepals elliptic,

concave, unequal, colourless, fused basally; paired lateral petals with large deltoid

lobes, claws slender, pale blue to sky blue; medial petal smaller, with short claw,

blue; staminodes 2–3, filament slender, as long as medial stamens; antherodes

yellow, with unequal lobes, often wanting in medial staminodes (Barnes, 1946);

lateral stamens with long filaments, anthers small, yellow, medial stamens with

short filament and large anthers; ovary elliptic, tapering to the style. Capsule

elliptic to oblong, 10 × 2.5 mm, indehiscent, trilocular, two ventral locules empty

while dorsal locule one seeded. Seed adnate to the locule, ovoid, 5 × 2 mm, testa

black, reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– August to June

Distribution and ecology– Southern India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map

4B); Sri Lanka; the plant occurs in swamps and on the margins of streams in wet

evergreen forests of southern Western Ghats, along the roadside, undergrowth of

Bamboos.

72

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Homma, between 21–22 miles from

Chamrajnagar and Billigirirangaswamy temple, 4th Sept. 1961, Rolla Rao 73556;

Pokhankira reserve forest, Bedugulli, Mysore, 16th April 1962, K. S.

Subramaniyam 79956; Kajoor forest. 5 miles south of Somwarpeth, on Madapur

road, Madikeri, 12th Feb. 1963, A. S. Rao 85507; Hosur, Madikeri district, 12th

Feb. 1963, A. S. Rao 94657 (BSI). Kerala– Nedumkayam, Malappuram district,

2nd Sept. 1981, Philip Mathew 28740 (CALI); on the way from Wagamon to

Pullipara, Kottayam- Idukki, 19th June 2011, Nampy and Sheba 3838;

Kakkadampoyil, Calicut district, s. n., Nampy and Manudev 2632 (DEV);

Kuppadi, Calicut district, 6th Feb. 1964, Blatter and Ellis 36305; Kuooadi to Sultan

Battery, Calicut district, 6th Feb. 1964, J. L. Ellis 18566; Aralam, Cannanore

district, 11th Nov. 1978, V. S. Ramachandran 58677; Karapara river side, Palghat

district, 20th Dec. 1980, N. C. Nair 69661 (MH). Tamil Nadu– Sirumalai top,

Dindigul district, 4th Jan. 1963, R. V. Kammathy 82649 (BSI). Bitherkad, Nilgiris

district, 26th Sept. 2010, Sheba and Nampy 3442 (DEV); Vellapathy, Coimbatore

district, 1st Aug. 1929, S. K. Raju and Ratnavelu 78128; Gaddel, Coimbatore

district, 15th March 1931, K. C. Joseph 81448; Cumbum reserve forest, Madurai

district, 29th Sept. 1925, K. C. Jacob 17797; Oyinigiri betta, Gaddesal, Coimbatore

district, 15th March 1931, K. C. Jacob 362 (MH).

Note– The species resembles Commelina clavata and C. diffusa in habit and

leaves, and has probably often mistaken. We found most of the specimen placed in

different herbaria in India of C. indehiscens, are deposited as either C. clavata or

C. diffusa [=C. nudiflora]. Barnes (1946) has given details of the species with its

flowering phenolgy, notes on cleistogamous flower and distribution. Single seeded

indehiscent capsule, and cleistogamous flowers are the unique characters of C.

indehiscens which distinguishes it from other Commelina’s. The species also

known from Sri Lanka, but without cleistogamous flowers (Faden, 2000).

14. Commelina kurzii C. B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 11: 444. 1871; Clarke in

DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 185. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India, 6: 373. 1894; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl.

73

Ceylon 14: 193. 2000. Type– India, Jharkhand, the Rajmahal hills near Sahibgunj,

500 feet. alt., May, 1867 Kurz 2 (CAL).

Commelina longifolia of Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 322. 1864, pro parte, non

Lamarck, 1791. Type– Sri Lanka, Herb. Hook., Thwaites 3224 (K, P).

Commelina striata Edgew. Trans. Linn. Soc. London 20 (1): 89–90. 1846. Type—

India, Himalaya, Lakhwari, in Jumnae valley, alt. 3000–4000 ft. 1844. Edgeworth

153 (K).

Commelina kurzii var. glochidea C. B. Clarke in Fl. Brit. India 6: 374. 1894; Naik,

Fl. Marathwada, 875. 1998. Type– India, Koeing. Fig. 11; 17w; Plate 6E

Tufted perennial erect to ascending herb; roots thick, almost tuberous, at

lower nodes; stem puberulous or glabrous. Leaf sheath 0.5–3 cm long, puberulous,

with or without auricles and ciliate at mouth, leaves distichous, lamina shortly

petiolate, linear to lanceolate or ovate to elliptic, 2–(18) 20 × 0.5–3.5 cm, apex

acute–acuminate or attenuate, base oblique (resemblance to Commelina paludosa)

and attenuate. Spathes sub-sessile [peduncles less than 0.3(0.5)], usually terminal

clustered, occasionally solitary, funneliform, 2.5 cm long, puberulous, margins

fused; upper cincinnus with solitary flower, while lower with few flowers. Flowers

white to blue; sepals ovate, connate at base; paired petals white to blue, medial

petal small, white; stamens 2, filament blue, as long as style, anthers yellow,

elliptic; staminodes 3, equal, antherodes yellow. Capsule obovate, trilocular, c 5 ×

4 mm, dorsal locule indehiscent, verrucose to spinulose, all locules single seeded.

Seeds elliptic, 3.5–5 × 2–4 mm, testa dark brown to grey, smooth, with brown

torus.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India ((Map 4C), Sri Lanka, Pakistan,

Bangladesh; it is one of the wide spread Commelina, chiefly found at forest

boarders, hill slopes, in rocky outcrops, roadside banks and undergrowth of forests.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Panhala, Kolhapur district, 9th Aug. 2008, M.

D. Nandikar 223; Budhwar Peth, Panhala, Kolhapur district, 12th Sept. 2008, M. D.

Nandikar 224; Pasarni Ghat, Wai, Satara district, 8th Sept. 2010, M. D. Nandikar

74

230; Yenke, Karad, Satara district, 18th Sept. 2010, M. D. Nandikar & S. S.

Kamble 229 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Valley Garden, Visakhapatnam

district, 17th Oct. 1956, S. K. Wagh 76848; Lommasuag, Visakhapatnam district,

20th May 1956, H. Santapau 76871; Kondapalli fort, Krishna district, s. n., S. K.

Wagh 77019 (BLAT). Gujarat– Sasan Gir, Junagadh district, 22nd Aug. 1960,

Rolla Rao 63835; Dhinodhar, Kutch district, s. d., S. K. Jain 46919 (BSI); Unai,

near rest House, Dangs district, 30th Oct. 1953, H. Santapau 76873; Sasan, Iran

river upto stream, Saurashtra district, 6th Oct. 1953, H. Santapau 76854 (BLAT).

Goa– Ponda, Dalzell s. n. (CAL). Rajasthan– on the way to Devalia tank, Mount

Abu, 29th Aug. 1960, Rolla Rao 66661; Bhoonki Ghati, Banswara district, 4th Oct.

1961, K. C. Kanodia 75533; Parshal, Guwalia hills (Mount Abu?), 28th Sept. 1962,

K. C. Kanodia 82217 ‘as C. undulata’; (BSI); Nallamalais hills, 11th Oct. 2004,

Joby and Rathesh 1120 (DEV). Madhya Pradesh– Patal Pani falls, near Mhow,

Indore district, 20th Oct. 1962, A. S. Rao 83959 (BSI). Maharashtra– G. B. road,

Malad, Mumbai district, 4th Oct. 1957, G. L. Shah 76887; tank near Marol Naka,

Andheri, Mumbai district, 13th March 1958, S. C. Tavakari 76881 (BLAT);

Shivneri Hills, western slopes, Junnar, Pune district, 16th Aug. 1964, K. Hemadri

99718 (BSI); Ahemadnagar, Nov. 1884, T. Cooke 96; Trombe, Navi Mumbai,

1908, Meebold 9040 (CAL). Karnataka– Karwar, north Kannara, Oct. 1919, Hall

and McCann 76893 (BLAT); Belgaum, North Kannara, Oct. 1895, W. A. Talbot

337 ‘as C. obliqua’; Yellapur, for Fl. of Bombay, W. A. Talbot 338 (BSI). Kerala–

Nedumkayam, for Fl. Nilambur, Malappuram district, 2nd Sept. 1981, P. Mathew

28739 (CALI). Kalloor, Wynad district, 78 mts, 29th Nov. 2002, Nampy and Joby

886 (DEV). Orissa– Taptpani base, Eastern Ghats, for Fl. of Ganjam, 13th July

1996, J. K. Das and Samdder 22699 (CAL). Tamil Nadu– Ginjee, Villupuram

district (erstwhile South Arcot district), 9th Jan. 1927, Raju and Naganathan

17968; Nellimalai reserve forest, Coimbatore district, 23rd May 1962, K.

Ramamurthy 14093; Moyar reserve forest, Nilgiri district, 18th Aug. 1970, B. D.

Sharma 35592; Runneymede, Nilgiri district, 30th April 1971, N. C. Rathakrishnan

75

38149 (MH). West Bengal– Botanical Garden Sibapore, Kolkata, 16th June 1961,

K. C. Kanodia 39494 (BSI).

Note– This species many times confused with Commelina paludosa and C.

ensifolia; it has synonymised by various authors, but it is distinct species with,

oblique leaves, puberulous, subsessile, falcate, clustered spathes, white to bluish

whites flowers, and verrucose to spinulose, indehiscent dorsal locule. Zate (1998),

in Naik’s flora of Marathwada has made a new combination viz. Commelina

erecta L. var. glochidiata (Clarke) Zate, but it is proposed possibly without seeing

any type specimen and followed Clarke’s portrayal for new combination. Leaf

pubescent should not be a good character to distinguish any Commelina species,

and Clarke’s variety is based on the quantitative characters, so Karthikeyan et al.

(1989) synonymsed it under the C. kurzii.

15. Commelina longifolia Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 129. 1791; Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2:

165. 1806; Rolla Rao in Taxon, 10: 254. 1961; Rolla Rao in Notes Royal Bot.

Gard. 25: 179. 1967. Type– Java, from the Herb. Lamarck, Commerson s.n. (holo–

P, sh. no. P00313060) [annotated by Rolla Rao in Taxon, 10: 254. 1961].

== Commelina salicifolia Roxb. [Hort. Beng. 4:1814 nomen nudum] Fl. Ind. 1:

176. 1820; of Clarke in DC. Mon. Phan. 3: 157. 1881; of Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:

370. 1894; of Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. 12: 524. 1899; of Cooke, Fl. Bombay

Pres. 2:781. 1908; of Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989.

Fig. 17n

Erect to decumbent herb, annual or perennial; roots thick, but not tuberous,

sometimes rooting at basal nodes. Stems glabrous, with long internodes. Leaf

sheaths white, papery, 1–2.5 cm, ciliolate at mouth, otherwise glabrous, leaves

0.5–0.8 × 4–10(–12) cm, linear-lanceolate, glabrous or nearly so. Spathes 2.5–5

cm long, ovate to lanceolate, axillary, acute or acuminate, glabrous, base rounded,

free; peduncles c 3 cm long. Flowers small, dark blue, polygamous; cincinnus

equal, upper cincinnus with 2 flowers while lower usually with 1–2 flowered;

sepals free, ovate, obtuse, two lateral connate below, larger than the medial; petals

dark blue, paired petals larger ovate with undulate margins and long claws, the

76

medial one broadly ovate, entire, sub-sessile or with a very short claw; stamens 3,

one with large anther, while other two with small anthers, ellipsoid; staminodes 3,

clavate. Capsules oblong to elliptic, c 1 × 0.5 cm, trilocular, dehiscent; dorsal

locule single seeded while ventral two seeded; seeds ovoid 5 x 2.5 mm, testa black

with white farinose, smooth, appendaged at one side or blunt.

Flowering and fruiting–August to February.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya

Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (Map 4D); Malaysia and Java; along the moist places.

Specimen collected– Tamil Nadu: Murudmalai hills, Coimbatore district, 24th

Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 242 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Collapalam, Krishna district, 4th

Aug. 1984, P. Venkanna 5151 (MH). Kerala– Allayar, Trivendrum district, for Fl.

Agasthamalaya, 9th Feb. 1988, N. Mohanan 9612 (CALI); Kuppappuram,

Alappuzha, Sept. 2010?, Sheba and Nampy 4018 (DEV); Baveli, Cannanore

district, 22nd June 1979, V. S. Ramachandran 62134 (MH). Maharashtra– Nigadi,

Pune district, 5th Sept. 2010, Sheba and Nampy 3264 (DEV). Madhya Pradesh–

Churna, Hoshangabad district, 27th July 1961, J. Joseph 12875 ‘as C.

salicifolia’(MH). Tamil Nadu– Kille, Villupuram District (South Arcot district),

17th Dec. 1926, C. R. Raju and Naganathan 17827 (MH).

Note– Lamarck (1791) described this species based on Commerson’s collection

from Java with a very brief description. He has written, “petals sub-equal, leaves

linear–lanceolate, peduncle long, from Java by Commerson”. Such a concise

description was the possible reason for mislead from correct identity of

Commelina longifolia by further workers. Rao (1961) in his commentary on

nomenclature and distribution of C. longifolia, unfold the details of it and

corrected its identity. In herbarium specimens, it is difficult to identify as it is

shows similarity with C. clavata and C. diffusa in habit and spathes characters,

only can be distinguished by its smooth seeds and dehiscent capsules. Many of

times, seeds are without side appendages. In most of the Indian literature, species

has cited as C. salicifolia Roxb. (1820), type of which is placed at BM

[BM000958465]. It contains two different plants pasted on same sheet. One of it

77

turned out to be C. forskalaei while other one as C. salicifolia Roxb. [=seed

characters evaluated by Rao (loc. cit.) and confirmed that it was a poor specimen

of C. longifolia], therefore Roxburgh’s C. salcifolia became an incorrect name and

it was placed below the C. longifolia.

16. Commelina maculata Edgew. Trans. Linn. Soc. London 20 (1): 89. 1846;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989. Type––India, Himalaya, alt.

5000–6000 ft.

Commelina paludosa var. viscida C. B. Clarke in DC. Mon. Phan. 3: 178. 1881;

Commel. Cyrt. Bengal: 19, t. 10. 1874.

Commelina paludosa var. viscida (C. B. Clarke) Rao and Kammathy, Bull. Bot.

Surv. India 3: 168 1961; Rolla Rao, Notes R. B. G. Edinb. 25: 181. 1966.

Commelina obliqua var. mathewii Clarke in DC. Mon. Phan. 3: 178. 1881.

Commelina paludosa var. mathewii (Clarke) Rao et Kammathy in Bull. Bot. Surv.

India, 3: 168. 1961. Fig. 12; 17s; Plate 6 D

Annual to perennial, much branched, diffuse herb. Roots thin fibrous on

lateral branches, while main root stalk tuberous. Stems prostrate with erect

flowering shoot, variously hirsute. Leaf sheath green to reddish brown, variously

hirsute, mouth densely ciliate with brown hairs; leaves lanceolate, 3–7 × 1–1.5(–2)

cm, apex acute to acuminate, base oblique, margin entire, rarely undulate, surfaces

variously pubescent or sparsely hirsute. Spathes funneliform, sessile or shortly

pedunculate; peduncle, 0.5–0.7 cm long, solitary or 2–4 in terminal clusters,

densely hirsute or pubescent, sometimes ciliate with brown hairs, upper and lower

cincinnus consists of two to several flowers. Flowers blue; sepals elliptic, 3–5 mm,

membranous; lateral petals obovoid, 0.6–1 cm blue, medial petal small with small

claw, membranous, white or blue; stamens 3, lateral stamens with long filament

while median one with short filaments, anthers basifixed, staminodes 3, antherodes

yellow; ovary, 5–6 mm long, elliptic, superior, style long, Capsules globose, 6 × 5

mm, trilocular, locules 1 seeded; seeds oblong, 3 × 2.5 mm, gray-black, flattened,

smooth.

Flowering and fruiting– June to December.

78

Distribution and ecology– India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra,

Meghalaya, Sikkim, West Bengal (Map 4E); Nepal, Malaysia, China; found in

medium to high altitude range, undergrowth of forest, in moist places, along the

margins of path, partial exposed to sun.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra– Lingmala Water Fall, Mahabaleshwar,

Satara district, 8th Sept. 2010, Nandikar 231 (SUK). Meghalaya– On the way to

old Guest House, NEHU, Shillong, 9th Oct. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 1231; Near new

gust house NEHU campus, Shillong, 10th Oct. 2012; Thangharang Park,

Cherrapunjee, 13th Oct. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1243 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Mipi, Dibang Valley, 19th

July, 2002, M. Bhoumik and M. K. Pathak 4272 (ASSAM). Maharashtra– Conval

House, Khandala, Pune district, 28th Oct. 1949, H. Sanatapau 76972; Purandhar

slopes, Pune district, 1st Sept, 1945, H. Santapau 76971 ‘as C. paludosa var.

mathewii (BLAT); Amboli Ghat, Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg district, 27th Nov. 1961,

Ansari and Kammathy 78567; Bombay point, Mahableshwar, 13th Oct. 1957, S. D.

Mahajan 24641; on the way to Mahalinga hills, Igatpuri, Nashik district, 13th Sept.

1962, R. S. Rao 81353; old Mahabaleshwar road, Satara district, 7th Aug. 1962, A.

S. Rao 77939; (BSI). Meghalaya– Khasi Hills, for Fl. of Assam, June 1878, C. B.

Clarke 1196; near Ganesh Das Hospital, Shillong, 3rd Aug. 1963, G. K. Deka

35773; Laithmukhra, Shillong, 28th June 1963, S. K. Kar 18071; (ASSAM); Khlow

Siem, Shillong, 20th Sept. 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81229 ‘as C. paludosa var.

viscida’ (BSI); Cherra Plateau, 28th Sept. 1867, C. B. Clarke 3095; Naga hills, July

1886, D. Prain s. n. (CAL). Sikkim– Sikkim, June 1934, N. L. Bor 22433

(ASSAM); Kamlimpong, July 1882, for Fl. Bengal, J. S. Gamble 10483 (MH).

West Bengal– Lebang, Darjeeling, 13th July 1962, R. V. Kammathy 86260 (BSI);

Darjeeling, 29th Oct. 1975, K. P. Radhakrishnan 11074; Senchal lake, Darjeeling,

31st Oct. 1975, E. Indira 11893; Snechal lake, Darjeeling, 30th Oct. 1975, Mary

Cherian 12678 (CALI). Locality unknown– 29th Oct. 1905, Talbot 4474 (BSI).

Note– It is a distinct species, with wide distribution in Central and Eastern parts of

India. The species was collected only from medium to altitude ranges of Central

and Eastern parts of India and few localities of Western Ghats of India. The

79

species in earlier literature treated as a variety of C. paludosa viz. var. viscida, but

it is a distinct one by its viscid hairy, much branched habit; small, lanceolate,

variously pubescent leaves; comparitavely small flowers; capsule with oblong

seeds. The dense brown to reddish brown long hairs on mouth of the sheaths,

which sometimes confused with C. paludosa. Variation in pubescence on leaves,

stems, spathes was observed in plants collected from Mahableshwar (Maharashtra)

but these are within the range of C. maculata.

17. Commelina paleata Hassk. in Miq., Pl. Jungh. 2: 139. 1852; Clarke in DC,

Mon. Phan. 3: 178. 1881; Woodr. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 524. 1899;

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 372. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 785. 1908;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989. Type– in monte calcareo

Gamping prope Jagjakerta Java centralis, ubi mense Martio flores fructusque

simul gerit.

Trithyrocarpus paleatus Hassk. Commel. Ind. 25. 1931. Fig. 17v; Plate 7 C

Annual to perennial, stout herb, with rhizomatous swollen base; roots thick

but not tuberous, never from lower nodes; stem ascending-erect, glabrous, much

branched from the base, 50–70 cm. high; internodes grooved and angular,

glabrous, 3–13 cm long, nodes knob like, little thicker. Leaf sheaths loose, closed,

and then split up through the branches, young spathes slightly puberulous,

becoming galbrous, mouth ciliate, or with long auricle; leaves oblong–lanceolate,

10–11 × 2–3 cm, gradually narrowing at apex or long acuminate, base attenuate

into a short petiole, margin minutely scabrid, surface glabrous beneath, scabrous

above. Spathes solitary, pedunculate, peduncle c 1 cm long, puberulous, spathes

hooded, shortly cucullate, acute at apex, deeply cordate at base, scabridly

pubescent; lower cincinnus with 2–3 flowers while upper with solitary to many

flowered, pedicels reflected before and after flowering. Flowers similar to that of

Commelina paludosa, blue coloured, remain erect, exserted after anthesis; sepals

elliptic, membranous, lateral ones connate at base; paired petals with long claw,

blue, median petal smaller with short claw; stamens 3, unequal; staminodes 3, with

unequal lobes of antherodes. Capsule trilocular (incase of abortive dorsal locule it

80

looks like bilocular), compressed–globose or oblong or ellipsoid, 5(–7) x 4 mm,

dehiscent, locules single seeded, sometimes dorsal locule abortive; seeds globose

or oblong, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5 mm, testa brown with white margin, smooth, embryotega

orbicular, elevated.

Flowering and fruiting– June to December

Distribution and ecology– Imperfectly known from Java (apart from the type) but

well distributed in India: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,

Uttarakhand (Map 4F); undergrowth of forest, along the Ghats, roadsides;

partially exposed to Sun.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Malshej Ghat towards Karjat, 09th Oct. 2011,

M. D. Nandikar 245 & 247 (BSI, BLAT, CAL, SUK) Chandoli, Sangli district,

26th Aug. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 227 (SUK). Uttarakhand– Munshiyari, 18th May

2010, M. D. Nandikar 226 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Goa– Poinguinam, South Goa district, 12th Oct.

1964, R. S. Raghavan 103529 (BSI, CAL). Karnataka– Karwar, 29th Aug. 1885,

Talbot 1292 (CAL). Kerala– Devagiri, Calicut district, 11th Dec. 1986, Gopalan

Nair s. n.; Arryankavu, Calicut district, 8th June 1977, Sarada Amma 21888;

Calicut University campus, 12th Aug. 1970, V. V. Sivarajan 363; Aryankavu,

Calicut district, 8th June 1977, Prithi 22 (CALI). Maharashtra– Parsik hills,

Nerul, Thane district, Oct. 1925, R. D. Acland 76906; Duke’s Nose, Khandala,

Pune district, 4th Sept. 1942, H. Santapau 76899; Vicinity of Aarey dairy, Mumbai

district, 7th July 1958, S. C. Tavakary 76894, 76895; Neral to Matheran,

Jummapatti roadside, 17th July 1959, N. A. Irani 76901 (BLAT); Kirnoli school,

Karjat, Thane district, 18th Sept. 1962, Rolla Rao 81560; Bhivadi Khurd, Junnar

tehsil, Pune district, 28th Sept. 1965, Hemadri 107440 (BSI); Venna village,

Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, 19th Aug. 1963, K. C. Kanodia 89340; Tunga hills,

Thane district, 22nd July 1968, K. V. Billore 116325 (CAL). Tamil Nadu–

Kuridimalai, Coimbatore district, 13th Dec. 1956, Subramaniyan 1771; Kodaikanal

Ghat, Pulney, 18th Nov. 1897, Bourne 1235 (CAL); on the way to Vosco, 2 miles

away from Courtallum, 20th Aug. 1963, K. C. Kanodia 85091 (BSI); Way to

81

Kodaikanal from Pulney, Niligiri district, 22nd March 2002, Joby and Nampy 076;

Burliar, Coimbatore district, 15th May, 2010, Vivek and Sheba 5103 (DEV).

18. Commelina paludosa Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae, 1: 2. 1827; Rao and Kammathy

in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 59: 60. 1962; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl.

Ceylon 14: 191. 2000. Type– Indonesia, in the mountains of Java, Blume 807

(holo–L).

C. obliqua Buch.-Ham. ex Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal, 45. 1825; Clarke in DC., Mon.

Phan. 3: 178. 1881; Hook. f., in Fl. Brit. India, 6: 372. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay 2: 784. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 2. 1537. 1931, non

Vahl, 1806. Type from Nepal.

C. polyspatha Wight, Ic. t. 2066. 1853. Type from India. Fig. 17u; Plate 7 D

Perennials, grows up to 1 m high, stout, branched herb; roots thick, fibrous;

internodes long, glabrous. Leaf sheaths 2.5–4 cm long, puberulous, densely to

sparsely ciliate at the apex; leaves distichous, shortly petiolate, lanceolate or

elliptic–lanceolate, 5–18(–20) × 2–5 cm, apex acuminate, base oblique, cuneate,

upper surface scabrous, lower surface puberulous. Spathes sessile or shortly

pedunculate, peduncle 0.2–0.5 cm; spathes in terminal clusters, rarely solitary,

triangular, funneliform, 1.5–3 cm long, 1.5–2 cm high, viens prominent, margins

fused basally, surfaces glabrous, usually filled with a clear glutinous liquid;

cincinnus with many flowers. Flowers periwinkle to blue coloured; sepals 3,

elliptic, concolourless; paired petals orbicular, margins undulate, with a long claw;

stamens 2–3, equal, filament blue, long, anthers elltptic; staminodes 3–4, unequal,

lateral 3 with short filaments and smaller antherodes, while median one with long

filament and larger antherodes; ovary elliptic, green. Capsule obovoid, 2–4 per

spathe, 4(–5) × 4 mm, trilocular, locules single seeded, equal sided, dehiscent;

seeds oblong to ellipsoid, 3.5–4 × 3.5 mm, testa smooth, puberulous, lead-

coloured.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

82

Distribtution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 5A); Sri Lanka and East Asia;

abundant along the forest margins, forest undergrowth, in marshy low land

conditions; full to partial exposed to Sun.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Pasarani Ghat, Wai, Satara district, 8th Sept.

2010, Nandikar229b; Malshej Ghats, towards Karjat, 9th Oct. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 246 (SUK). Meghalaya: Experimental Botanical Garden, Umiyam,

Shillong, 11th Oct. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1238 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Way to Pegarikutta east to

Narsapur; Medak district, 24th Sept. 1958, K. M. Sebastine 6711 ‘as C. obliqua’;

way to Gudem, Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam, 13th Nov. 1970, J. L. Ellis 37133;

Elwinpeta block, Srikakulam district, 20th May 1979, G. V. Subba Rao 62468

(MH). Karnataka– Devinane Ghat, North Kanara district, Oct. 1919, Blatter and

McCann 76961 (BLAT); Castle Rock, North Kanara district, 24th Oct. 1902, G. A.

Gammie 1506 ‘as C. obliqua’; Gangadhareswargundi, way to Billigirirangaswamy

temple (B. R. Hills), Mysore district, 6th Sept. 1961, Rolla Rao 73709; Sampage

Ghats, Kodagu district, 25th Oct. 1963, A. S. Rao 95094; Hegni forest, on the way

to Gerisoppa falls from Jog falls, 30th Nov. 1967, Ansari and Kammathy 78697

(BSI). Kerala– Shencottai, Tenamalai, 17th May 1961, K. N. Subramaniyam

86314 (BSI); Nelliyampathy, Wayanad district, Umadevi 256; Natukanichuran,

Nilambur, 30th Oct. 1986, Jaisonlal 4250 (CALI); Ambayathode, Cannanore

district, 22nd Jan. 1979, V. S. Ramchandran 59142; Kottiyur, Cannanore district,

22nd Jan. 1979, V. J. Nair 59791; Mancheri, Malappuram district, 24th Feb. 1970, J.

L. Ellis 33543; reserve forest in front of S. V. Dam (Parambikulam dam), Palakkad

district, 18th Jan. 1980, P. Bhargavan 65560 (MH). Maharashtra– Khandala,

Pune district, 22nd Sept. 1902, G. A. Gammie 1504; Lonavala, Pune district, Oct.

1919, R. K. Bhide 1508; Moharli Magujhari, Chandrapur district, 19th Aug. 1973,

B. M. Wadhwa 137393 (BSI). Meghalaya– Tripura castle, Shillong, Khasi Hill

district, 30th June 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81232; Nongpoh forest, eastern Side,

Shillong, 27th June 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81219 (BSI). Sikkim– about 2 miles

from Kumidini Vidyasharm, on the way to Hiralal district, Kalimpong, 15th July

83

1962, R. V. Kammathy 86717,18,19,20 (BSI). Tamil Nadu– below Courtallum

peak, Tirunelveli district, 29th Sept. 1975, Nair 1239 (CALI).

Note– One of the gigantic and distinct species of Commelina, occurred commonly

in India, in all states. In Indian florsitc works, the species earlier treated as

Commelina obliqua Ham. ex Don (1825), but it is a later homonym to C. obliqua

Vahl. (1805–1806) which was a Mexican species, therefore C. obliqua Don is an

illegitimate name (Rao and Kammathy, 1962). Leaves observed about 20 cm long

in specimens collected from Sikkim [Kammathy 86717 (BSI)] while leaves

glabrous in specimen collected from Kodagu [A. S. Rao 95094 (BSI)]. C. paludosa

appreantly similar to C. kurzii because of its habit, leaves and spathes characters,

but can be easily recognized in the field by its periwinkle or blue coloured flowers,

rusty hairs at the summit of sheaths and dehiscent and smooth dorsal locule. While

C. kurzii with blue to white flowers, sparsly ciliate sheaths, indehiscent and scabrid

dorsal locule.

19. Commelina petersii Hassk., Flora 46: 385. 1863; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 191. 2000. Type– Mozambique, June 1863, Peters s.n.

(holo–B, sh. no. B 10 0165412).

Commelina persicariifolia Wight ex Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3: 171. 1881, nom.

illeg. non Delie, 1815; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India, 6: 372. 1894.

Commelina jacobii Fischer, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew, 1928: 277. 1928. Type–

India. Agricultural College Farm, Coimbatore, 500 m., Jan.1921, K. Cherian Jacob

15893 (holo–K).

Commelina imberbis of R. S. Rao, Blumea 14: 352, 1966, non. Hassk. in

Schweinf., 1867; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989.

Fig. 13, 14, 17j; Plate 6 F

Erect to ascending, sometimes decumbent, perennial, dichotomously

branched herb; root thin or thick fibrous. Leaf sheaths 1–2 cm long, mouth ciliate,

leaves elliptic to ovate, 2–10 × 1.5–4(–5) cm [linear–lanceolate (Hassk. 385:

1863)], apex acute to acuminate, base cordate or rounded or cuneate, pubescent.

Spathes pedunculate; peduncles 1–2.5 cm long, terminal, solitary, spathes cordate

84

to ovate, 1.5–2.5 x 0.8–1.5 cm, sometimes falcate, apex acute, base cordate,

surface sticky, margins free; upper cincinnus single flowered while lower one 2–4

flowered. Flowers blue; sepals 3, membranous, two lateral elliptic, medial one

ovate, free; petals 3, lateral paired petals broad with long claw, medial small, with

short claw; stamens 3, two anthers small and rounded, one with long filament with

large and crescent shaped anther; staminodes 3, subequal. Capsule stalked, oblong,

5–7 × 5 mm, trilocular, dorsal locule indehiscent with single seed, ventral locules

with 2 seeds in each; seeds oblong to elliptic, 2.5–3.5 × 2.5 mm, testa gray or

brown, with transverse furrows to tuberculate, never smooth.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 5B);

Sri Lanka and Tropical Africa; along the forest borders, undergrowths, roadsides,

grassland slopes.

Specimens collected– Tamil Nadu: Murudmalai Temple, Coimbatore district, 24th

Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 240 (SUK, BSI, CAL).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Diguavametta, Kurnool district,

18th March, 1957, S. K. Wagh 76839, ‘as C. jacobii’ (BLAT); Golconda fort,

Hydrabad, near Adensoia tree, 28th Sept. 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81268 (BSI).

Kerala– near Mayor’s bungalow, Siruvani, Palakkad district, 27th Aug. 1961, A.

N. Henry 76849, ‘as C. jacobii’ (BLAT); Calicut university campus, Calicut, s. d.,

Egy Paul 136; Calicut University Campus, Calicut, 10th Sept. 1982,

Vasanthaprabha 2449, ‘as C. jacobii’ (CALI). Tamil Nadu– Forst college

campus, Coimbatore, 13th Dec. 1983, A. P. Vilasini 35651 (CALI); Forest college

campus, Coimbatore, 29th Nov. 1964, M. Chandrabose 28645; Gudalur, Nilgiris

district, 20th Nov. 2002, S. Nampy 580 (DEV); Central farm, Coimbatore, 1st Dec.

1928, K. C. Jacob 16955; Karadimadai, Coimbatore district, 30th July, 1929, S. R.

Raju and Ratnavelu 18655; Palayakottai, Coimbatore district, 16th Nov. 1931, G.

V. Narayana and Naganath 6114; Periathuragam, Khanrapuram, Ramnathapuram

district, 16th Feb. 1979, N. C. Nair 60896 (MH) ‘as C. jacobii’.

Note– One of the diverse species of Commelina, chiefly defined in India as

Commelina persicariifolia, it is an African species. Rao in 1966 identified Indian

85

specimens of C. petersii as C. imberbis, this Hasskarl’s plant is distinct and it is an

African species. He has synonymised two more species viz. Commelina jacobii

Fischer and C. alisagarensis Kumar and Deodikar in C. imberbis. After seeing the

type of C. petersii placed at B, [Mozambique, June 1863, Peters s.n. (holo–B, sh.

no. B 10 0165412] and the original description by Hasskarl (1863), leaves found to

be linear–lanceolate, while in Indian plants leaves are ovate to lanceolate, African

plants apparently looks different than Indian plants but it needs further

observations, and live specimen studies to conclude the distinctness. In India, this

plant is apparently looks like C. benghalensis in general habit and leaves.

Faden (2000) made a critical note on identity of Commelina petersii in

Indian scenario and he has treated C. jacobii of Fischer and C. alisagarensis

Kumar and Deodikar as synonyms under C. petersii, during the specimen studies

came across type and other specimens of C. alisagarensis placed at K and BSI. In

the type specimens, there were seeds and capsules dissected, seeds were deep

black, oviod, smooth with exserted embryotega (unlike in C. petersii = C. jacobii).

Need to study few live specimens of it to draw any conclusion and therefore, in

present treatment C. alisagarensis considered as a distinct species, while

considering as a synonym of C. petersii.

20. Commelina subulata Roth., Nov. Pl. Sp. 23. 1821; Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan.

3: 148. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 369. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2:

782. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 3: 1074. 1931; Rao and

Kammathy, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 59: 58. 1962; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. Type– from India, Heyne [collection by Heyne,

annotated as Commelina attenuata].

Tradescantia triflora Heyne ex. Schult. f., Syst. 7: 1176, 1830. Type– India,

Heyne s.n. (holo– B; iso–K).

Commelina striata Hochst. ex. Kunth. 4: 44. 1843. Type– Ethiopia: Tigray, Adua,

Abyssinicum. Prope Adoam, Schimper 360 (iso–K isotype).

Commelina subaurantiaca Hochst. ex. Kunth, 4: 658. 1843. Type– Sudan,

Cordofan, Abu Gerad, Kotschy 59 (iso–K). Fig. 17h; Plate 7 E

86

Erect to ascending small, glabrous, annual herb with fibrous roots; branched

from the base, sometimes rooting at lower nodes, nodes striated with maroon

veins; internodes long, green, glabrous. Leaf sheaths c 0.5–1.8 cm long, glabrous,

green, mouth ciliate; leaves linear, 2.5–5 × 0.2–0.5 cm, glabrous, margin entire,

apex acute, base rounded. Spathes shortly pedunculate, peducle c 0.2 cm, comming

out from the base of sheaths, spathes axillary, solitary or two or three together, c 1

x 0.5 cm, falcate, glabrous, apex acute, base cordate or rounded, margin ciliate,

usually green, rarely striated maroon veins; upper cincinnus usually absent but

sometimes with single flowered, lower 2–3 flowered. Flowers ochre yellow; sepals

3, lateral sepals obovoid, basally connate, papery, while medial sepal elliptic, pink

in colour, free; paired petals larger with long claw, obovoid, ochre yellow, medial

petal pink to yellow coloured, small without claw, elliptic; stamens 3, unequal;

filaments 2 mm long, medial staminal filament long curved, anther lobes basifixed,

yellow; staminodes 3, equal; dark purple, antherode bi-trilobed, yellow, one out of

three rudimentary or without antherode; ovary ovate, green, glabrous, style as long

as staminal filament, stigma simple. Capsule 4 × 2.5 mm, ovoid, trilocular,

dehiscent, dorsal locule single seeded, while ventral two seeded; seeds 2–3.8 × 1–

2.5 mm, small ellipsoid, testa dark brown or black, strongly ribbed.

Flowering and fruiting– August to January.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,

Tamil Nadu (Map 5C); Tropical Africa; grows profusely in small patches, in

seasonal pools, grasslands and exposed rocks, fully exposed to Sun.

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Badami, Bagalkot district, 11th Nov. 2010,

Nandikar 234 (SUK). Maharashtra: Agriculture college, Kolhapur district, 19th

Sept. 2008, Nandikar 225a (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Osmania University campus,

Hydrabad, 8th Dec. 1962, R. V. Kammathy 86291 (BSI); Horesely Hills, Chittor

district, 19th Oct. 2004, Joby and Ratheesh 1152 (DEV). Karnataka– Dharwad,

for Fl. Bombay, 20th Oct. 1889, W. A. Talbot 343 ‘as C. attenuata’; behind

Devarayadurga temple, Tumkur district, 29th Aug. 1961, Rolla Rao 86286; near

Topegaon School, 9 miles from Belgaum, 24th Aug. 1961, Rolla Rao 86286;

87

Belgaum–Bagewadi road, 25th Aug. 1961, Rolla Rao 86287 (BSI); Belgaum, 1958,

P. S. Chikkananiah 76974 (BLAT); Bandipur, Mysore district, Oct. 1910, Meebold

11554; Devrayadurga, Tumkur district, 15th Aug. 1978, J. Saldanha 2199 (CAL).

Maharashtra– Kudale, Pachgani, for Fl. Satara, 19th Oct. 1955, V. D. Vartak

76975; Bhor Hills, 8th Oct. 1955, V. D. Vartak 76976; Ambavada, Pune district, 4th

Nov. 1955, V. D. Vartak 76977 (BLAT); on a bank of Rotubaika Talao, Khed

Taluka, Chakan–Alandi road, Pune district, 25th Aug. 1962, K. P. Janardhanan

62175 (BSI).

Note– The species known to occur from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and

Maharashtra states of India. One of the smallest herb of genus Commelina, easily

recognized in the field by its small, erect, glabrous habit; maroon veined leaf

sheaths, linear leaves; shortly peduncled, glabrous but marginally ciliate spathes;

ochre yellow flowers and ribbed, blackish, brown seeds. Collection from Osmania

University Campus [Kammathy 86291 (BSI)], is with robust habit, erect, 45 cm,

with broadly linear leaves, very broad 1.5 x 2 cm spathes.

21. Commelina suffruticosa Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 3. 1827; Hook. f., Brit.

India 6: 369. 1894; Rao and Kammathy, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 59: 65. 1962;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. Type– Indonesia, West Java,

in moist mountains of Salak, Kikiginang (possibly at L?) Fig. 16, 17f; Plate 7F

Spathodithyros suffruiticosus (Bl.) Hassk. Commel. Ind. 11. 1870.

A tough, erect, perennial herb, base rhizomatous, grows up to 1 m; roots

thick, tuberous. Stems erect, much branched from rhizomatous base, with long

internodes and slightly swollen nodes, glabrous. Leaf sheaths c 2.5 cm long,

puberulous, mouth ciliate, with purple lines otherwise green; leaves sessile,

distichous, lanceolate to ovate–lanceolate, 4–15 × 2–4 cm, apex acute to

acuminate, base oblique, margin entire, surfaces glabrous. Spathes pedunculate,

peduncle 1–2.5 cm long; spathes terminal and axillary, usually solitary or 2–4,

slightly falcate or conduplicate, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 cm, glabrous to pubescent, base

free, cordate, apex acute; upper cincinnus absolute while lower cincinnus 4–many

flowered. Flowers white, bisexual; sepals 3, two lateral ovate, c 3–5 mm,

88

membranous and basally fused, medial one free elliptic; paired petals rounded or

reniform with a long claw, margin undulate, c 4–6 mm, white, medial petal

obovoid with a short claw, small, concolourless or membranous or sepaloid;

stamens 3, filament 2–4 mm long, anthers equal, globose and yellow coloured;

staminodes 3 or two, not fully developed, unequal, filament c 2 mm long,

antherodes bilobed, yellow; ovary elliptic, white, style as long as fertile filaments.

Capsule globose, 5–6 × 2.2 mm, 6–8 per spathes, tri–locular (in T. S. of mature

capsule), otherwise apparently bi–locular (dorsal locule undeveloped), with two

equal ventral locules, locules single seeded; seeds hemispherical, 3 × 2 mm, testa

usually pale yellow to cream coloured, pitted or foveate to reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– August to March.

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 5D), Nepal, Indonesia and

other East Asiatic countires; undergrowth of forest, along the edges of forest,

partially exposed to Sun.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Faye–Shengaon Road, Bhudargad tehsil,

Kolhapur district, 24th July 2011, M. D. Nandikar 243; Kondushi plateau,

Bhudargad, 22nd Sept. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1222 (SUK). Madhya Pradesh:

Bhagpura, Khandwa district, 07th July 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1201 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Assam– Lumding, Nagaon district, 19th June 1911,

Burkill and Banerjee 35308 (CAL). Bihar– Mochorkunda, Rajara (Hutan?), in

coalfield, for Fl. Chota Nagpur, 13th Oct. 1896, Chanda s. n. (CAL). Karnataka–

Agumbe, North Kanara, 20th Nov. 1961, R. V. Kammathy 74035A; Gajanur,

Shimoga district, Nov. 1962, R. V. Kammathy 74035A? (BSI); Yellapur, North

Kanara, for Fl. Bombay, 27th Oct. 1883, W. A. Talbot 698 (BSI, CAL). Kerala–

Karimpuzha, Palakkad district, 2nd June 1982, P. Mathew 33238 (CALI).

Maharashtra– Aarey Milk colony, Mumbai, 7th July, 1958, S. C. Tavakari 77018;

vicinity of Central dairy, Mumbai, 17th July 1958, S. C. Tavakary 77017; Kanheri

caves, Borivali, Mumbai, 8th Aug. 1943, H. Santapau 77012 (BLAT); Karjat,

Thane district, 10th Aug. 1957, G. S. Puri 22879; mile stone Shahpur, Kasara,

Thane district, 16th Sept. 1962, Rolla Rao 81491; Koktu, Amravati district, 11th

Nov. 1979, M. Y. Ansari 159823 (BSI). Madhya Pradesh– Dhain-Bori road,

89

Hoshangabad district, 4th Oct. 1960, J. Joseph 11226 (MH). Meghalaya–

Matharguri, Kamrup district, 12th July 1957, R. S. Rao 10014; Balaiba Tilla,

Nongpoh district, 17th Sept. 1965, J. Joseph 43613 (ASSAM); Nongpoh forest, on

the way to Shillong, 7th June 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81215 (BSI). Sikkim–

Rangeet Valley reserves, 4 miles from Teesta, 17th July 1962, R. V. Kammathy

81263 (BSI); Kolijhra, Gangtok, 580 m, 7th Sept. 2011, S. Nampy 4774 (DEV).

Tripura– Abohynaga near to Agartala, 27th Dec. 2014, P. M. Debbarman 355

(CAL). Uttaranchal– Mothronwala, Dehra Dun district, 4th Sept. 1961, M. A. Rao

16392 (BSI). West Bengal– Darjeeling, 8th Sept. 1869, Clarke 9053C ‘as C.

simsoni’ (CAL).

Note– The species is widely spread throughout Indian forests, in vegetative stage

leaves looks like Commelina paludosa and C. kurzii. It can be distinguished in

flowering stage by its pedunculate spathes, white flowers, with reniform paired

petals, white staminal filaments, yellow globose anthers and bilocular capsules

with pale yellow to cream coloured, foveate, pitted or reticulate seeds. Pubescence

on spathes variable, in many individuals glabrous spathes also observed.

22. Commelina tricolor E. Barnes, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 46: 79. 1946;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989. Type– India, Tamil Nadu,

Nilgiris, Karadimalai, Gudalur Ghat, 4700 ft., July 1940, Barnes 2265 (holo–

CAL!) Fig. 17k

A tufted or straggling, perennial, herb with definite base; roots thick

tuberous, tapering at both ends; stems much branched with pubescent ridge,

otherwise glabrous, red coloured, base rhizomatous. Leaf sheaths c. 1.2–1.5 cm

long, dark red, striated or mottled green, glabrous, mouth ciliate; leaves narrowly

oblong–lanceolate, 2–7.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm, apex acute or blunt, base amplexicaul,

often oblique, margin entire, upper surface sparsely pubescent while lower

glabrous. Spathes pedunculate, peduncle solitary leaf opposite, red or green,

glabrous, except line of pubescence, c. 5 cm long; spathes cordate, tip acute, c 4 x

2.5 cm, margins ciliate, free, surface glabrous to sparsely puberulous; inner

cincinnus 1 to 2 flowered while outer 5 to 6 flowered. Flowers bright blue; lateral

90

sepals broadly ovate, concave, fused basally, white; medial sepal boat shaped,

smaller; paired petals orbicular–reniform, margin undulate, claws broad, bright

blue; medial petal reniform to deltoid, with short claw, pale blue; lateral stamens

with long filaments and small brown anthers; medial stamen with short filaments

with large anther, with large and curved anther lobes; stamindoes 3, filaments as

long as lateral stamens, antherodes large, with 4 unequal lobes. Capsule ovoid–

oblong, glabrous, bilocular, locules 2 seeded; seeds ovoid to oblong, truncate at

one end 3.5 × 2.2 mm, testa smooth, pale brown [modified after Barnes, 1946].

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout the year.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to Western Ghats of southern

India: Tamil Nadu (Map 5E); in rocky crevices, in grassland, along the Ghat

slopes; partial to full exposed to Sun.

Specimen collected– Tamil Nadu: Gudalur, Nilgiris district, 22nd Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 239 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Karadimalai, 16 miles from the

Gudalur, Nilgiris district, 8th Feb. 1963, R. V. Kammathy 82663 (BSI); Needle

point, Gudalur, Nilgiris district, 4th Dec. 2010, Sheba and Manudev (DEV).

Note– Barnes (1946), from the Nilgiris district, described the species, his

collections placed at Kew. Apart from this there are only few collections available

in Indian Herbaria and surprisingly those all from the type locality. The species so

far known only from two sites i.e. Gudalur and Karadimalai, near to Ootacamund

(Ooty), Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. The area of occupancy estimated to be less

than 50 km2 and the threat we found was human habitations are crawling up from

the sides of the adjoining hills near to Gudalur and Ootacamund. Very handful

isolated populations of the species has been observed during field visit, in

December 2010 and most of these are encroached by human settlement.

Commelina tricolor is having perennial habit and possess tuberous roots, resulted

into definite habit of plant. Therefore, the only method of regeneration is by the

means of seed. Even though, it produces good number of capsules and seeds, very

few individuals were observed in the field. We are in the process of

recommendation of this species in IUCN’s vulnerable category.

91

23. Commelina wightii Raizada in Indian Forester 84: 479. 1958.

Commelina wightii Rolla Rao in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 3: 168. 1961; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. nom. illeg.

Commelina glabra (Wt.) Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 163. 1881; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India, 6: 371. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1538. 1931. non

Meyer (1818).

Heterocarpus glaber Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2067. 1853. Lectoype– India, Tamil

Nadu, Nilgiris district, Paulghautcherry, Aug. 1844, Wight s. n. (K, sh. no.

K000794505) lectotype designated here. Fig. 17l; Plate 6 B–C

Diffused erect to ascending, annual, glabrous herbs; roots fibrous, rooting

from lower nodes. Leaf sheaths glabrous, c 1 cm long, mouth ciliate; leaves linear

to lanceolate or oblong, 1–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, apex acute, base subcordate, margin

entire, glabrous. Spathes pedunculate, peduncle 1.5–4 cm long; spathes leaf

opposed, solitary, ovate to slightly falcate, 2 × 0.5–0.7 cm, apex acute, base

cordate, free ciliate at lower margins, otherwise glabrous. Flowers yellow; paired

sepals ovate, medial sepal comparatively small, elliptic; paired petals reniform,

yellow, medial petals small rounded or boat shaped, white or faint yellow; stamens

3, filaments yellow, anthers ellipsoid, brown; staminodes 3, yellow, antherodes

cruciform. Capsule c. 5 × 3 mm, rounded, indehiscent, bilocular, dorsal locule

single seeded, ventral locule linear, empty; seeds rounded, smooth, adnate to

capsule wall.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December.

Distribution– Apparently endemic to southern India: Tamil Nadu, Kerala (Map

5F); along the forest margins, in a sandy soil.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Anamalai hills, Nilgiris district,

1868, s. coll. s. n.; Anamalai hills, Gamble 14655; Anamalai hills, Beddome 119

(CAL). Kerala– Kandesankadavu, 10th Nov. 1989, N. K. Mini 2492; Guruvayur,

18th Aug. 1987, Surayya Beegam 13659 (CALI); Wallayar, Malabar, Oct. 1884,

Gamble 14890 (CAL); Brahmakulum, Trissur district, 9th Aug. 2010, Alferd and

Sahina 3253; Kaveedu, Trissur district, 9th Aug. 2010, Alferd and Sahina 3254

(DEV).

92

Note– Wight (1853) described two species and named as Heterocarpus glabra and

H. hirsuta. Afterwards Clarke (1881) made a new combination and named these

two species as Commelina hirsuta and C. glabra. Nomenclature trouble in C.

hirsuta is discussed in present treatment. Mayer (Primitiae Florae Essequeboensis,

22: 1818) has already used ‘glabra’ therefore, C. glabra (Wt.) Clarke, is a later

homonym and it could not be used. Raizada (1958) validly published a new name

as ‘C. wightii’. However, in 1961, Rolla Rao stated that the C. wightii, due to

absence of a reference publication by Raizada is invalid. The fact is Raizada has

provided the justification while giving a new name. Therefore, the C. wightii Rolla

Rao (1961) become a later homonym and hence invalid. Indian workers like Rao

and Kammathy, 1963; Karthikeyan et al., 1989; Joseph and Nampy, 2012 were

cited Rao’s authority for C. wightii but it seems erroneous. In addition, no one has

mentioned the original type specimens for the species, Rao and Kammathy (1963)

written, they have seen the specimens of Heterocarpus glabra, collected by Wight

at Kew but not provided possible type. Therefore, we selected one of his collection

as a lectotype [Wight s.n. (K, sh. no. K000794505)] and designated here.

Excluded Speices

1. Commelina erecta L. Sp. Pl. 41 1753. Lectotype–– Dillenius, Hort. Eltham. t.

77, f. 88 (1732) [designated by Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3: 181.1881].

This is the Mexican species, in India the occurrence of the species is

erroneous and needs further detailed observations to determine the status of the

species in India. During the present treatment of genus Commelina, we came

across many specimens labeled as Commelina erecta deposited in various

esteemed Indian herbaria. In addition, various enumerations and local floras also

stated the occurrence of this species in India. However, after screening the possible

specimens it was found that majority of them are Commelina kurzii only, might be

the similarity in habit and terminal, clustered, subseesile spathes are the reasons for

misplacement of taxon.

In India, this species is treated under various binomials like Commelina

kurzii, Commelina undulata, Commelina obliqua, Commelina paludosa var.

93

mathewii. Possible determination has been done based on the herbarium screening

and description, the efforts are summarized below to avoid misinterpretation in

Indian closely related species.

Commelina erecta of Karthikeyan et al. (25: 1989) ==Commelina kurzii

Clarke (1871) and C. paludosa Blume (1827); of Sharma et al (151: 1996) == C.

kurzii Clarke; of Rolla Rao in M. V. M. Patrika (6:53. 1971) ==C. kurzii Clarke; of

Nayar et al., (659: 2006) ==C. kurzii Clarke and C. paludosa; of Almeida (195:

2010) ==C. kurzii Clarke; of Yadav and Sardesai (503: 2002) ==C. kurzii Clarke;

of Manilal and Sivarajan (294–299: 1982) ==C. kurzii Clarke; of Matthew (3:

1654–1667. 1983).

2. Commelina kotschyi Hassk. Beitr. Fl. Aethiop. 207. 1867; Rolla Rao in Blumea

14: 349. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 25. 1989. Type from

Africa.

After studying the specimens lablled as Commelina kotschyi placed at BSI,

we found that seeds are quite distinct, but it would not be resemble with African C.

kotschyi [compared with Kotschy, s.n. from Sudan, (K), sh.no K000345568,

available online http://plants.jstor.org/specimen/k000345568], otherwise

apparently it looks like C. forskalaei Vahl. Still occurrence in India of C.

heterosperma Blatter and Hallb. in J. Ind. Bot. Soc. 2:54. 1921, is doubtful.

However, Rao in 1966, emphasized on its identity and occurrence in India, it needs

further detailed study based on live specimens from Africa and India.

Doubtful Species in India

Commelina avenaefolia Grah. Cat. Pl. Bombay. 224. 1839.

Graham provided “Leaves sprinkled with hairs; sheath hairy; spathes

truncate”. In the dense part of the Khandala (Maharashtra) forest. There is no

suffiecient data for the determination of this species. So it has excluded from the

present work.

5 . C Y A N O T I S

94

D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 45 (1825), nom. cons.; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384.

1894; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. Bombay 2: 791. 1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 28.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 139,

2000. Type–Cyanotis barbata D. Don from Nepal.

Amischophacelus R. S. Rao and Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 305 (1966).

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23.1989; Type– Commelina axillaris L.

Zygomenes Salisb. Trans. Hort. Soc. London 1: 271 1812; Notes Roy. Bot. Gard.

Ednb. 25 (2): 187. 1964. Type– Zygomenes axillaris (L.) Salisbury.

Annual or perennial herbs; inflorescences terminal and axillary or axillary

only, each cincinnus or group of cincinni usually subtended by a foliaceous bract,

or inflorescences closed in the leaf sheaths (Cyanotis axillaris); flowers sessile to

subsessile; sepals subequal; petals united below forming a tube, lobes free, acute;

stamens 6, filaments usually with a subapical swelling, usually bearded with

moniliform hairs, anthers with longitudinal dehiscence but pollen usually released

from base of anther sacs; style usually with a subapical swelling, bearded or

glabrous; seeds 1–2 per locule, embryotega terminal. 2n = 16–78 (Faden, 1998).

The genus Cyanotis was described by David Don [Prodr. Fl. Nepal:

45.1825] under the section of Tradescantia Linn based on one of the common

species of Eastern Asia viz. Cyanotis vaga (Lour.) Schult. and Schult.f. [=Cyanotis

barbata Don]. The history of the genus Cyanotis started with one of the common

species, Cyanotis axillaris. Van Rheede (1690) in his Hortus Malabaricus has

firstly cited C. axillaris as “Nir–pulli”, which was the first citation of genus

Cyanotis from India. After a gap, Salisbury (1812) raised the Linnean Commelina

axillaris Linn. (1753) as a distinct genus and named it Zygomanes axillaris, and

but not described Zygomanes as a new genus. Afterwards, Hasskarl (1867) in

Schweinfurth’s Beitrag zur Flora Aethiopens adopted Salisbury’s Zygomanes for

four African species of Cyanotis (sensu stricto), and described Zygomanes as a

new genus. In his consideration, Zygomanes was published earlier to the Cyanotis

D. Don (1825) but he misquoted the year of publication for Zygomanes by

Salisbury. Earlier workers failed to provide justification for change in the name, it

become a valid but illegitimate (Rao and Kammathy, 1966).

95

The paleotropical genus Cyanotis D. Don (Commelinaceae) comprises c. 56

species worldwide (Govaerts and Faden, 2012), very diverse in Asia (Faden, 2000)

and Africa. For India, 16 species listed by Karthikeyan et al. (1989), however, 14

species from India documented in present studies.

During last few decades, many workers made species and infraspecific

delimitation within Indian Cyanotis. This may be due to individual’s morpho-

taxonomic parameters and approach and lack of larger geographical studies. The

genus is very distinct and falls under tribe Tradescantieae–Hexandrae Brückner

(1930) and characterized by six fertile, bearded stamens, 1–2 seeded locules and

seeds with terminal embryotega. Habitat is also ecologically diverse, it occurs in

grasslands, undergrowth, in a rock crevices as a weed in crops, along roadsides, in

open scrub, forest edges, sand flat dominating area, while few are strictly grown

under shade, forest floors and near streams. Nearly four to five species are

perennial, having fusiform tuberous or thick, elongated roots while remaining are

annual, but in continuous water lodged conditions and few shows perennial habit.

Endemism is high in Indian Cyanotis species. All the endemic species were found

to be restricted to Western Ghats and Southern India. Cyanotis axillaris var.

cucullata, Cyanotis arcotensis, C. concanensis, C. fasciculata, C. glabrescens and

C. tuberosa are endemic to India.

1. Inflorescences enclosed within the leaf sheaths; capsules with a trifid beak

…………………………………………………………………………………Cyanotis axillaris

– Inflorescences not enclosed within the leaf sheaths; capsule not beaked……………2

2. Plant glabrous, rarely pubescent; bracts glabrous, much longer than the inflorescence…

………..…..….……………..……………………………………....……...…C. cristata

– Plant variously pubescent or glabrous; bracts variously pubescent, much shorter than

the inflorescence …………………………………………………..……………….….3

3. Plants annual (excl. C. villosa), rosette absent (plant perennial, basal rosette and with

cobwebby hairs in C. arachnoidea) ………………………………...………………….4

– Plants perennial; rosette present…………………………………………..………..….. 9

4. Plants variously pubescent but not cobwebby hairs; leaves 2–2.5 cm wide……...….…5

96

– Plant covered with a white, cobwebby hairs or variously pubescence (if plant perennial

with rosette in C. arachnoidea and C. vaga; glabrous in C. glabrescens)………...…...6

5. Leaves densely appressed silky pubescent or sparsely pilose beneath, usually sessile

and lanceolate; inflorescences pedunculate …………….……..…...….…..C. racemosa

– Leaves usually densely pubescent on both the surfaces; elliptic–lanceolate or ovate;

inflorescences shortly pedunculate to sessile……..…………...…….........…. C. villosa

6. Leaves 1.2 cm or less than 1.5 cm wide ………………..………….….……………….7

– Leaves 1 cm or less than 1 cm wide……………………………….…....……….……8

7. Stem and leaves densely covered with cobwebby hairs; cincinni 6 to many flowered,

staminal filaments bearded with two coloured moniliform hairs ….…… C. fasciculata

– Stem and leaves glabrous; cincinni 2–6 flowered; staminal filament bearded with one

coloured moniliform hairs ………………………………………..……. C. glabrescens

8. Leaves linear to lanceolate, 3–10 × 0.4–1 cm, leaf sheaths 0.8–0.1 cm long, ciliate at

margins, leaves hirsute, apex acute, base pointed or rounded …………....C. arcotensis

– Leaves ovate to elliptic to linear to lanceolate, 0.5–10 × 0.4–1 cm, leaf sheaths 0.1–0.5

cm long, with a line of hairs along the fused edges, base cuneate to rounded .…...... ......

............................................................................................................. C. burmanniana

9. Plants with cormous base…………….…………………………………...…………..10

– Plants without cormous base……………………………………………..……..…….11

10. Rosette leaves oblong to elliptic..……………………………….……C. arachnoidea

– Rosette leaves linear to linear–lanceolate……………………...…..…..………. C. vaga

11. Roots of fusiform tubers ……………………………………………….…………….12

– Roots thick fibrous………………………………………………,,……………C. pillosa

12. Plants produces lateral adscendent shoots …………………………...…C. adscendens

– Plants erect without lateral adscendent shoots……………………...…………..……..13

13. Corolla lobes obovate, orbicular to suborbicular; filaments and style spirally

twisted….…………………………………………..……………..…….C. concanensis

– Corolla lobes ovate; subacute; filaments and styles not spirally twisted…...C. tuberosa

1. Cyanotis adscendens Dalzell, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 4: 343.1852.

Type from India.

Cyanotis sarmatica Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 33. 2087. 1853. Type from India,

Belgaum, Dalzell (possibly at K).

97

Cyanotis tuberosa var. adscendens (Dalzell) Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 3: 249.

1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 386. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 793. 1908;

Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum.

Monocot. 27. 1989. Plate 12 A

Rosette perennial; roots tuberous, fusiform. Flowering shoots axillary, 7–35

cm long, ascending or more commonly prostrate, when prostrate, often looping

along the ground, sometimes rooting at the nodes and giving rise to new plants

vegetatively. Rosette leaves spirally arranged, sheaths 0.1–2.5 cm, densely tawny

pubescent, lamina linear to linear–lanceolate 10–15 × 0.5–1(–1.5) cm, apex acute

to acuminate, base cuneate or occasionally rounded, upper surface glabrous, lower

sparsely pilose to densely pubescent, rarely glabrescent, margins usually strongly

undulate, ciliate; cauline leaves distichous, lamina ovate to lanceolate, slightly to

strongly falcate, 5–10 × 1.5–4 mm, ciliate on the margins, sparsely pilose to

glabrous on the surface. Flowers bisexual; sepals oblanceolate-oblong or

lanceolate- oblong, 4.5–6 × 1–1.5 mm, pilose and sometimes ciliate on the

margins; corolla 5–6 mm wide, pink to purple or reddish-violet, lobes with white

tips, reflexed apices; stamens spreading 8–10 mm wide, filaments with subapical

swelling, densely bearded with pink to lavender hairs, the distal ones usually

tipped with white, anthers orange-yellow; style subequal to the stamens, with a

subapical swelling, bearded below the swelling. Capsules 2.5–3 × 2 mm, dark

brown spots and short streaks, puberulous in distal half. Seeds ovate to ovate-

elliptic in outline, 1.3–1.8 × 0.9–1.3 mm, testa orange brown, shallowly and

irregularly pitted, sometimes faintly striate.

Flowering and fruiting– August to September.

Distribution and ecology – India: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka,

Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal (Map 6A); Sri Lanka; grasslands, rocky

crevices, along the forest margins and ditches along the forest side.

Specimen collected– Maharashtra: Botanical Garden Shivaji University,

Kolhapur, 9th Sept. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1229 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– North Dhena reserve forest,

Kurnool, 13th Sept. 1984, Raju 2523 (CAL). Assam– s. loc. Assam, 1898, Jenkins

98

s. n. (CAL). Bihar– Duars, Bihar (Fl. of West Duars), Sept. 1899, Haines 67

(CAL). Karnataka– Kupuli hills, Dharwar, 10th Aug. 1888, Talbot 1715;

Bababhudan Hills, Mysore, 2nd Oct. 1890, Talbot 2394; Badami, Sept. 1910,

Meebold 11376; Gundalpeth, Mysore, Oct. 1910, Meebold 11482; Kankapura to

Sangam, Bangalore, 19th July 1976, N. S. Ravindra 1560; Malabar and Konkan,

Stocks and Law. s. n. (CAL). Kerala– Munnar to Pooparagad, 23rd May, 2011,

Manudev and Nampy 4437 (DEV). Maharashtra– Chaturshringi Hills, Pune, July

1916, Moses Ezekiel 30390 (BLAT); Pimpari (Nigadi), Pune, 03rd Sept. 2010,

Manudev 3351 (DEV). West Bengal– Durgapur, Burdwan, 17th July 1973,

Mukharjee 18709 (BSA).

Note– Clarke (1881), Hook. f. (1894), Cooke (1908), Fischer (1931) and

Karthikeyan et al. (1989) treated it as a variety of Cyanotis tuberosa. However, it

differs from C. tuberosa in larger, more robust habit, inflorescence shoot laterally

produced and repent, rooting at nodes and from the nodes giving rise to new

plants.

2. Cyanotis arachnoidea Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 3: 250. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit.

Ind. 6: 386. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Karthik. et al.,

Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. Lectotype– Peninsular India, s. d., Wight

Herb, 2840 (P, sh. no. P0221044–lectotype designate here) Plate 12 B

Cyanotis pilosa acut. non Schult. Wight Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 32, t. 2083. 1853.

Cyanotis arachnoidea var. thwaitesii (Hassk.) Rao and Kammathy in Bull. Bot.

Surv. India. 6: 2. 1964. excl. type

Cyanotis nilagirica Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 127. 1870; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:

389. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989. Type– India,

Nilgiri, Perrottet 1811 (G) syn. nov. Plate– 8

Cyanotis obtusa (Trimen) Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 812. 1898; Rolla Rao in

Blumea 14: 349. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989; Faden

in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 127. 2000. syn. nov.

99

Cyanotis arachnoidea var. obtusa Trimen, J. Bot., British and Foreign 23: 266.

1885. Type–Aug 1883; Sri Lanka: Karagam, cultivated in Royal Botanic Gardens

Peradeniya Trimen s. n. (K, designated by Faden, 2000)

Cyanotis thwaitesii of Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989. non

Hassk. 1870.

Cyanotis fasciculata (Roth) Schult. f. var. thwaitesii (Hassk.) Clarke in DC., Mon.

Phan. 3: 254. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 388. 1894. pro parte, excl. type

With or without rosette herbs, perennial or annual; stems decumbent,

glabrous, 15–70 cm long, sometimes rooting from basal nodes; roots fibrous. All

the parts are densely to sparsely cover with cobwebby hairs or variously

pubescent. Rosette leaves oblong to oblanceolate, or elliptic to linear-lanceolate,

8–35 × 1–3 cm, succulent, apex acute to acuminate or obtuse, base attenuate,

margin entire densely ciliate with woolly hairs or cilate with short hairs, sheaths 1–

1.5 cm, in young plants sheaths bundled together and forming a corm like

structure, observed in some well-developed plants also. Cauline leaves linear–

oblong or lanceolate, ensiform, 1–6 × 0.5–1.5 cm, acuminate at apex, attenuate at

base to a leaf sheath, minutely silky pubescent (arachnoid) beneath; leaf sheath c. 1

cm long, ciliate. Inflorescence composed of one to numerous terminal and axilary

cincinni, pedunculate or sessile; peduncle 0.5–1 cm long; bract foliacious, ovate to

lanceolate, exceeding the cincinni; bracteoles falcate, minutely pubescent. Flowers

bisexual; sepals linear–lanceolate, c 4 × 1 mm, ciliate at margin; petals oblong, c 3

× 1.5 mm; stamens 6, filaments bearded with blue or pink moniliform hairs, tumid

at apex; anthers yellow; style bearded, with tumid apex, stigma simple. Capsules 2

× (1–)1.5 mm, oblong, densely pilose apically. Seeds 1–2 per locule, 1 × 1 mm,

ovate to elliptic, elongate, obscurely pitted, variously striated, gray to brown.

Flowering and fruiting– September to February.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Kerala,

Orissa, Tamil Nadu (Map 6B); Sri Lanka; in rocky crevices, slopes of grassland,

partial to fully exposed sun.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Sumkerimettha,

Vishakapattnam, 11th May 1956, S. K. Wagh 77032, H. Santapau 77029; Paderu,

100

Vishakapattnam, 24th Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77030, 77031 (BLAT); Anantgiri,

Vishakapattanam, 25th Sept. 1961, N. P. Balakrishnan 820 ‘as C. fasciculata’

(CAL); Tirumala, Chittor, 26th Dec. 1986, Ranga Charyulu 148288;

Sumkerimetta, Vishakapattnam, 30th Aug. 1960, G. V. Sbbarao 21515; on the way

to Sapparala Gedda, 975 m alt, Vishakhapattanam, 28th Oct. 1972, G. V. Subbarao

82417 (MH). Bihar– Patna, Oct. 1959, G. Panigrahi 20981 (ASSAM).

Maharashtra– Khandala?, Pune, 5th Sept. 1981, M. R. Almeida 1000726 (BLAT).

Kerala– Koomankundu, Silent Valley National Park, 16th Oct. 1982, T. Sabu

10833; way to north Walakkad, Silent Valley National Park, 11th Nov. 1983, C.

Satish Kumar 11548; Chembra peak, Meppadi, Wayanad, 23rd Sept. 1984, R. T.

Balakrishnan 40625; Silent Valley National Park, 17th Oct. 1984, Mathew 166;

Pongalapara, Trivendrum, 14th May 1988, N. Mohanan 9782; Koviltherimala,

Trivendrum, 22nd Dec. 1987, N, Mohanan 9194; Athirumala, Trivendrum, 15th

Oct., 1988, N. Mohanan 4453 ‘as C. fasciculata’; Mangaladevi, 1400 m. alt,

Periyar, 10th Dec. 1994, Jomy Augustine 14121; Vellimala, Periyar, 12th Dec.

1994, Jomy Augustine 13976, ‘as C. axillaris’ (CALI); Vagamon hills, Kottayam,

02nd Nov. 2002, Sibachen Thomas 860; Naduvattom, Malappuram district, 23rd

Feb. 2010, Nampy 175; Dodabetta, Nilgiri, 8th Oct. 2010, Nampy 146; Dodabetta,

Nilgiri, 24th Feb. 2010, Nampy 3409 (DEV). Orissa– Deomali Parbat, 6th Dec.

1962, G. V. S. Rao 29921 (ASSAM). Tamil Nadu– Bodirange, Madurai, 15th Sept.

1961, K. M. Sebastine 12895 (CAL); Shevaroy hills, Salem dt., 10th Aug. 2004, A.

K. Pradeep 93153 (DEV); Shevaroy hills, Oct. 1876, G. Bidie 73078; On the rocks

of Kodaikanal, Pulney hills, 19th July 1899, M. Chandrabose 52456; Sirumalai,

Madurai dt., 23rd Aug. 1913, K. C. Joest 72084; Hassanur, Coimbatore, 25th Aug.

1914, K. C. Joest 78081; Pulney hills, 22nd March 1928, without coll. 78068;

Ponmachi Betta, Kollegal, Coimbatore, 7th Feb. 1930, V, Narayanswamy 78804;

On the way to Thekumalai, Courtallum, 15th Dec. 1957, K. Subramaniyan 9543;

Akkamalai to Anamalai, 12th Sept. 1961, J. Joseph 26445; Kuthraivetti,

Thulukkamparai, Triunelveli, 31st Aug. 1963, A. N. Henry 39294; Near Pillar

rocks, Kodaikanal, Madurai dt., 27th July 1965, K. M. Sebastine 49208;

Mahendragiri slopes, Kanyakumari dt., 30th July 1966, B. V. Shetty 54457;

101

Cumbummedu, Ramnad, 14th March 1970, E. Vajravelu 65059;

Muthukurzhivayal, Kanyakumari, 27th Aug. 1976, A. N. Henry 92803; near

papanashanam falls, Tirunvelly dt., 27th Nov. 1986, Subraminayan 13609;

Longwood reserve forest, Nilgiri, s. d., E. Vajravelu 67942 (MH).

Note– Cyanotis arachnoidea can be easily recognized by its arachnoid or

cobwebby or silky pubescent woolly, robust, perennial habit, rosette and cauline,

narrowly elongated, oblong–lanceolate, obtuse to acute leaves, terminal and

axillary, more often sessile spikes, angusticus cylindrical, dark foveolate to smooth

seeds. This is one of the variable species, closely related with Sri Lankan Cyanotis

thwaitesii by having perennial rosettes, cobwebby pubescence, lanceolate leaves

and floral character that made it difficult to distinguish both the species in a narrow

context. Only a single type specimen of C. thwaitesii from Sri Lanka, was

avaliable to screen placed at CAL (Thwaites in C. P. 2433), but not found any

peculiar character (apart from more linear and glabrous leaves), to conclude

identity of Sri Lankan C. thwaitesii or its relation with Indian C. arachnoidea

More live and herbarium specimens has to be studied to draw any conclusion.

Herbarium specimens placed at various herbaria in India, were labeled like C.

thwaitesii, C. obtusa, C. arachnoidea var. thwaitesii, C. fasciculata var. thwaitesii,

C. arachnoidea var. obtusa are now been found out to be C. arachnoidea Clarke

only.

Extreme morphological variations, has been observed in live and herbarium

specimens from different populations, even within population, but it is within a

range of Cyanotis arachnoidea. Therefore, in the present investigation we treated

C. arachnoidea in broader sense. According to Faden (2000), the Sri Lankan

plants of C. thwetesii are distinct than the Indian C. obtusa [=C. arachnoidea], but

we strongly think that all Indian plants tagged with C. obtusa, C. thwaitesii and

various varieties belong to a single species.

3. Cyanotis arcotensis R. S. Rao, Blumea 14: 345 (1967); Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 28.1989. Type– Tippukadu, Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, India,

10th Nov. 1963, Joseph 89886A (holo–CAL!; iso– Joseph 89886B–BSI!).

102

Cyanotis papilionacea of Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 3: 246. 1881; Hassk. Commel.

Ind. 158. 1870; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres.

Madras, 1549. 1931; Rao and Kammathy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 25(2):

185. 1964. pro. parte. non (Linn) Roem. and Schult. Plate– 9

Annual hirsute herb with fibrous roots; stem erect to slightly decumbent,

branched from the base, if decumbent rooting sparsely from the nodes; Leaves

distichous, leaf sheaths c 0.8 cm long, ciliate at margins, leaves 3–10 × 0.4–1 cm,

linear to lanceolate, hirsute, apex acute, base pointed or rounded, margin entire and

finely ciliate. Inflorescence mostly terminal comprises of single to four cincinni,

pedunculate, peduncle 1.5–6 cm long; bracts foliaceous; bracteoles ovate to acute,

or falcate, 1 × 1 cm, prominently curved at maturity (Rao, 1966), margin ciliate.

Flowers bisexual, many per cincinni; sepals white, ovate–elliptic, pubescent; petals

fused basally, free at apices, blue to pink; stamens 6, fertile, filament c 1 cm,

bearded with blue moniliform hairs, tumid apically, anthers yellow; style slender,

glabrous (Rao, 1966), or sparsely bearded; ovary hairy in upper half. Capsule 3 × 2

mm, hairy above, seeds two per locule. Seeds 1.5 × 1 mm, ovate to elliptic in

outline, testa dark brown to gray, warty or faintly reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– October.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to India: Tamil Nadu (Map 6C);

known to occur from alluvial and lateritic soil.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar, 14th

Nov. 1953, J. S. Rao 96439; Theppakadu, Mudumalai, 22nd Nov. 1963,

Ramamurthy 34316; Jamnamrathur, North Arcot, 10th Nov. 1985, M. B.

Viswanathan 149338 (MH).

Note– Originally, the species collected from very few localities of Sothern India in

between year 1963–1964, all these collections deposited in different herbaria as

different types by Rao (1966). After studying the holotype (Joseph 89886A–

CAL!), isotype (Joseph 89886B– BSI!) and images of paratypes from E and K, it

was found that the species is more close to C. burmaniana in its habit, pubescence,

cincinni, flower and seed characters while differs in long, narrow, more hairy

leaves and cincinni with long peduncles. No any qualtitative difference found in C.

103

burmannia and C. arcotensis, but to confirm the proper identity of this species, it

needs further verification and have to see more live specimens.

4. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) Sweet, Hort. Brit.: 430.1826; Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 3:

244. 1881; Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 56. 1861; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 388.

1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 794. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras,

1550. 1931.

Commelina axillaris L., Sp. Pl. 42. 1753. Lectotype– t. 174, f. 3 in Plukenet,

Phytographia sive stirpium…icons, pars prior. 1692 (designated by Faden, 2000).

Amischophacelus axillaris (L.) Rao and Kammthy in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 59: 306.

1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23.1989.

Tonningia axillaris (L.) O. Ktze., Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 721. 1891.

“Nir–pulli” Rheede, Hort. Malb. 10: 28, t. 13, 1690. Fig. 18; Plate 12 C

Annual herbs; roots thin fibrous; stems erect or creeping or scrambling and

rooting at the nodes; much branched from the base, 30–40 cm. Leaves all cauline;

leaf sheath tubular to cucullate, leaf blade linear, 2–8(12) × 0.5–0.8 cm, abaxially

glabrous or sparsely pubescent, oblong to linear lanceolate, apex acute to

acuminate, base rounded to attenuate, margin entire, rarely ciliate. Inflorescence

enclosed within leaf sheaths (bract); bracteoles c 1 cm, linear, inserted, cincinni 3–

6 flowered. Flowers sessile, bisexual; sepals free, linear–lanceolate, 0.6–0.9 × 0.5

mm, sparsely to densely ciliolate; petals blue to bluish purple, c 12 mm wide;

stamens 6, fertile, exceed from the corolla tube, densely bearded with moniliform

hairs; Capsule shortly stipitate to sessile, beaked (divides and forms 3 valves) or

with three red projections (horned), obovoid or oblong–ellipsoid, 3–6 × 1.5–2.5

mm, quite glabrous except the beak; seeds 2 per locule, ovate to elliptic or oblong,

compressed, truncate at base 1.5–3 × 1.8 mm, testa gray to gray brown, mottled,

striate in between the deep reticulations, or with puncticulate from the scattered

deep pits, embryotega terminal, hilum punctiform.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– One of the common herb of wet places occur

throughout India (Map 6D), Sri Lanka to northern Australia and West Indies.

104

Note– Most distinctive species of the genus Cyanotis, beaked capsule and leaf

sheath enclosed inflorescence are the diagnostic characters. Chiefly found in

aquatic, marshy and wet habitat, within cultivation as a weed. Kammathy and Rao,

1964 and Rao and Kammathy, 1966 made two generic combinations, Zygomanes

and Amischophacelous based on some identical generic characters and on

cytological evidences, but apart from few similarities, no any convincing character

to spill out genus from Cyanotis.

Type specimen of C. cucullata [=Tradescantia cucullata Roth (India, Roth

s.n.)] placed at B, was collected by Heynii, owed and described by Roth from India

and he stated, the species is distinct from C. axillaris, because of cucullate leaf

spathae and glabrous filaments. Afterwards, many of Indian workers followed

Roth’s portrayal, many of them given vague description (like filament are nearly

glabrous, capsule hooded and all) to enumerate C. cucullata is a distinct species. In

1989, Naik and Nirgude proposed a new name with a status change and made a

variety as Tonningia axillaris var. depressa. They were right in some

circumstances like type of Tradescantia cucullata (B) having a naked filaments.

However, the other characters stated by them while proposing the new name were

vague viz. ‘leaf sheath tubular while the cucullate leaf sheaths can clearly seen in

type (Plate 10). Further, they have given justification that “the later (after Roth,

1821) plants are not referable to Tradescantia cucullata Roth and it deserves the

name”. It is true that after Roth, no one has collected the specimens with bearded

filaments but it does not mean that someone has to reduce the character like

cucullate sheaths, which was used as epithet by Roth. (as cucullata) while

describing the species.

Naik and Nirgude (1989) proposed var. depressa is under the genus

Tonningia, which is now synonymised in Cyanotis, therefore the var. depressa

need to be treated as again a new combination like ‘Cyanotis axillaris var.

depressa (Naik and Nirgude) Nandikar & Gurav’. However, in the original

description Naik and Nirgude, omitted the unique character i.e. cucullate sheaths,

from the type it is clear that the species has cucullate sheaths. Therefore, to avoid

105

further misinterpretation, in present study, the variable forms of Cyanotis axillaris

are referred as var. cucullata. Both the distinct verities are illustrated bellow,

1. Leaf sheaths tubular; capsule ellipsoid, stipitate, beaked…….…...…..…....var. axillaris

– Leaf sheaths cucullate; capsule oboviod, sessile, with three red projections at apex with

depression or horned…………………………………………..………….var. cucullata

var. axillaris

Annual herb of moist and wet areas; leaf sheath tubular (slightly bulged

during flowering and fruiting but never cucullate); leaves long, lanceolate, not

succulent; capsule ellipsoid, subsessile or shortly stipitate, beaked at apex without

any depression; seeds striate in between the deep striations.

Specimen collected– Karnataka: Khanapur, Belgaum dist., 26th Sept. 2009, M. D.

Nandikar C0903 (SUK). Maharashtra: Ajara–Amboli road, Kolhapur, 3rd Oct.

2009, M. D. Nandikar C0924 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Addatigala, East Godavari, 16th

Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77036; Valley Gardens, Vishakapattnam, 17th Oct. 1956, S.

K. Wagh 77034; Shriharikotta, Nellore, 14th Jan. 1958, S. K. Wagh 77042 (BLAT).

Karnataka– Karwar, North Kannara, Oct. 1919, Hall and McCann 77043, 77292

‘as papilionacea’ (BLAT). Kerala– Nedumkayam, Eravikulam, 27th Nov. 1980, P.

Mathew 29182; Karimpuzha, Eravikulam, 2nd June 1982, P. Mathew 34322;

(CALI); Muthunga WLS, Wayanad dt., 29th Nov. 2002, Joby Paul 892; Nilambur

forest, Malappuram district, 6th Jan. 2010, Nampy 2725 (DEV). Maharashtra–

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai, 26th Sept. 1953, H. Santapau

77055; Matunga, Mumbai, Aug. 1925, R. D. Acland 77062, 63, 64; Dattatray road,

Malad, Mumbai, 4th Oct. 1957, G. L. Shah 7706 (BLAT). Orissa: Koinjur to

Kusadandi, 26th June 1900, s. coll. 73089 (MH); Puri, Orissa, Bakkond WLS, 3rd

Dec. 2011, Nampy and Sheeba 4297 (DEV). Tamil Nadu–North Arcot, 12th Dec.

1958, Subramanayan 14542; Chidambarnath, 31st Jan. 1958, K. M. Sebastine

10138; Chingulpet, Coimbatore, Sept. 1958, K. Subramanayan 14541; Bund side,

Vedanthangal Sanctuary, 26th Jan. 1976, A. N. Henry 91658; South Arcot, 18th Jan.

1978, K. Ramamurthy 100644; Kanyakumari, 17th Oct. 1985, R. Gopalan 166855;

106

Selugai, Ramnathpuram, 11th Nov. 1989, Balasubramanayan 146152 (MH). West

Bengal– Plant of Gangetic trop., July 1841, Hook. f. and Thomson s.n. (MH).

var. cucullata (Roth) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat nov.

Tradescantia cucullata Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 189. 1821. Type– India, 1814, Roth s. n.

(holo–B, sh. no. B_10_0296350) excluding “filamentis imberbibus”

Cyanotis cucullata (Roth) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 107. 1843; Clarke in DC., Mono.

Phan. 3: 245. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 389. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl.

Pres. Madras, 1550. 1931; Rao and Kammathy, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 59:1.

1962; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989.

Zygomenes cucullata (Roth) Rao and Kammathy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb.

25(2): 187. 1964.

Amischophacelus cucullata (Roth) Rolla and Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 59:

306. 1966.

Tonningia cucullata (Roth) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 722. 1891.

Tonningia axillaris (L.) Rafin. var. depressa Naik and Nirgude in Asian J. Pl. Sc.

1: 75. 1989; Naik in Fl. of Marathwada 2: 883. 1998. syn. nov. excluding

description “leaf sheath tubular”. Plate– 10, 12D

Annual herb of dry or semiarid situations; leaf sheath cucullate; leaves

small, succulent; capsule oboviod, sessile, with three red projections at apex with

depression; seeds puncticulate from the scattered deep pits.

Flowering and fruiting– August to January.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to India: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, species is more common in

Deccan peninsular India to Gujarat, East coast of India and Maharashtra; mostly

along the cultivated weeds and barren fields (Map 6E).

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Badami plateau, Bagalkot, 11th Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar C1006 (SUK). Tamil Nadu: Near Marudamalai temple, Coimbatore,

24th Nov. 2010, Nandikar and Gurav C1003 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh–Osmania University campus,

Hyderabad, Kammathy 73974 (BSI); Nagarjunsagar, Nalconda dt., 13th Dec. 1959,

107

K. M. Sebastine 9731 (CAL, MH). Gujarat: Behind station Rajkot, Saurashtra,

20th Oct. 1953, H. Santapau 77209 (BLAT). Maharashtra– Diva Ghat, Pune dt.,

Dec. 1917, Blatter and McCann 77202; near bus stand Purandhar, Pune, 11th Oct.

1950, H. Santapau 77201 (BLAT); Pandharpur, Solapur, 26th Aug. 1912, Wiliam

Butus 3476; near Veruba hill, 3 miles from Atit, Satara, Rolla Rao 73036 (BSI).

Kankuri, Nashik, 31st Dec. 1964, Arora 1363 (CAL). Madhya Pradesh–

Abaidullahganj, East Bhopal, s. d., Wadhwa 59597 (BSI). Rajasthan– Banswara

to Udaipur road, Banswara, 23rd Aug. 1976, V. Singh 2994 (CAL).

5. Cyanotis burmanniana Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 34. t. 2089 (1853); Hassk.

Commel. Ind. 158. 1870; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989;

Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 121. 2000. Type from India,

Malabar.

Tradescantia rupestris Law in Grah. Cat. Pl. Bombay, 223. 1839. Type– Purusgur

Fort, Near Dharwad, North Kanara, India.

Cyanotis papilionacea of Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay. 2: 791. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931, pro.

parte. non (Linn) Roem. and Schult.

Cyanotis papilionacea auct., var. burmanniana (Wight) Clarke in Monogr. Phan.

3: 246. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 385. 1894, non (Linn) Roem. and Schult.

Cyanotis vaginata Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 34. t. 2088 (1853); Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. Ind. 6: 385. 1894. Type from India, Malabar (Kerala).

Cyanotis papilionacea auct., var. vaginata (Wight) Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres.

Madras, 1549. 1931. non (Linn) Roem. and Schult.

Cyanotis hispida Dalzell in Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 139. 1851. Type–

India, Malwan (Bombay) Dalzell s.n. (iso– CAL!). Fig. 11

Cyanotis hirtella Miq. ex Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 112. 1870. Type– India,

Mangalore (North Kanara), 1847, Hohenacker, R. F. 130 (holo– S, sh. no. S-G-

8065) Fig. 19; Plate 12(E–F)

Erect to decumbent, procumbent or profusely branched, annual herb, c 5–40

cm long or spreads; root fibrous. Leaves distichous, sheaths 0.1–0.5 cm long, with

108

a line of hairs along the fused edges, pilose elsewhere, lamina ovate to elliptic to

linear to lanceolate, 0.5–10 × 0.4–0.8(–1) cm, apex acute, base cuneate to rounded,

lamina of both the surfaces are densely pilose or abaxial sparsely pilose.

Inflorescence terminal and axillary, with 2–5 cincinni, cincinni pedunculate,

peduncle 0.5–4(6) cm long, marginally pubescent; bract ovate to lanceolate,

foliaceous, mostly shorter than the cincinni; bracteoles ovate, margins ciliate,

surface variously pubescent or rarely glabrous. Flowers few– many per cincinni,

bisexual; sepals lanceolate–oblanceolate, 0.4 × 0.5 mm, sparsely to densely pilose;

petals 4–6 mm wide, united forming a tube, blue to pale pink or violet, lobes free,

reflexed; stamens 6, fertile, exserted half of the corolla tube, filament densely

bearded below sub-apical, fusiform swelling, anthers black with yellow dot; style

bearded, sub-equal to staminal filament, apically tumid (fusiform swelling).

Capsule 2 × 2 mm, sparsely pilose at apex and along the ridges; seeds 1–2 per

locule 1–2 × 1–2 mm, testa orange brown, finely to longitudinally striate.

Flowering and fruiting– September to January.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu (Map 6F); Sri Lanka, common in grasslands of southern

India during monsoon, on barren rock (apparently) lithophytic, along sandy

seashore, low to high altitude lateritic plateaus, full sun or partially shade.

Specimens collected– Kerala: Waynad to Calicut road, 19th Sept. 2011, S. S.

Kamble and Nandikar C1107 (SUK). Maharashtra– Vengurla, Sindhudurg, 17th

Sept. 2011, S. S. Kamble and Nandikar C1101; Dukanwadi, Kudal, Sindhudurg,

2nd Oct. 2011, Gurav and Nandikar C1110 (BLAT, BSI, CAL, CALI, MH, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Northern hump of the Island,

Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram district, 23rd Dec. 1960, V. A. Rao 603 (CAL).

Goa– Ordofond, Butpal, 4th mile, 25th Aug. 1963, K. C. Kanodia 89536 (CAL).

Kerala– Chikala–Chalakudy, Trichur, 9th Dec. 1965, K. M. Sebastine 26689 ‘as C.

papilionacea’; Chalakudy to Adirapally, Trichur dt., 27th Sept. 1982, K.

Ramamurthy 74881; Way to Kattapana, Iddukki, 5th Oct. 1983, C. N. Mohanan

80008 (CAL); Alleppey (Alappuzha), Nov. 1910, Meebold 12724;

Muzhapplangad, Cannanore, 17th Aug. 1980, V. S. Ramchandran 66999; on the

109

way from Iddukki to Kattappana, Iddukki, 8th Nov. 1981, C. N. Mohanan 72416;

Calvary Mountain, Erattayar, Iddukki, 14th Oct. 1982, C. N. Mohanan and V. S.

Ramchandran 74622 ‘as C. fasciculata’; Beemanadi, 250 mt., Kasargod dt., 27th

Sept. 1982, R. Ansari 74343; Aruvanpara, Silent Valley National Park, 20th Aug.

1982, Satish Kumar 10726; Mlappara, Priyar, s. d., Jomy Augustine 17175 ‘as C.

fasciculata’; Vadapuram–Anapara, Ervivullam, 31st Aug. 1989, P. Mathew 33479;

Uallakkadavu, Periyar, 9th Nov. 1996, Jomy A. 16900 (CALI); way to

Kakkadampoil, 13th Nov. 2009, Nampy and Manudev 1259 (DEV); Kannoth,

Malabar, 5th Dec. 1913, s. coll. 52533 (MH). Tamil Nadu– Poomachi, Anamalai,

10th Oct. 1908, C. A. Barber 3708; s. loc. Herb. Wight 1163; Alleppy, Travancore,

13th Aug. 1913, M. Rama Rao 2221 ‘as C. vaginata’; Calimere, Tanjavur, 17th Jan.

1961, J. Ellis 11751 (CAL).

Note– Common and widespread plant of west coast and southern India,

morphologicaly extremely variable, consist of 3 to 4 morphotypes, depends on

their habitat. However, under cultivation not retains natural habit. In India this

species was described under different epithets and verities viz. C. vaginata, C.

papillionacea, C. papillionacea var. burmaniana, C. hispida, C. hirtella. Most of

these names were synonymised earlier within C. burmaniana while C.

papillionacea dropped by Rao (1964) because he found that it was based on a

specimen of C. cristata.

Cyanotis arcotensis Rao is apparently distinct plant from C. burmainana

complex. However, to conclude its identity, needs further study.

6. Cyanotis concanensis Hassk. Comm. Ind. 114. 1870; Rao in Blumea 14: 348.

1966; Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 44. 1990; Lakshminarshiman in Sharma et al., Fl.

Maharashtra (Monocot.) 163. 1996; Yadav and Sardesai, Fl. Kolhapur Dist. 504.

2002.

Cyanotis sahyadrica Blatter in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 77. 1928; Raizada in

Bull. Bot. Surv. Ind. 18(1): 15. 1959.

110

Cyanotis stocksii Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 118. 1870. Type– India, Malabar and

Concan, Stocks and Law or Thomson? s. n. (Cyanotis no. 9) (B, sh. no.

B100296348)

Cyanotis tuberosa Sensu Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 256, 1861; Cooke, Fl.

Bombay Pres. 2: 793. 1908. pro. parte. (non Schult) . Fig. 20; Plate 12 G

A stout, hairy perennial herb with root of fusiform tubers, producing two

aerial structures side by side; a true stem and a pseudo-stem. True stem solitary,

suberect, very thin at base, without radical leaves. Cauline leaves few (4 or 5),

ensiform, acute, scarcely narrowed below, amplexicaul 7 × 16 mm, scantily long

hairs on upper side, densely covered with shorter hairs on margin and lower

surface, grass-green above, paler below, sheath 2 cm long, densely pilose.

Pseudostem formed acute at apex, sheathing, leathery on upper side sparsely long

hairy, margin and lower surface densely clothed with hairs, sheath half-

amplexicaul, densely hairy. Flowers in axillary and terminal scorpoid cincinnus;

cincinni comprises of many flowers, pedunculate; peduncles grooved, velvety

hairy, usually several together forming a large, ovate to lanceolate, acute, hairy,

falcate, deflexed leaf, 2–6 × 0.5–1.7 cm, as long as the cymes or more often

longer, hairy as same as in cauline leaves, bracteoles ovate or acute–subacuminate,

imbricate in two series, margin ciliate, brown–purplish; sepals 3, united at base,

villous outside, lanceolate– oblanceolate or linear lanceolate; petals 3, united into a

tube, 4 mm long, whitish passing slowly into a pale blue and dark blue at the apex

of the lobes, longest lobe 4 mm, just as long as tube, another half of the tube, all

obovate or suborbicular, apiculate, apex reflexed; stamens 6; filaments white, c 1

cm long, spirally twisted near the anther which part is bearded with dark blue

moniliform hairs; anthers orange-yellow, 2 mm long, dorsifixed; ovary ellipsoid

with a very thick coat of stiff yellowish brown hairs; style 1.5 cm long, twice as

long as stamens, spirally twisted, filamentous, white spindle-shaped below stigma,

with tuft blue hairs below the swelling. Capsules 3–4 × 2–3 mm, ellipsoid–

obovoid, hirsute at apex, trilocular, locule 2 seeded; seeds broadly ovoid, 1–2 mm

long, slightly narrower, somewhat compressed, rounded at apex, testa rugose,

hilum ventral, rounded, embryotega terminal, brown in colour.

111

Flowering and fruiting– July to December.

Distribution and ecology– Endemic to India: Maharashtra and Karnataka (Map

7A), restricted between Konkan to North Karnataka region of Western Ghats,

India. It strictly occurs at peculiar eco-situations of high to medium altitude

lateritic plateaus. Similarly, it is most robust gregarious species with beautiful blue

flowers. It grows on lateritic plateaus of Sahyadri in crevices of rocks on

accumulated soils. It also grows in Ghats along the slopes.

Specimens collected– Kas Plateau, Satara, 14th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar C0801;

Bhudargad fort, Kolhapur, 24th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar C0812 (SUK); on the

way to Durgwadi Temple, Junnar, Pune, 8th Oct. 2011, Nandikar and Gurav

C1112 (BSI, CAL, MH, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Maharashtra– for Fl. of Deccan, s. loc., 1884, T.

Cooke 96; Kedarnath hill slopes, Harishchadragad, Takwada range 17th Nov. 1968,

K. V. Billore115551 (CAL).

Note– One of the gigantic species of genus Cyanotis, found exclusively in

Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa states of India. Can be easily recognized by its

robust habit, long linear leaves, strongly curved cincinni and beautiful blueflowers.

7. Cyanotis cristata (L.) D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 46 (1825); Hassk., Commel.

Ind. 120. 1870; Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 32. t. 2082. 1853; Clarke in DC., Mono.

Phan. 3: 247. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 385. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay.

2: 793. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon

14: 123. 2000.

Commelina cristata Linn., Sp. Pl. 1: 42. 1753, non Burm. Fl. Ind. tab. 7. fig. 1.

1768. Type– Illustr. in Hermann herb. used by Linnaeus, Fl. Zeyl. 13. 1747, to

illustrate his species 32; (BM) Lectotype designated by Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl.

Ceylon 14: 123. 2000.

Tradescantia cristata Linn., Syst. Nat. (ed. 12) 12 233. 1767. Type– Uppsala,

Sweden, Without Collector, Linnean Herbarium, 406-6 (LINN).

112

Cyanotis papilionacea (Linn) Roem. and Schult., Syst. Veg. 7: 1151. 1830. nom.

illeg.

Cyanotis racemosa of Clarke, Commel. et Cryt. Beng. 56, t. 36. 1874, non Heyne

ex Hassk. Type from India. Fig. 21; Plate 11 H

Common widespread, 10–60 cm long, branched to unbranched, annual herb

with erect to ascending or decumbent shoots; roots fibrous. Stem if branched,

branched from the base, rooting at lower nodes, glabrous or with line of cilia on

internodes, internodes 1–5 cm. Leaves distichous, sheathes 0.1–1.8 cm long, with a

line of hairs along the fused edges, sometimes sparsely pilose elsewhere, ciliate at

the apex, lamina ovate-elliptic to lanceolate–oblong, 1–10 × 0.3–2 cm, apex acute

or obtuse, base cordate or rounded, margin villously ciliate, surfaces glabrous to

sparsely hairy. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, scorpioidly recurved cymes,

pedunculate, 1–5 in a terminal cluster, peduncles 0.5–8 cm long, with a line of

pubescence opposite the bract, otherwise glabrous; bracts foliaceous, ovate–

lanceolate, much longer than the cyme, 1–6 cm long, conduplicate at the base,

apex acuminate, margins cilate or ciliolate, surfaces glabrous; bracteoles falcate 5–

8 × 3–6 mm, ciliate on the margin, surface glabrous. Flowers blue to bluish purple

or pale lavender; sepals linear oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, 2–4 mm long,

sparsely pilose at the apex; petals not much exceeding from sepals, united forming

a tube, apices free, lobed, lobes ovate; stamen filaments densely bearded below the

subapical swelling, hairs blue, anthers yellow or orange yellow; style glabrous.

Capsules 2–3 × 1.2–2 mm, densely pilose at the apex, locules 1–2 seeded. Seeds

ovate to ovate–deltate or ovate–elliptic in outline, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm, testa grey or

brown, striated with 1–3, circular to longitudinally elongate pits on either side of

the midline, ventral surface with a medial ridge.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 7B); Philippines and Java, also

known from Mauritius, Socotra and Ethiopia; an occasional weed in the

Neotropics. Growing on rocky outcrops, usually in moist crevices or shallow soil,

roadside ditches and banks, under trees and shrubs, thicket edges, near streams;

sun exposed or partial shade.

113

Specimens collected– Karnataka– Madikeri, 26th Nov. 2010, Gurav and Nandikar

C1005; Badami plateau, Bagalkot, 11th Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar C1008;

Charmadi Ghat, 8th Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar C1113 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Kondapalli, Krishna, 24th Aug.

1956, S. K. Wagh 77123; Mellavagu, Guntur, 4th Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77124

(BLAT); Tirupati, 12th Dec. 1987, Ranga Charyulu 148234 (MH). Gujarat–

Junagadh forest road, Junagadh, 28th Aug. 1952, H. Santapau 77098 (BLAT).

Kerala– J. L. Hills, Sultan Battery, Calicut, 12th Aug. 1964, B. D. Naithani 48451;

Kuttukanam, Kottayam, 21st Sept. 1964, K. Viveknathan 40017; Palghat, 19th July

1964, K. M. Sebastine 39737; Thekkady, 17th Nov. 1975, K. Viveknathan 90953;

Quilon, 26th July 1978, C. N. Mohanan 134005; Mukkali forest, Palghat, 11th Oct.

1979, N. C. Nair 125314; Tellicherry, Cannanore, 16th Aug. 1980. V. S.

Ramchandran 132626; Idukki, 23rd Sept. 1981, C. N. Mohanan and Ramanujam

137579; Walyar. Malabar, s. d., S. R. Raju and Rafnavelu 78073; Trichur, 26th

Nov. 1982, R. Rajan 131534 (MH); Canoli, Eravikulam, 7th Nov. 1980, P. Mathew

29115; Neyyar, Trivendrum, 28th Sept. 1993, N. Mohanan 11557 (CALI);

Vilanyad forest, Kozhikode, 26th Sept. 2003, Nampy and Joby 981 (DEV).

Maharashtra– Chaturshingi, Pune, 20th July 1916, Moses Ezekiel 77277; Battery

hill, Khadala, Pune, 5th Sept. 1943, H. Santapau 77164; Marve road, Malad,

Mumbai, 4th Aug. 1956, G. L. Shah 77129; Tungar hills, Thane, 21st Aug. 1956, H.

Santapau 77147; Aarey Milk colony, Goregaon, Mumbai, 6th Aug. 1958, S. C.

Tavakari 77189; Vihar Lake, Mumbai, 22nd Aug. 1959, H. Santapau 77136;

Matheran near forest office, Raigad district, 10th Sept. 1959, N. A. Irani 77118;

Koyna Dam, Satara dt., 12th Nov. 1960, P. Divakar 77182 (BLAT); Karachkkaval,

Periyar, s. d., Jomy Augustine 13936 (CALI). Meghalaya– Aka Hills, Aug. 1934,

N. L. Bor 17263; Nongpoh, 29th July 1964, J. Joseph 37401 (ASSAM). Tamil

Nadu– Perumal hills, Thuraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, 15th Aug. 1906, N. P. Murgesan

305 (Herb. Madras Christan College, Chennai); Rawnad, 29th Jan. 1945, Daniel

and Raju 88176; Trichurpalli, 29th Oct. 1958, K. M. Sebastine 13811; Tirunvelly,

12th Nov. 1962, J. Joseph 30104; Flora of Madras state without loc. 24th Nov.

1964, E. Vajravellu 42981; Salem, 2nd Dec. 1964, A. V. N. Rao 44437;

114

Ramnathapuram, 29th Nov. 1977, N. C. Nair 101698; Jamnarmarathur, Jawadi

Hills, 10th Nov. 1985, Viwanathan 152517; Ramnathapuram, 30th Dec 1987,

Balasubraminam 146221 (MH). Tripura– Cherilam Reserve Forest, Tripura, 27th

August 1957, R. S. Rao 8853 (ASSAM).

Note– This is the most common species of genus Cyanotis in India, easily

distinguished by its ovate to lanceolate, foliaceous bracts and biserately arranged

falcate bracteoles.

8. Cyanotis fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Schult. and Schult. f. in Roem. and

Schult., Syst. Veg. 7: 1152. 1830; Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 255. 1861; Wight,

Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 32. t. 2086. 1853; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 387. 1894; Cooke, Fl.

Pres. Bombay. 2. 793. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1550. 1931;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989.

Tonningia fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 722. 1891.

Tradescantia fasciculata B. Heyne ex Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 189. 1821. Type from

India. Fig. 22; Plate 16 A, 35 (J–L)

Ascending to creeping or erect, branched annual herb with densely lanate

young branches. Roots fibrous. Stem purple or green; internodes 0.7–5 cm, vilose

to sparsely cobwebby; leaf heath 0.5–1.2 cm, cobwebby, overlapping in younger

branches and lower nodes, mouth ciliate. Leaves cauline, distichous sometimes

succulent, purple-green, lanceolate 0.8–2.1 × 0.3–0.7 cm, base cuneate, margin

ciliate, surface glabrous to densely or sparsely lanate, densely lanate in case of

younger branches, apex acuminate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, peduncles

up to 4 cm long, villose- sparsely cobwebby; bracts foliaceous, lanceolate-ovate,

0.3–0.8 × 0.2–0.4 cm, margins ciliate, lower surface lanate, apex acuminate;

bracteoles purple, lanceolate, 2–6 mm, apex acuminate, margin ciliate, cobwebby;

sepals pale white, lanceolate, 5–5.5 × 1–1.3 mm, basally connate, margin ciliate;

petals 3, blue to pink, 8 × 4 mm, united; stamens 6; filament bearded with blue-

purple and white moniliform hairs with sub apical bulging; ovary white, ovate-

oblong, apex ciliate; style blue, bearded, hairs like in stamens with sub apical

bulging. Capsule yellowish brown, ovate, 2.8–3 × 1–1.5 mm, apex hirsute. Seeds

115

deltate or pyramidal, 2–2.5 × 1.5 mm, brown or grey with mid ventral ridge, testa

rugose, hilum ventral, rounded, embryotega terminal.

Flowering and fruiting– June to November.

Distribution and ecology– Cyanotis fasciculata is apparently endemic to India:

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (Map 7C). It is found growing exposed on rock

crevices and soil pockets on rocky hills at an elevation of 600–1000 m.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra– Shivaji University campus, Kolhapur, 12th

Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 102 (SUK). Karnataka– Badami plateau, Bagalkot,

11th Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar C1007 (SUK). Tamil Nadu– near Marudamalai

temple, Coimbatore, 24th Nov. 2010, Nandikar and Gurav C1002 (BSI, CAL,

SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– way to Pathalaganga, Kurnul

dt., 20th Oct. 1964, J. L. Ellis 22112 (CAL). Assam– Sissini, NEFA, s. d., R. S.

Rao 1433 (ASSAM). Gujrat– Sasangiri (Gir), Junagadh, 22nd Aug. 1960, S. R.

Rao 63875 (CAL). Maharashtra– Ganesh khind, Pune, Sept. 1908, G. B.

Patwardhan 1652; Junnar, Pune, 10th Oct. 1962, R. S. Rao 83577; Khamdale,

Chandgad, Kolhapur, 09th Aug. 1971, R. S. Rao 131572; Katraj Ghat, Pune district,

s. d., R. K. Bhide 1682 (BSI); Katraj, Pune, 6th Oct. 1957, G. S. Puri 25602;

Seminary Hills, Nagpur, 1st Sept. 1959, Mukharjee 618; Khadakwasala, Pune, 15th

Sept. 1960, R. S. Raghavan 64265 (CAL). Madhya Pradesh– Sundartekari,

Indore, 9th Sept. 1986, Khanna and Saran 37438 (BSA); Sanchi, Bhopal (Flora of

Central India), Sept. 1908, Meebold 9044 (CAL). Rajasthan– Bhawani Mandir,

Jhalawar, 26th Sept. 1964, B. M. Wadhwa (BSA, CAL); Canoor Ghat, Oct. 1910,

Meebold 12006; Manigudi, Nilgiri, Nov. 1986, Gamble 18491; Amer, Jaipur, 20th

Sept. 1964, S. Sharma 846 (CAL). Tamil Nadu– Hassanur, Coimbatore, 21st Aug.

1914, without coll. 10542 (MH).

Note– This is one of the common, widespread and variable species of Cyanotis in

western and southern India. Clarke in 1881 has made varieties based on variation

in habit and pubescence, these varieties can be recognized easily in the field and

116

herbariums also, but most distinctive element from this complex is C. glabrescens

which is described below as a distinct speices.

9. Cyanotis glabrescens (C. B. Cl.) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat nov.

Cyanotis fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Schult. and Schults.f. var. glabrescens

Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 253. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 388. 1894;

Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 793.1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

26.1989. Type– India, Belgaum, Ritchie n. 746 (K).

Cyanotis karliana Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 146 1870; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 26.1989. Type from Poonah (Pune) India, Hugel ? syn nov.

Fig. 23; Plate 13, 16 B, 35 (G–I)

Erect to ascending, annual herb. Roots fibrous. Stem 15–50 cm high,

spreading, rooting at lower nodes; internodes 2.5–10 cm long, green to purple,

terete, ciliate on ridge; nodes swollen; sheath 0.2–1 cm long, margin with scattered

hairs, densely hairy along the fused edges at base. Leaves linear-lanceolate,

(1.5–) 5 × 0.5(–1) cm, glabrous, sessile, alternate; lamina entire; apex acute to

acuminate; margins finely hairy. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, composed of

2–6 flowered cincinni, leaf opposed; peduncle (0.3–) 0.5 – 4(–5) cm long, with a

line of cilia; bract foliaceous, obovate–lanceolate, longer than (rarely equal to or

shorter than) cincinni, (0.5–)1 × 0.2–0.5 cm, margin entire, sparsely to densely

hairy; surfaces glabrous; apex acute; bracteoles falcate, (0.3–)0.6 × 0.1 cm,

sparsely to densely bearded on surface and margins with cobwebby hairs. Flowers

c 1.0 cm long; sepals 3, 3.5–4.5 mm long, free, elliptic to lanceolate, basally

densely bearded with cobwebby hairs, glabrous above; petals 3, 4.5–6 mm wide,

fused to form a tube below, lobes spreading, blue; stamens 6, filaments 0.5 cm

long, filiform, spirally twisted (sometimes with subapical swellings), bearded with

moniliform blue hairs apically, anthers elliptic, 0.7–1.3 mm long, yellow to orange

yellow; ovary 0.1 mm long with tuft hairs at apex, oblong; style 0.5 mm long with

the subapical swelling, naked or finely bearded; stigma simple. Capsule 3 × 2(–3)

mm, oblong, trivalved, dehiscent, apex densely covered with tuft, pointed hairs,

sparsely on the ridges. Seeds 1–2 per locule (sometimes capsules are single seeded

117

and indehiscent), elongate or elliptical in outline, 1 × 1.2 mm, testa medium

brown, striate, finely pitted dorsally; embryotega terminal; hilum ventral, rounded.

Flowering and fruiting– August to November.

Distribution and ecology– The genus Cyanotis is very diverse in Asia (Faden

2000) and earlier findings by Wight (1853); Clarke (1871, 1881); Hooker (1894,

1898); Fischer (1931) and annotations during current study concluded that the

leading diversity is confined to Western Ghats. Cyanotis glabrescens was until

now considered to be an endemic of Peninsular India. It commonly occurs in

Konkan and North Kanara (Map 7D), on middle to high altitude lateritic plateaus

of northern Western Ghats at 800–1200 m. It grows on lateritic, red soil and on

rock ledges; apparently looks like lithophytic. Plants of Cyanotis glabrescens are

frequently associated with Murdannia semiteres Santapau, Murdannia versicolor

Brückner, Rotala densiflora Koehne and Flemingia nilgiriensis Wight ex Cooke.

Specimens collected– Karnataka– Kankumbi, Belgaum district, 26 th Sept. 2008,

M. D. Nandikar 043 (SUK). Maharashtra– Faye, Bhudargad, Kolhapur, 4th Sept.

2010, M. D. Nandikar C1022 (BSI, CAL, CALI, MH, SUK); Manohar

Mansantoshgad, Kudal, Sindhudurg district, 2nd Oct. 2011, Gurav and Nandikar

C1108 (BSI, CAL, SUK); Lingmala water fall, Mahabalehswar, Satara, M. D.

Nandikar C1028; Shelap, Radhanagari, Kolhapur district, Elev. 900-1100m, 18th

Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 108; Morjai, Gaganbawda, Kolhapur district, 16th Sept.

2009, M. D. Nandikar 096, 097; Radhanagari, Kolhapur district, 24th Sept. 2010,

M. D. Nandikar 336 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Hulichal Ghat, 25th Oct. 1885, Talbot

1351; Hulical Ghat, 25 th Oct. 1885, W. A. Talbot 1351; Anmod, North Kanara,

15th Sept. 1891, W. A. Talbot 2603; Anmod, north Kannara, 15th Sept. 1891, W. A.

Talbot 2603; Castle Rock, north Kannara, Oct. 1908, Meebold 10678; Malabar and

Concan, Stocks and Law 23; Castle Rock, North Kanara, Oct. 1908, Meebold

10678 (CAL); Belgaum, Ritchie 745 (E). Maharashtra– Matheran, Aug. 1924, R.

D. Acland 77246; Wilson Point, Mahabaleshwar 1958, H. Santapau 77220

(BLAT); Panchgani, 24th Aug. 1894, T. Cooke 1684, 1686, 1688, 1689; Khandala,

22nd Sept. 1902, G. A. Gammie 1691, 1681 Cooke’s Herbarium; Khandala to

118

Khopoli, 30th Aug. 1902, R. K. Bhide 1690; Lingmala, Mahabaleshwar, 15th

Oct.1961, R. V. Kammathy 32826; Table Land, Panchagani, 14 Oct. 1961, R. V.

Kammathy 328021; Sakarpathan Plateau, Lonavala, 29th Sept. 1964, B. Venkata

Reddi 98772, 100924; Danoli, Ratanagiri District, 18th Sept.1964, R. D. Pataskar

02127; Sinhagad, 02nd Sept.1966, M. Y. Ansari 104855 (BSI); Sinhgad, Pune dt.,

5th Sept. 2010, Nampy and Manudev 3430 (DEV).

Note–– Cyanotis glabrescens appears to be most closely related to C. fasciculata, a

widely distributed species throughout peninsular India, with which it shares some

similarities viz. succulent habit, inflorescence and capsule shape and size. It is a

distinctive species characterized by glabrous habit with a line of cilia on the stem,

linear-lanceolate leaves, 2–6 flowered cymes with long glabrous peduncles, single-

coloured moniliform hairs on filament, and elongate to elliptic, striate seeds with

fine pits on the dorsal sides.

10. Cyanotis pilosa Schult. f. in Syst. Veg. 7: 1154. 1830; Clarke in DC., Mon.

Phan. 3: 251. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 387. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl.

Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989;

Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 129. 2000. Type– India, 1800,

Klein s.n. in Willdenow Herbarium no. 6362 (B).

Cyanotis longifolia Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 33, t. 2084. 1853, non Benth, 1849.

Cyanotis wightii C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 250 1881; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay. 2: 793.1908. Type– India, Bolamputty, near Coimbatore.

Fig. 24; Plate 14, 16 C

Robust perennial, rosette herb, c 80 cm high; root fibrous, thick. Stems

(flowering shoots) lateral, axillary, elongate, branched, usually villous, ascending

to erect, rooting below; internodes 2–10 cm long. Leaves rosette spirally arranged,

sheaths 1–2 cm long, loose, pillose, ciliate at margins, lamina narrowly or linearly-

lanceolate, 8–60 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acuminate, base cuneate, surface sparsely

pillose, margin ciliate; leaves on flowering shoot arranged distally, ovate to linear–

lanceolate, 4–20 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute, base rounded, surface pillose.

Inflorescence composed of many, axillary and terminal cincinni, pedunculate,

119

peduncle variable in length; bracts ovate to lanceolate, below the cincinni,

foliaceous, usually longer than the cincinni but occasionally shorter; bracteoles

falcate–ovate, acuminate, 4–8(–12) × 5 mm, margin ciliate. Flowers blue; sepals

oblong–lanceolate, 5 × 2 mm, acute, pilose; petals united forming a tube, blue,

lobes shorter than the tube, tipped with white; stamens exceeding the corolla,

filaments apically tumid and bearded below swelling with blue moniliform hairs,

anthers yellow; ovary obovoid, style sparsely bearded at apex. Capsules 2 × 2 mm,

obovoid, obtuse and hirsute at apex. Seeds 1–2 per locule, ovate to elliptic in

outline, 1–2 × 1–2 mm, testa gray to brown, striate and irregularly pitted.

Flowering and fruiting— August to November.

Distribution and ecology— India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

(Map 7E); Sri Lanka; one of the robust species of Cyanotis, rarely found in rocky

crevices, grassland slopes, full exposed sun.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra– Manohar Mansantoshgad, Kudal,

Sindhudurg, 2nd Oct. 2011, Gurav and Nandikar C1109 (BLAT, BSI, CAL, CALI,

MH, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– without locality, Concan, 1878, N.

Dalzell s. n. (CAL). Kerala– Kodaikanal, Pulney hills, 29th June 1901, Bourne

1999; way to Valiyaparathodi, Silent Valley National Park, 12th Oct. 1983, C. S.

Kumar 11290; Periyar Reserve Forest, Wayanad, 25th Aug. 1984, R. T.

Balakrishnan 40453; Bramhagiri, Wayanad, 20th Sept. 1986, R. T. Balakrishnan

42035; Karamanayar, Trivendrum dt., 17th Nov. 1991, N. Mohanan 10011 (CALI).

Tamil Nadu– downwards within a radius miles of Mukerti Dam, along the Pykara

river, 7000 ft alt., Nilgiris, Nov. 1951, M. J. Hackney 77347; Westbrooke, 6500 ft

alt., Niligiris, 19th May 1954, S. J. Saldanha 77294 (BLAT); Ootucmand, Nilgiris,

10th Aug. 1878, King. s. n.; Ootucmund, Nilgiris, Oct. 1884, Gamble 15387;

Kodaikanal, 9th Oct. 1913, Saulieve 1066 (CAL); Dodabetta, Nilgiris, 21st Nov.

2001, 2600 mts. Alt., Nampy 175 (DEV); Pulluhalli, Salem, 26th Dec. 1913, s. coll.

52452 (MH). West Bengal– Lloyd Bot. Garden, Darjeeling, 8th July 1956, D.

Chatterjee 107 (CAL).

120

Note– Distinct species of Cyanotis with linear rosette, pillose cauline leaves,

inflorescence with long to short peduncled cincinni and beautiful blue flowers. The

only difference found in Sri Lankan and Indian specimen is bearded and glabrous

style respectively.

11. Cyanotis racemosa Heyne ex Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 125. 1870; Faden in

Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 131. 2000; Nampy and Joby, Rheedea

21(1): 8–9. 2011. Type– Sri Lanka, in 1857, Thwaites s.n. in C. P. 2332 (B, P,

CAL!, G, K, PDA).

Cyanotis lanceolata Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Orient. 33, t. 2085 1853; Clarke in DC.,

Mon. Phan. 3: 252. 1881, pro parte, non Thwaites, 1864. Type from India.

Cyanotis villosa of Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 252. 1881, non (Spreng.) Schult.

f., 1830, pro parte.

Annual to perennial, repent herb with erect flowering shoot, root thin,

fibrous. Stem with 0.5–5 cm long, internodes, and a line of pubescence, flowering

shoots much branched. Leaf sheath 0.2–1.5 cm long, sparsely to densely pilose,

lamina lanceolate 3–12 × 1–2.2 cm, apex always acuminate, base rounded to

cuneate, adaxial surface lustrous bright green, glabrous, abaxial surface green or

maroon, densely appressed sericeous. Inflorescences clustered at the end of the

shoots, cincinni shortly pedunculate, 1 to many, cincinni subtended by a

lanceolate, foliaceous bract; bracteoles 5–12 × 3–5 mm, ovate to falcate, margin

ciliate. Flowers blue or purple or pale pink; sepals oblanceolate 5–7 × 1–2 mm,

densely pilose along the keel and apex, sparsely ciliate on the margins; petals blue

to purple or pale pink, united to form a tube, lobes free; stamens exserted , apically

tumid, densely bearded, anthers yellow; style apically tumid, glabrous to sparsely

bearded with moniliform hairs. Capsule 2 × 2 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, sparsely to

densly puberulous at apex. Seeds one to two per locule, ovate to elliptic, 1–2 × 1–2

mm, testa brown, striate and variously pitted.

Flowering and fruiting– August to March.

Distribution and ecology– India: Tamil Nadu (Map 7F) and Sri Lanka; near

seasonal streams, waterfalls, undergrowth; partial shade.

121

Specimen collected– Tamil Nadu– Gudalur to Ooty road, Nilgiris, 04th Oct. 2009,

M. D. Nandikar C0915 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Pulney Hills, Nilgiris, 600ft. March

1960, C. Saldanha 5055 ‘as villosa’ (BLAT); Courtallum, Aug. 1835, Herb. Wight

971 (CAL); Pulney Hills, 13th June 1897, Bourne 408; Pakasuramalai, Nilgiris,

2000 m, 28th March, 1958, K. M. Sebastine 5662; Beside the stream in Vellimalai,

Madurai, 27th April 1960, Shetty 10320; Kuthiraimetii, Tirunvelli, 31st Aug. 1963,

Henry 17385 ‘as C. villosa’ (MH).

Note– Cyanotis racemosa misinterpreted in India as Cyanotis villosa (Spreng.)

Schult f.. since long time. The reason for this delusion may be similarity in their

habit and inflorescence characters. Typical lanceolate leaves, with acuminate apex;

lustrous bright green, glabrous adaxial surface, pedunculate few– many cincinnii

made it distinct from C. villosa. Only difference found within Sri Lankan and

Indian specimens is perennial and annual habit. However, to consider perennial

habit of plant it needs further study. Recently Nampy and Joby (2011) added this

species to Indian flora, but it was in India since 1835, during present study it was

found that, collection placed at CAL (Herb Wight 971) from Courtallum in Aug.

1835 is C. racemosa only.

12. Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult. f. in Syst. Veg. 7: 1153. 1830; Voight, Hort.

Sub. Cal. 678. 1845; Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 256. 1861; Hook. f., Fl. Brit.

India 6: 386. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 793. 1908 pro parte; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27. 1989.

Tradescantia tuberosa Roxb., Pl. Coromandel, 2: 5, t. 108. 1799 and Fl. Ind. 2: 19.

1832. Type from India, Coromandel Coast.

Cyanotis thomsonii Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 133. 1870. Type– India, Mysore and

Carnatic, Thomson G. s. n. (Cyanotis no. 8) (B, sh. no. 10_0296349).

Fig. 25; Plate 15, 20 A

Rosette perennial, erect to ascending herb. Roots fusiform, tuberous, 3–8

cm. Reproductive shoots arise from the base of the rosette. Stem green, hirsute;

internodes 2–9.5 cm. Rosette leaves distichous, green; sheath 1.4–5.5. cm, hirsute,

122

mouth ciliate, lamina linear–lanceolate, 3–40 × 1–3 cm, margin ciliate, upper

surface glabrous lower surface hirsute, apex acute. Cauline leaves distichous,

green; sheath 0.2–2.5 cm, hirsute, mouth ciliate, lamina linear–lanceolate, 3–13 ×

0.8–2 cm, margins ciliate, upper surface glabrous, lower surface hirsute, apex

acute. Inflorescences terminal or axillary cyme, peduncle 0.5–3 cm, hirsute with a

band of dense cilia opposite to bract; bracts foliaceous, green or purple, lanceolate

– ovate, 1–2.5 × 0.3–0.7 cm, base chordate, margin ciliate, hirsute, apex acute;

bracteoles green or purple, ovate to falcate, 0.4–1.4 × 0.3–0.9 cm, margins ciliate,

hirsute exposed areas purple in colour, apex acute; sepals 3, pale white, lanceolate,

up to 5.25 × 1 mm, basally connate, margins ciliate, hirsute; petals 3, blue violet or

purple, 7–7.5 × 3–3.2 mm, fused, forming tube, lobes free, ovate, glabrous;

stamens 6, 0.5–1 cm long, blue, bearded, hairs blue to violet, sub apical bulged;

anther lobe yellow; ovary 1–1.4 × 1–1.1 mm, pale green, ovate, hairy, densely

ciliate; style violet–blue, sub apicaly bulged; stigma simple. Capsule 0.3 × 0.2 cm,

stramineous with dark brown streaks, ovate, apex ciliate, glabrous elsewhere.

Seeds 2 per locule, 1.5 × 1.2–1.5 mm, pyramidal, pale brown–brown or grey or

reddish, tests reticulate, shallowly and irregularly pitted; hilum ventral, rounded,

embryotega terminal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to November.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to India: Andhra Pradesh,

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu (Map 8A); it is commonly

found in grasslands, slope along the Ghats, on lateritic plateaus, growing exposed

in moist ground, in rocky crevices.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Panhali Dongar, Jat, Sangali, 22nd July 2009,

M. D. Nandikar C0902; Malwan-Kudal road, Sindhudurg, 8th Sept. 2010, S. S.

Kamble and Nandikar C10873 (SUK).

Specimens examined–– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Malapukonda reserve forest,

Anantpur, 12th July 1957, S. K. Wagh 6167, 6168, 7733 (BLAT); Locky hills, west

Pyapali, Kurnool, s. d., Gamble 16338; Araku Valley, 14th Sept. 1961,

Balakrishnan 508 (CAL); Near Uedurupalli, Visakhapatnam, 27th Oct. 1972, G. V.

Subbarao 82410; Tirumalai, 7th Oct. 1974, G. V. Subbarao 89539 (MH).

123

Karnataka– Belve, South Kannara, s. d., C. Saldanha 77330 (BLAT); Bandipur

road from Mysore, Mysore, 1964, B. D. Naithani 45967, 68 (MH). Kerala–

Munnar to Poopar road, 23rd May 2011, Manudev and Nampy 4425 (DEV).

Maharashtra– St. Xavier’s Villa, Khandala, Pune, 24th Oct. 1943, H. Santapau;

The Tweleve Apostles St. Xavier’s Villa, Khandala, Pune, Sept. 1942, H.

Santapau 855; Behran’s plateaus, Khandala, Pune, 13th Sept. 1942, H. Santapau

934; Purandhar, Pune, July 1945, Leszezruski 77303; On the way to Kate’s Point,

Mahableshwar, Satara, s. d., P. V. Bole 2097; Purandhar, Pune, Sept. 1945,

Leszezeruski 291; Slopes behind PWD rest house, Purandhar, Pune, 12th Oct. 1957,

G. L. Shah 9227; Slopes along railway line below part, Matheran, Raigad, 10th Oct.

1960, N. A. Irani 77301; Mahableshwar, Satara, s. d., R. D. Acland 1249 (BLAT).

Orissa–Keonjhargarh, 8th July 1957, G. Panigrahi 8738 (ASSAM). Tamil Nadu–

Hosur Cattle farm, Salem, 8th June 1930, Narayanswamy 79434; Upper camp,

Suranganar, Madurai, 21st June 1959, Subramanayan 15898; Nellimalai,

Coimbatore, 16th Oct. 1962, Ramamurthy 31060; Palamalai, Coimbatore, 5th Sept.

1969, M. V. Viswanathan 95858; Sirur to Gundati road, Niligiris, 31st Aug. 1970,

G. V. Subba Rao 70368, 70369; Way to Thenynmarada, Niligiri dt., 6th Nov. 1970,

E. Vajravelu 70973; Varudevanallur reserve forest, Tirunelveli, 3rd Oct. 1971, E.

Vajravelu 75819 (MH).

Note– Very distinct species of Cyanotis, and one of the distinct form recognized as

Cyanotis adscendens. Interestingly, during the collections, found one dwarf from

of C. tuberosa form the lower altitude, and typical form medium and high altitude

region. Kammathy and Rao (1964) reported the gigantic hexaploid plants form

high altitude regions of Maharashtra, so our collections from lower altitude may be

a distinct from typical one, but it needs more population studies to conclude status.

13. Cyanotis vaga (Lour.) Schult and Schult. f. in Roem.and Schult. Syst. Veg. 7:

1153.1830; Merill in Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 24(2): 102. 1935; Rao in Notes Roy.

Bot. Gard. Edinb. 25(2): 186. 1965; Hara, Fl. East. Himal. 400. 1966; Babu, Herb.

Fl. Dehra Dun, 529. 1977; Das in Nelumbo, 52: 99–116. 2010; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 27.1989.

124

Tradescantia vaga Lour., Fl. Cochin. 1: 239. 1790; Blume, Enum. Pl. Java. 1: 5.

1827; Hassk. Commel. Ind. 62. 1870, non Zollinger. Type from Vietnam.

Cyanotis barbata Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal 46. 1825; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India, 6: 385.

1894. Type– Nepal, in Herb. Wallich 4? (K–WALL). Fig. 26; Plate 16 D

Annual to perennial herb, 40–70 cm high, with or without tunicate corms

(tunicate with pale brown sheaths), roots fibrous. Leaves rosette or without rosette,

branches lateral, ascending with erect flowering shoot, rooting at lower nodes

giving rise to a new plants. Lamina of rosette leaves are linear to linear lanceolate,

8–25(30) × 0.5–1(1.5) cm, apex acute to acuminate, base widely cuneate, with a

broad pale brown sheath, many spirally arranged rosette leaves are gathered

together and overlapping sheaths of each overlapping forms a tunicate corm, upper

surface sparsely glabrous, rarely pilose, lower surface densely pilose, margins

usually undulate, rarely entire, ciliate; cauline leaves or leaves on lateral branches

with elliptic to lanceolate margins, 0.5 × 10–15 cm, apex acute, base rounded,

margin entire, ciliate, leaf sheath 0.3–0.1 cm long, ciliate, pubescence like that of

the rosette leaves, but upper surface usually glabrous. Inflorescences terminal, sub

terminal and axillary on the flowering shoots, composed of 1–4(5) cincinni,

cincinni sessile to pedunculate, peduncle 1–5 cm long, densely pubescent or

pubescent at margins; bract 0.2–0.4 × 1–3 cm, lanceolate, foliaceous, pilose

beneath; bracteoles condensed at axils of leafy bracts, ovate to lanceolate, strongly

falcate, sparsely to densely pilose or glabrous. Flowers bisexual, sepals

oblanceolate to oblong, 4–6 × 2 mm, pilose or glabrous; petals 6 mm wide, blue–

purple or violet; stamens 6, filaments with sub-apical swelling, densely bearded

with blue to purple moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; style equal to stamens,

filaments with a subapical swelling, bearded. Capsule 2.5 × 2 mm, puberuolus in

distal half. Seeds 4–6 per capsule, 1–2 per locule, ovate to elliptic, 1.3–1.5 × 1–1.5

mm, testa grey–brown, striate and finely reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– July to December

Distribution and ecology– North Eastern parts of India (Map 8B), Taiwan,

Yunnan, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam. Common in

all type of forests, especially in pine forests as well as in grassy areas and in

125

abandoned in cultivated lands, often forms dense population looks bluish when in

bloom forming a mat.

Specimens collected– Meghalaya: Umsaw Forests, Shillong, 11th Oct. 2012, M. D.

Nandikar 1234 (BSI; SUK); Seven Sisters Falls, Cherrapunjee, 13th Oct. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 1242; New Guest House, NEHU, Shillong, 9th Oct. 2012, M. D.

Nandikar 1230 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Qnuandale road, 7000 ft alt.

3rd Sept. 1878, J. S. Gamble 52432 (MH); Anini, Dibang Valley, 12th Nov. 1996,

M. Bhoumik 1222 (CAL). Manipur– Shngnu, 12th Sept. 1954, D. B. Deb 2660

(CAL). Meghalaya– Barapani Dam, Shillong, 31st Aug. 2011, Nampy 4706

(DEV); Shillong, 17th Sept. 1886, C. B. Clarke 45532C ‘as C. vaga var. nobilis’?;

Cherapunjee, Khasi Hills, 1st June 1911, I. H. Burkill and Banerjee 163; Saloni

forest (Bomidila), Kameng district, J. Joseph 39946 (CAL); Shillong, K and J

Hills, 10th Sept. 1942, G. K. Dekha 21528 (ASSAM). Nagaland– Naga Hills,

Tuensang Division, June 1935, N. L. Bor 21355; Treminyu, 12th Nov. 1973, T. M.

Hynniewta 56044 (ASSAM). West Bengal– Darjeeling, Aug. 1874, without coll.

52434; Himalaya, Herb. Ind. Or. Hook. f. and Thomson 52281 (MH).

Note– Most common perennial element of eastern Indian flora. Very distinct

species covered with variously pubescence, basal corms and laterally spread

flowering shoot are the key characters for the species.

14. Cyanotis villosa (Spreng.) Schult f. in Syst. Veg. 7: 1155. 1830; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India 6: 387. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27.1989; Faden

in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 134. 2000.

Tradescantia villosa Spreng., Syst. Veg. 2: 116. 1825. Type– Without provenance

or collector, Herb. K. Sprengel (B–designated by Faden, 2000).

Cyanotis lanceolata Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Orient. 33, t. 2085 1853; Clarke in DC.,

Mon. Phan. 3: 252. 1881, pro parte, non Thwaites, 1864. Type from India.

Cyanotis cerifolia R. S. Rao and Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 306. 1966;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989. Type– Weverly Estate,

Anamalai Hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. (Type specimen from

126

Cultivated plant in Botanical Survey of India, Western Circle, Pune, India), 8th

Aug. 1962, Kammathy 77785A (holo–CAL!); Kammathy 77785B and C (iso–BSI!

and K) syn nov. Fig. 27; Plate 17, 20 B

Repent, erect to ascending annual, forming a florescent green to dark green

mat in loose soil. Stem with short internodes, internodes pilose to variously

pubescent, 15–25 cm high (flowering shoot). Leaves compactly arranged with 1–2

sheaths, sheath pubescent, ciliate at apex; lamina elliptic–lanceolate or ovate 2–10

× 0.5–3 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded, adaxial surface sparsely

pilose, abaxial densely to sparsely pilose or glabrous sometimes, margin entire,

ciliate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary composed of 1–4 subsessile cincinni,

bracts ovate to lanceolate, foliaceous; bracteoles falcate, c 10 × 5 mm, margin

ciliate. Flowers blue to purple; sepals linear–lanceolate, 5 × 1.5 mm, sparsely to

densely pilose; petals blue to purple, united basally forming a tube, lobes ovate,

free; stamens exserted, filaments tumid apically, densely bearded with blue

moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; ovary ellipsoid, pubescent at obtuse apex, style

as long as stamen, tumid at apex, sparsely bearded. Capsule ellipsoid, 3 × 2.5 mm,

sparsely to densely pilose at apex. Seeds 1 to 2 per locule, ovate to elliptic, c 1.5–

2.8 × 1.2–2.3 mm, testa dark brown, striate and pitted.

Flowering and fruiting– August to April.

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 8C); Sri

Lanka; one of the common Cyanotis species of southern India, chiefly found along

the wet places, slope along the Ghats, roadsides, in rocky crevices, open meadows,

full or partial shade, forming a mat or bed.

Specimens collected– Karnataka– on the way to Thalkauvery from Coorg, 26th

Nov. 2010, Nandikar and Gurav C1004 (BSI, SUK). Tamil Nadu– on the way to

Ooty from Gudalur, Nilgiris, 22nd Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar C1001 (BSI, CAL,

CALI, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Nedumpoyil, Cannanore, 27th Feb. 1979,

V. S. Ramahandran 119422 ‘as cerifolia’; way to Marayoor, Erviculum–Chinnar–

Munnar, 1780 m, 09th Jan. 2004, K. K. Rakendo 97157 (MH); Vellikukm, way to

Vagamon hills, Kottayam, 26th Dec. 2001, Nampy 429 (DEV). Silent Valley

127

National Park, 10th Oct. 1965, E. Vajravellu 26054 ‘as C. pilosa’ (CAL). Tamil

Nadu– Cannoor, 7000ft., 8th March 1870, C. B. Clarke 10513 B ‘as C. pilosa’;

Ootacamund, 15th Aug. 1878, King s.n.; Blachhide, Niligiris, June 1883, Gamble

12125; Kalivayalpil, Tirunevelly, 31st May 1901, C. A. Barber 3036; North

Coimbatore, 30th Nov. 1906, C. E.C. Fischer 1266; Neddurvaddam, Nilgiris, Oct.

1910, Meebold 13870; Cannoor Ghat, Niligiris, 8th Jan. 1910, Fischer 1575 ‘as C.

lanceolata’; High Wavy Mountains, Theni, May, 1917, Blatter and Hallberg 842;

Marapalam, Nilgiris, 20th Jan. 1957, K. M. Sebastine 2106 (CAL); Kodaikanal,

18th Oct. 2010, Nampy and Sibachen 3811 ‘as C. cerifolia’ (DEV); Shola forest,

Coimbatore, 24th June 1930, V. N. Narayanswami 79458; Vellirmalai, along the

stream, Madurai, 29th April 1960, B. V. Shetty 20331; Anamalais, Coimbatore, 12th

Sept. 1961, J. Joseph 26259; Selvam Koppu, upper Kodayar, Kanyakumari, 1963,

A. N. Henry 107030; Agasthamalai, Tirunelvelli, 22nd Aug. 1963, A. N. Henry

39267 (MH).

Note– One of the variable species of genus Cyanotis. From Sri Lanka Faden

(2000) described var. ‘A’ based on robustness, hairiness and perennial habit. This

kind of variations are also been observed in Indian plants of Cyanotis villosa but to

determine or to erect a species or infra-specific taxa, it needs further detailed

study. Rao and Kammathy in 1966 described a new species, as C. cerifolia but

after critical examinations of type specimens, fresh collections from the type

locality and collections from other localities reveled that species is conspecific

with C. villosa and the variations mentioned are merely quantative. Therefore, C.

cerifolia treated as a new synonym for C. villosa in present treatment.

6 . D I C T Y O S PE R M U M

Wight Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 29. t. 2069–2027.1853. Type– Dictyospermum montanum

Wight.

Erect to ascending perennial herbs of tropical forest; roots fibrous; leaves

spirally arranged, petiolate, ovate to lanceolate; ptyxis involute; inflorescence

panicle, terminal and axillary, bract bracteoles caducous; flowers slightly

zygomorphic, usually white; sepals free, petaline; petals free, equal, usually white,

128

not clawed; stamens 3, arranged on one side, attached in front of outer sepal and

inner petals, filaments free or shortly fused basally, glabrous; staminodes 0(–2);

Capsules trilocular, trivalved, usually white and glossy, locules single seeded;

seeds with linear hilum and lateral embryotega. 2n= 28 (Faden, 1998)

About five species, distributed throughout India and Sri Lanka to New

Guinea, in undergrowth of forests. India is represented by two species, detailed

account of which is illustrated in present treatment. No qualitative difference in

between the D. ovalifolium and D. ovatum has been observed; in addition,

description provided by Clarke (1874 and 1881), Hook. f., (1892) and subsequent

workers is within a range of D. ovalifolium of Wight (1853). Clarke (1881) in his

description stated “Flores capsulaeque fere ut in speciebus 2 praecedentibus”.

Based on all the observations and relevent description, in present treatment, D.

ovatum Hasssk. considered as a synonym of D. ovalifolium Wight.

1. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate; thyrses lax………………..……..…….……D. montanum

– Leaves elliptic to ovate or oblong–elliptic; thyrses compressed or moderately lax .. …...

………………………………………………………….….….………… D. ovalifolium

1. Dictyospermum montanum Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Orient.6: 30, t. 2069. 1853;

Morton in J. Linn. Soc. 59: 4. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27.

1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 177. 2000. Lectotype–

India, Tamil Nadu, Courtallum, July 1835, Wight 964 [holo–CAL, iso–CAL x 5),

designated here. Other syntypes– India? or Austrlia, Herb. Heyne s.n [Wallich

5203] (CAL); India, Courtallum, Wight s.n. [Wallich 5203] (K–sh no.

K000854150); India, Wight s.n. [Wallich 5203] (B–sh. no. B 10-0367869).

Aneilema montanum (Wight) ex Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 217. 1881; Hook. f.,

Fl. Brit. India, 6:381. 1894; Rolla Rao in Notes Royal Bot. Gard. 25: 182. 1967.

Fig. 28; Plate 18, 20 D

Profusely branched, erect to ascending or decumbent perennial herb; roots

fibrous; internodes long; lower nodes branched. Leaf sheath 1–2 cm long, covered

half of internodes, pubescent, mouth wide and often ciliate; leaves aggregate

129

terminally, spirally arranged, elliptic to lanceolate, 3–15 × 2–5 cm, apex

acuminate, base cuneate, surfaces scabrous, rarely glabrous. Inflorescences

terminal and axillary from the uppermost leaves, lax thyrses, peduncle 2–8 cm

long, puberulous, thyrses composed of 4–10, alternate, erect to ascending cincinni,

cincinni c 10–14 flowered, puberulous, bracteoles minute, cauducous. Flowers

bisexual, pedicelate, pedicel 4–6 mm long; sepals 3, ovate, 3 mm long, green,

reflexed after anthesis; petals 3, elliptic to obovate, white; stamens 3, unequal,

filaments usually fused basally, c 3 mm long, white to liliac; anthers elliptic, with

two distinct lobes [medial shield shaped, Faden 2000), yellow; ovary white; style c

1 mm long, stigma capitate. Capsules ovoid, greenish white to faint brown, locule

1 seeded; seed elliptic, c 2 × 3 mm, testa grayish brown, tuberculate or rugose-

reticulate, hilum linear and in a dip cavity, embryotega lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– August to February.

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 8D); Sri

Lanka [Australia (Clarke, 1881)]; along the forest margins, undergrowth of forests,

water channels along the Ghats side.

Specimens collected– Kerala– Nilambur forests, Malappuram district, 16th Dec.

2009, M. D. Nandikar MDN17; Wynad, 11th Sept. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 119

(SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Doddasampaje, B. R. Hills, Mysore

district, 27th Oct. 1978, S. R. Ramesh and S. B. Manohar 3939 (CAL); Girisoppa

waterfalls/Jog falls, Sagara district, 18th Jan. 1957, S. K. Jain 19855; Kerati forest,

Makut range, Kodagu district, 22nd Oct. 1963, A. S. Rao 95351; Kudremukh,

Chikmanglur district, 1st Nov. 1974, R. S. Raghavan 134344 (BSI); Koadagu, 9th

Dec.1989, Solly George 6519 (CALI). Kerala– Shenduri river valley, near

Vandalodu Rubber estate, Thenmala, Kollam district, 24th Nov. 1962, K. N.

Subramaniyan 77090 (BSI); Thenmala, Kollam district, 19th May 1978, C. N.

Mohanan 55706; Sholiyar–Malikkamparai route, Trissur, 1125 m, 5th Feb. 1984,

K.Ramamurthy 72794 (CAL); Mani falls area above, district unknown, 8th April

1974, K. K. N Nair 993; near Dam site, Silent Valley, 4th Dec. 1981, T. Sabu

10017; Calvary Mountain, Idukki district, 5th Dec. 1983, A. G .Pandurangan

130

79257; Allayar, Trivnedrum district, 22nd Dec. 1987, N. Mohanan 9171; 9th Feb.

1988, N. Mohanan 9598; Thannikkudy, Periyar, 10th August 1994, Jomy A.

14212; locality unknown, Nilambur, s. d., P. Mathew 34386 (CALI); Athirappally,

Trichur, 16th Aug. 2003, Joby Paul 944; Vellarimala, Kozhikoade district, Joby

Paul 5134; Athirappily waterfall, Thrissur district, 21st Oct. 2009, Santosh Nampy

1573; way to Chandanathope, Kollam district, 4th Feb. 2010, Nampy and Manudev

2891 (DEV). Tamil Nadu– Colatoorpolay, Travancore, Madras Herb. 300ft, 29th

Nov. 1993, M. A. Lawdon 121 (CAL); Courtallum, Therkumalai estate, 29th Sept.

1955, E. Govindaragalu and B. G. L. Swamy 6639; Kalathumedu, district

unknown, 20th Sept. 1958, P. B. Kamth 402 (Herb. Madras Pres. College,

Chennai); Courtallum, 10th Nov. 1984, Jayaprabha 5126 (CALI); Nadugani Ghats,

Nilgiri district, 19th Sept. 2004, Joby and Binu 1077 (DEV).

Note– The species is easily distinguished from D. ovalifolium by its lax thyrses

with long peduncle, elliptic to lanceolate leaves and small capsules.

2. Dictyospermum ovalifolium Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 30, t. 2070. 1853;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 178. 2000. Type– India, Wight s.n. (Herb. Wight) (K–sh.

no. K00854149).

Aneilema ovalifolium (Wight) Clarke in DC, Mon. Phan. 3: 218. 1881.

Dictyospermum wightii Hassk., Commel. Ind. 19. 1870.

Dictyospermum ovatum Hassk. Commel. Ind. 24 1870. syn. nov.

Aneilema ovatum (Hassk.) Wall. ex Clarke Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal. 37 1874;

Rolla Rao in Notes Royal Bot. Gard. 25: 182. 1967; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 24.1989. Type– Burma, (Pegu), s. d. McLelland s.n. (holo–B, sh.

no. B100367873; iso– K–sh. no. K000854153; GH). Other Syntypes– Myanmar,

Yangon (Rangoon), 1849, Wallich 5206A (K–sh no.K000854155); Myanmar,

Tavoy, 1849, Wallich 5206B (K–sh. no. K000854154); Borneo, 1857, J. Motley

384 (K– sh. no. K000854146).

Dictyospermum subovatum (Ridl.) J. K. Morton J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 436 1966.

131

Aneilema subovatum Ridl. Fl. Malay Penins. 4: 357 1924. Syntypes–Thailand, Oct

1878. Godefroy-Lebeuf, M. s.n. (K–sh. no. K000854147); India, South Andaman,

s.d. Kurz. s.n (CAL, K–sh. no. K000854152). Fig. 29; Plate 19, 20 C

Erect to ascending perennial herb; roots thin, fibrous; internodes moderately

long, sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Leaves clustered terminally in a flowering

shoots, spirally arranged, petiolate to subsessile, leaf sheaths 1–3 cm long, terminal

overlapping, puberulous or glabrous, often ciliate at mouth, lamina elliptic to ovate

or oblong–elliptic, 5–15 × 2–5 cm, apex acuminate to caudate, surfaces glabrous

to puberulous, margin undulate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary from the

uppermost leaves, compressed or moderately lax, peduncle c 2 cm long,

puberulous, thyrses c 6 cm long, erect with cincinni c 4–8, ascending, alternate,

5–7 cm long, puberulous, bracteoles green, elliptic to boat shaped, 1.5–5 mm long,

cauducous. Flowers bisexual, white, pedicelate, pedicel 1.5–7 mm long, pinkish-

white in colour, glabrous, erect in flower, ascending or deflexed or pendulous after

anthesis; sepals ovate to elliptic, green, 2–5 mm long, reflexes after anthesis; petals

oblique or obovate to cuneate, c 4 × 2.5 mm, white, reflexes after anthesis;

stamens 3, reflexes along the petals, often unequal, aggregate at one side; filaments

3–4 mm long, shortly fused basally, liliac coloured, often one white; antesepalous

one broadly two lobed anthers (forming H-shape), while antepetalous are shortly

lobed, elliptic, yellow or often all three stamens with equal lobes, dehiscence

marginally, pollen yellow; ovary ovoid, c 2 mm long, white, tapered in to short and

curved in c 1 mm minute style, stigma capitate, white. Capsule ovoid to

subglobose, c 4–5 × 4–5 mm, grey, brown or off-white, locules 1, seeded; seeds

elliptic, 2–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm, testa gray to white, tuberculate to reticulate, hilum

linear forming cavity, embryotega lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– August to March

Distribution and ecology– India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattishgarh,

Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Tripura (Map 8E); Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Burma,

Java, Borneo; in undergrowth of forest; inland evergreen forests, on sandy loam

and sandy places.

132

Specimen collected– Karnataka– Abbies falls, Coorg, 26th Nov. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 108 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Chhattisgarh– Locality unknown, Bastar district,

29th Aug. 1959, K. Subramaniyan 17076 (MH). Karnataka– Bagavathi-

Gangamula, Chickmanglur district, 8th Oct. 1979, J. Saldanha 9700 (CAL); Abbi’s

falls, Mercara, Kodagu district, 20th Oct. 1963, A. S. Rao 94983; Moddur forest

area, district unknown, 21st Dec. 2007, P. G. Diwakar and R. K. Singh 184001

(BSI); Girisoppa waterfalls/Jog falls, Sagara district, Oct. 1928, P. F. Fyson 6581;

Agumbe forest, Sept. 1945, T. N. Venkatanthachari 283; Avalanche, Agumbe

forest, 10th Oct. 1961, Hema Menon 522 (Herb. Madras Pres. College, Chennai).

Kerala– Kallada dam sites, Ottakkal beat, Thenmala, Kollam district, 20th Nov.

1961, K. N. Subramaniyan 77007 (BSI); Kulamavu to Meenumutty, Iddukki

district, 11th Dec. 1982. C. N. Mohanan 76011; south East Waynad, 3000 ft., Nov.

1884, J. S. Gamble 15675; Travancore, 25th Dec. 1893, M. A. Lawson 284 (CAL,

MH); Thalichola, Nilambur, 2nd Jan 1981, P. Mathew 25643; Ponamudi,

Trivendrum district, 6th Nov, 1984, Vanaja 2708; Thannikkudy. Periyar, 10th

August 1994, A. Jomy 14212 (CALI); Mattappanashanam, Calicut district, 25th

Feb. 2002, Nampy 195 (DEV); Chandanthode, Cannanore district, 1st Nov. 1965,

J. L. Ellis 59498, 99; Trivendrum, 25th Aug. 1975, J. Joseph 900584 (MH). Tamil

Nadu– Bank of Chittar, Tirunelveli district, 16th Sept. 1988, R. Gopalan 164881,

82 (MH).

Following herbariums are tagged with D. ovatum at various herbaria in India are

now turned out be D. ovalifolium and these are Andaman and Nicobar– in land

forests, Keralapuram, 24th Nov. 1976; south Andaman, Kurz s. n.; Betapur, Middle

Andaman, 23rd July 1974, N. Bhargva 1849 (CAL, PBL); Saddle peak national

park, North Andaman, 24th July 2001, R. Sumathi 17394; Kanchi Nallah, Middle

Andaman, 04th Nov. 1977, N. Bhargava 6368; Keralapuram, 21st Nov. 1976, N. G.

Nair 4854 (PBL). Tripura– Teliamavk, Agartala, 15th Aug. 1960, D. B. Deb 2609

(CAL).

Note– After screening images of type materials of Dictyospermum ovatum Hassk.

[=Aneilema ovatum (Hassk.) Wall. ex Clarke] placed at various herbariums and

133

checked the specimens at the herbariums in India, it concluded that, Hasskarl

(1870) described D. ovatum which based on Wallichian specimen A. ovatum from

Burma. However, he has mentioned the collection of Wight’s from India as D.

wightii. D. ovatum merely defined on the basis of quantitative characters, and all

the characters are within a range of D. ovalifolium. In addition, description

provided by Clarke (1874; 1881), Hook. f., (1894) and subsequent workers are

very similar to D. ovalifolium of Wight (1853). Clarke (1881) in his description

stated “Flores capsulaeque fere ut in speciebus 2 praecedentibus”. Based on the all

the relevent observations and description, in present treatment D. ovatum Hasssk. has

been considerd as a synonym of D. ovalifolium Wight.

7 . F L O S C O P A Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 192. 1790; Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 323. 1864; Clarke in DC.

Monogr. Phan. 3: 265. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 390. 1894. Type– Floscopa

scandens Lour.

Dithyrocarpus Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 76. 1843.

Latin flos, floris “a flower” and scope, ae “twigs, shoots, a broom,” the racemes are

fastigiated and bundled.

Perennial or annual herbs. Roots fibrous. Leaves spirally arranged, lamina sessile to

petiolate. Inflorescence terminal or terminal axillary thyreses, composed of one to

many cymes, the terminal and upper axillary ones forming a single compound

inflorescence, inflorescence axes usually glandular pubescent or glabrous, bracteoles

and often old flowers persistent. Flowers shortly pedicillate or subsessile, perfect,

zygomorphic, very small; sepals green, free, usually densely glandular-pubescent or

rarely glabrous; petals not clawed, dimorphic, the upper 2 ovate to obovate or

oblanceolate, the lower one narrower, linear-oblong to spathulate; stamens 6 (rarely

5), all fertile (?), anthers dimorphic, differentiated into an upper set of (2–)3 and a

lower set of 3, filaments glabrous, at least upper (2–)3 usually fused basally, often

shorter than lower 3; ovary sessile or stipitate, bilocular, locules 1-ovulate. Capsules

bilocular, bivalve, glabrous, 2-seeded. Seeds with a linear hilum and dorsal

embryotega, testa usually ribbed, rarely smooth. x = 6–8 (Faden, 2000).

134

Floscopa is pantropical genus with c 20 species, mainly in Africa; one species

in Asia ranging to Australia. Species are aquatic or semi-aquatic. The very long hairs

on sepals in almost all the species are very conspicuous. The compound inflorescence

often includes uppermost leaves (Faden, 2000).

Floscopa scandens Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 192. 1790; Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 323.

1864; Clarke in DC. Monogr. Phan. 3: 265. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6:

390.1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27. 1989. Type–– Loureiro

s.n. Vietnam (Cochichina) (BM).

Tradescantia paniculata Roxb., Pl. Corom. 2: 6, t. 109. 1799; Moon. Cat. 24. 1824;

Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 119. 1824. Type from India.

Tradescantia paniculata Roth., Nov. Sp. Pl. 188. 1821, nom. illeg, non Roxb., 1799.

Dithyrocarpus paniculatus (Roxb.) Kunth, Enum. 4: 79. 1843.

Floscopa paniculata (Roxb.) Hassk. in Miq., Pl. Jungh. 151. 1852; Thw., Enum. Pl.

Zeyl. 323. 1864.

Dithyrocarpus petiolatus Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 32, t. 2079. 1853. Type from India.

Dithyrocarpus rothii Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 32, t. 2080. 1853. [Replaced name for

Tradescantia paniculata Roth, non Roxb,] Type from India.

Dithyrocarpus undulates Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 32, t. 2080. 1853. Type probably

from India. Plate 20 E

Perennial herb; root fibrous; stems decumbent, 30–60 cm tall, purplish green,

much branched at the base, flowering twig erect; internodes ranges between 2–8 cm

long, minutely pubescent. Leaves strongly reduced below the inflorescence; petiolate,

sheaths 0.2–1.5 cm long, glabrous or densely pubescent, mouth ciliate at the apex,

lamina ovate to lanceolate or elliptic, 3–10 × 1–3 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base

cuneate, above surfaces usually scabrous, glabrous below, margin scabrous.

Inflorescence compound, dense to moderately dense, more or less sessile, composed

of terminal thyrse and smaller, closely associated thyrses arise from the axils of the

reduced, distal leaves, ovate or obovate, 2–5 × 2–4 cm, densely glandular pubescent.

Flowers, pubescent; sepals 3, elliptic, glandular–pubescent; petals pink to lilac, upper

two elliptic, apex acute, lower one oblong, apex rounded; filaments of all but lower,

medial stamen fused basally, upper 3 stamens with anthers with a broad connective

135

and small distal anther sacs, yellow, lower 3 stamens with anthers with a narrow

whitish connective and larger, blackish anther sacs; ovary stipitate, style long, slender

pink, stigma small. Capsules dorsiventrally compressed, stipitate, broadly ellipsoid to

obovoid, rostrate. Seeds hemispherical, or concave to elliptic in outline, testa grey to

brown, ribbed with numerous ribs, sometimes farinose, hilum on the edge of a deep

ventral furrow, embryotega white or whitish.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar

Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (Map 8F); Sri Lanka to Australia;

evergreen forests of Western Ghats and Eastern Parts of India, chiefly occurs along

streams and swampy places.

Specimens collected– Meghalaya: Near staff quarters, NEHU, Shillong, 9th Oct. 2012,

M. D. Nandikar 1232; Thangharang Park, Cheapunjee, 13th Oct. 2012, M. D.

Nandikar 1240 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Gudem, Vizag (Visakhapatnam)

district, 13th March 1956, S. K. Wagh 2092 (BSI). Andaman and Nicobar– near

Shompen village, along streamside, Great Nicobar Island, 17th June 1977, N. P.

Balkrishnan 5819 (PBL). Arunachal Pradesh– Aka hills, July 1934, N. L. Bor

19018; Dreyi, Lohit Forest division, NEFA, 13th Nov. 1957, R. S. Rao 10476

(ASSAM). Assam– Dhania, Bura–Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, 12th Nov. 2005, M. S.

Bhoumik 110124; Duhalia, Karimganj district, 10th March 2006, Parth Sarathi Das

61; Umrong dam, Dima Hasao district, 23rd Feb. 2007, R. S. Barnesh 114011

(ASSAM). Karnataka– Londa, Belgaum district, Oct. 1891, s. n. 226610; Sirsi–

Siddhapur, North Kanara district, Oct. 1919, Hall and McCann 34786; Vingavli,

Patoli, North Kanara district, 26th Dec. 1955, P. V. Bole 1480; Charmudi Ghat,

Chikkamagaluru district, 26th Oct. 1960, C. Saldanha 6095; Meppadi forest, Wynad

district, 12th Oct. 1961, C. Saldanha 7527 (BSI). Jog Falls, 16th Jan. 2010, M. D.

Nandikar F10; Charmadi Ghat, Karwar, 8th Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar F11; Kumta,

in Areca nut Palm plantation, 5th Oct. 2011, Gurumurti Hegade 01 (SUK). Kerala–

Chemboti river side, Silent Valley, 09th Feb. 1982, C. S. Kumar 10188; Saivila, Fl.

Nilambur, 22nd Jan. 1983, P. Mathew 33814; Athriumala, Fl. Agasthymala, 4th Feb.

136

1988, N. Mohanan 10011; Pochakkanam, Periyar, 8th Aug. 1994, Jomy A. 14376

(CALI); near Pinavu, Idukki district, 26th Dec. 2007, Joby Paul 5120; Kakkayam,

Kozhikode district, 10th Jan. 2003, A. K. Pradeep 1184 (DEV). Meghalaya– Jowai to

Jorain, Khasi and Jainta hills, 12th Aug. 1960, G. Panigrahi 21930; Umling, Nongpoh,

2nd March 1966, J. Joseph 45109 (ASSAM). Mizoram– Hurldunei, Aizawl, Dampa

Tiger Reserve, 02nd Nov. 2007, R. K. Sinha 117079 (ASSAM). Nagaland–Ungma, on

the way to Zunheboto, 8th Oct. 1981, T. M. Hynniewta 80294 (ASSAM). West

Bengal– Cherrapunji, 27th Sept. 1956, G. Panigrahi 3477; Bankra, North 24 Parganas

district, 12th Feb. 1958, G. Panigrahi 2364 (ASSAM).

8 . M U R D A N NI A

Royle, III. Bot. Himalayan Mts. 403, t. 95, f. 3. 1840; G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam.,

ed. 2, 15a: 173. 1930; Brenan, Kew Bull. 7: 179–190. 1952; Faden, Taxon 27:

289–298. 1978; Sald. and Nicols., Fl. Hassan Dist. 648. 1976; Mathew, Fl.

Tamilnadu Carnatic 1666. 1983; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

28.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 139, 2000. Type

species––Murdannia scapiflora (Roxb.) Royle= M. edulis (Stokes) Faden.

Aneilema R. Br., Prod. 270. 1810, pro parte; Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3:210.

188. Hooker. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 378. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. Bombay 2:

790. 1908.

Dichoespermum (as “Dichaespermum”) Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 31. 1853.

Aneilema subgenus Tricarpellaria Clarke in DC, Monogr. Phan. 3: 196. 1881, pro

parte.

Phaeneilema G. Brückn. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 61(Beibl. 137): 63. 1926.

Baoulia A. Chev. Bull. Soc. Bot. France: Mem. 8(d):217. 1911.

Perennial or annual herbs; roots fibrous or tuberous; leaves spirally

arranged, lamina sessile, ptyxis supervolute; inflorescence terminal and axillary

thyrses or variously reduced; flowers actinomorphic to somewhat zygomorphic,

pedicellate; sepals free, subequal, sepaline; petals free, subequal, not clawed;

filaments generally free (united in M. semiteres (Dalz.) Santapau; fertile stamens

2–3, antesepalous, filaments glabrous or bearded; staminodes 3(–4), rarely lacking

137

(M. tenuissima), antipetalous, (when 4, one antesepalous) antherodes three lobed

or hastate; capsules (bi–) trilocular, (bi–) trivalved, locules 1–many seeded; seeds

uni–biseriate, hilum slightly elongate to linear, embryotega dorsal to semilateral.

Genus Murdannia Royle is widespread in Africa and Asia. Tropical Asia,

especially Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka are the mega diversity centre for

the genera like Cyanotis and Murdannia, with high degree of endemism. The

genus Murdannia (Commelinaceae) comprises c 50 species worldwide (modified

after Govaerts and Faden, 2012) and interestingly half of total taxa (27 species) are

known from India with high degree of endemism (6 species, 1 subspecies and 3

varieties are endemic to India).

Murdannia species are diverse in their habitat that comprises annuals and

perennials; occur from low land to medium to high-elevated peaks and plateaus.

Leaves vary from filiform linear, to broadly ovate–lanceolate or elliptic, many

times forming basal rosette. Flowers in terminal panicles to few flowered axiallry

cymes, lasting only for a few hours, some species flowering by morning while, few

are flowering by noon. Petals variously coloured ranges from white, ochra yellow,

blue, purple–pink or rose–flesh. Stamens and stamindoes variously bearded to

glabrous. Style enantiostylous (mirror image symmetry) to non-enantiostylous.

Capsule few to many seeded.

Occurrence of Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.–Mazz in India is

uncertain. The species enumerated by Karthikeyan et al. (1989) in his florae

Indicae Enumeration Monocotyledonae, however, distribution quote was Nepal. In

addition, authors failed to get even single herbarium specimen in Indian

herbarium. Likewise, after the screening of herbarium specimen placed at Kew it

was confirmed that, the occurrence of M. crocea (Griff.) Faden subsp. crocea is

only from Myanmar: Tenasserim [Herb. Helfer 5497 (K)]. After Helfer’s

collection, no one has added collection of this species from India. As there are no

reports or collections from India, the distribution of these species in India is

doubtful and thus excluded from the present work.

The genus Murdannia was described and published by Royle (1839), which

was based on Aneilema scapiflora Roxb. The genus named after Murdan Ali, a

138

plant collector and keeper of the herbarium at the Saharanpur Botanic Garden, who

collected many of the plants, described in Royle’s work. Pichon (1946) pointed out

that there was two more names earlier Royle’s Murdannia. The names given by

Rafinesque (1836) in his Flora Tellur viz. Dilasia Raf. [Dilasia vaginata (L.) Raf.]

and Streptylis Raf. [Streptylis bracteolata Raf.], however, Pichon adopted Dilasia.

But, to avoid plethora of new names, Brenan (1952) made proposal to conserve

Murdannia Royle (1839) against Dilasia Raf. and Streptylis Raf. (1836).

Brückner (1930) in Engler and Prantl’s Nat. Pflanzef., made new

combinations and treated many Aneilemea R. Br. in Murdannia. Dichoespermum

Wight (1853) and Baoulia A. Chev. (1911) were also included in to Murdannia by

Brückner (1930), Pichon (1946) and Brenan (1952). Furthermore, some

combinations were made under genus Phaeneilema by Brückner (1927), but

Brückner himself later realised and merged it under Murdannia.

Major contributions on Indian Murdannia came from Clarke (1871; 1874

and 1881), Dalzell (1852), Hasskarl (1870), Hooker. f. (1894), Wight (1853),

Fyson (1920), Rao and Kammathy (1963 and 1966) worked extensively on the

Indian Murdannia. Regional floristic studies and inventories published in the 19th

and 20th century by Cooke (1908), Dalzell and Gibson (1861), Fischer (1931),

Graham (1839), Duthie (1920), Matthew (1988), Mitra (1952), Hara et al (1982),

Noltie (1994), Santapau (1951; 1955), Fernandes and Santapau (1954) and Indian

monocotyledonae enumeration by Karthikeyan et al. (1989) also contributed

significantly to the family Commelinaceae. Kammathy and Rao (1964–1971)

worked widely for taxonomy and cytology of the family Commelinaceae in India.

Their studies on genus Murdannia and other major genera highlighting

nomenclature, taxonomy, and cytology published in series of papers. Many district

floras, floristic work published during last three decades and all these taxonomic

deeds by respective authors resulted in deposition of large number of collections in

different Indian herbaria.

From last few years, new species, and extended distributional reports from

India been published from time to time (Nampy and Joby, 2003 and 2008; Joby et

139

al., 2011; Nandikar and Gurav, 2011; Nandikar et al., 2011; Nampy and Ancy

2012; Ancy and Nampy 2012; Ramana et al., 2013).

The genus is represented in India by 27 species of which 6 species, 1

subspecies and 3 varieties are endemic to India.

All the species are distinguished based on the capsule and seed characters

by the following key. The key is modified and based on sections proposed by

Brückner (1930). He has proposed four sections including sect. Pauciflorae, with

reduced few flowered, axillary fascicles, sect. Intermediae, many flowered

terminal or axillary thyrses, sect. Terminatae, many-flowered terminal of the main

shoot or shortened side shoots, and sect. Scapiflorae with rosette leaves. Further,

he classified the species within section Puaciflorae, Intermediae and Scapiflorae

based on leaves and seed characters. His section Terminatae consist of three series,

ser. Pluriovulatae, seeds 3–5 per locule, ser. Diovulatae, locules 2 seeded and ser.

Monoovulatae, one seeded locule.

Key for sections

1. Plants annual with few to many flowered, reduced axillary fascicles:

sect. Pauciflorae……………………………………………………………………….2

1. Plants annual or perennial; with few to many flowered terminal and axillary thyrses:

sect. Intermediae……………………………………………………………………….…..….10

1. Plants annual or perennial; inflorescences many flowered strictly terminal on the main

shoot or shortened side shoots: sect. Terminatae…………………………….....…….16

1. Plants perennial; inflorescences terminal or axillary: sect. Scapiflorae……………....23

2. Seeds single per locule……………………………..………..…….Murdannia vaginata

– Seeds more than one per locule………………………….……….……………………..3

3. Seeds uniseriate in a locule ………………………………..……………………...……4

– Seeds biseriate in a locule……………………………………..………………………..8

4. Capsule linear to ellipsoid;………………………………………………..M. pauciflora

– Capsule ellipsoid to ovoid ………………………………………………..…………….5

5. Flowers brick red to flesh coloured; capsule ellipsoid………..………....…M. brownii

– Flowers ochra-yellow coloured; capsule ellipsoid to ovoid or oblong……..…………..6

140

6. Capsule ellipsoid to ovoid; seeds 7–9 per locule…………………….....….M. versicolor

– Capsule ovoid to oblong; seeds 2–3 per locule………………………………..………..7

7. Seeds 2–3 per locule, testa reticulate…………………………….…...…M. satheesiana

– Seeds 3 per locule, testa reticulate, pitted, rugose, or verrucose. …….....…M. triquetra

8. Roots of fusiform tubers; leaves pubescent..………………………........ M. lanuginosa

– Roots fibrous; leaves glabrous………………………………………………….….…...9

9. Flowers ochra yellow; seeds 6–9 per locule, hilum linear………………....… M. crocea

– Flowers pale pink to liliac; seeds 14–16 per locule, hilum elliptic……..….…M. blumei

10. Seeds uniseriate………………………..……………………………………………..11

–– Seeds biseriate………………..………………………………………………………15

11. Flowers white…………………….. ……………………………….…..…M. zeylanica

11. Flowers blue……………………………………………………………………...…..12

12. Seeds with large midventral pit ………………...……………………......M. dimorpha

–– Seeds without midventral pit…………………………….………………..……….…13

13. Plant perennial; flowers without striations on petals ……………………M. esculenta

–– Plant annual; flowers with or without striated petals ………………………….…….14

14. Testa foveolate–reticulate, or verrucose, or acellate ……………………..…M. spirata

–– Testa alveolate to colliculate, or reticulate……………………….……M. striatipetala

15. Leaves linear, filiform; seeds 2–8 per locule……………………..…….…M. semiteres

–– Leaves lanceolate; seeds 18–20 per locule………………….…...………M. lanceolata

16. Plants annuals; leaves rosette ………………………………...………………..…….17

–– Plants perennials; leaves not in a rosette………………………...………………….. 18

17. Locule 2 seeded...…………………………………………………..…..…M. nudiflora

–– Locule single seeded..…………..…………………………………………M. assamica

18. Leaves linear; locules one seeded………….…...........................…M. saddlepeakensis

–– Leaves linear to lanceolate or elliptic; locules 2 or more than 2 seeded………….….19

19. Seeds 2 per locule…………………..……….……………………….……..………...20

– Seeds more than 2 per locule…………...………………………………………..….. 22

20. Flowering shoots terminal in the rosette……………………………..….…M. gigantea

–– Flowering shoots lateral in the rosette………………………………………………..21

21. Seeds ovoid to obovoid, 1.6–2 × 1.5 mm, hilum linear to oblong ………....M. simplex

–– Seeds obovoid, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, hilum linear oblong………...…..……..M. loriformis

141

22. Capsule ellipsoid to obovoid; testa foveolate to alveolate…………..…....M. divergens

– Capsule narrowly ellipsoid, testa reticulate–foveate, or ruminate ………...M. hookerii

23. Capsule broadly ellipsoid; seeds 2–4 per locule…………………………..M. japonica

–– Capsule oblong to ellipsoid; seeds 4–16 per locule……………………………..…...24

24. Seeds uniseriate, 4 per locule. ………………….……………..……………...M. edulis

–– Seeds biseriate, 10–16 per locule……………………..…………….……M. fadeniana

1. Murdannia assamica Nampy and A. Ancy, Edinburgh J. Bot. 69 (3): 441–445.

2012. Type– India: Assam, Goalpara District, Goalpara town rail station,

26o07’26.73’’N, 90o37’18.26’’E, 50 m, 6th November, 2009, Anna Ancy and

Santhosh Nampy 2376 (holo DEV; iso CALI, L). [Nampy and Ancy, 2012]

Annual ascending herb, basally 2- or 3-branched. Roots fibrous, from base

and from lower nodes which touch the soil. Stem light purple towards base;

internodes 6–10 cm long, green, glabrous but with a line of hairs. Leaves cauline,

alternate, usually reduced distally on the shoot; sheath 0.3–1 cm long, green with

slight purple tinge, minutely pubescent, ciliate at apex and along the fused margin;

lamina linear-lanceolate 6–15 × 0.5–0.7 cm, base narrowly rounded, margin

scabrous, hyaline, apex acute to acuminate, both surfaces glabrous to puberulent.

Inflorescence terminal, a single pedunculate cincinnus; peduncle glabrous, 2–2.5

cm long; cincinni 2–3 cm long; bracteoles ovate, 5–6 mm long, caducous, pale

green. Flowers bisexual and male, closely placed on the cincinnus axis; pedicel 1–

1.5 × 0.5 mm, glabrous, slightly bending. Sepals 3, free, elliptic, equal to subequal,

3.5–4 × 1–1.2 mm, pale green, glabrous. Petals 3, free, elliptic, 4–5.1 × 1.5–2 mm,

lilac, glabrous, margin entire. Stamens 2, antesepalous, dorsifixed; filaments hairy

on the lateral sides basally; anther lobes elliptic, 0.4–0.6 mm long; dehiscence

longitudinal; pollen white, elliptic. Staminodes 4, three antepetalous, with

antherodes hastate or knob-like, white; filaments glabrous or with 1–3 hairs; one

antesepalous with antherode knob-like and filaments with 3–6 hairs. Ovary elliptic

to ovate, glabrous; style white, 1.6 mm long, glabrous; stigma papillate. Capsule

142

widely obovate, 4.1 × 4 mm, glabrous, light brown, dehiscent, trilocular. Seed 1

per locule, elliptic, 2–2.2 × 1.8–2 mm; testa brown, smooth with raised white flaky

material on the surface; embryotega dorsal; hilum linear.

Flowering and fruiting– August to November.

Distribution and ecology– Known only from Goalpara District in Assam,

appreantly endemic to India (Map 9A); among woods and on wayside, in shade, in

alluvial soil.

Note– Murdannia assamica is close to M. nudiflora (L.) Brenan but differs in

having a 2–3 cm long cincinnus with c 30 flowers, hastate or knob-like antherodes,

widely obovate capsules and 1-seeded locules as opposed to a 1–1.5 cm long

cincinnus with c 12 flowers, 3-lobed antherodes, elliptic capsules and 2-seeded

locules in M. nudiflora. Recently described distinct species of Murdannia, which

also shows similarity with M. vaginata in having single seeded locule and elliptic

seeds.

2. Murdannia blumei (Hassk.) Brenan in Hooker's Icon. Pl. 6 (4): 1, t. 3578. 1962;

Rolla Rao in Notes R. B. G. Edinb. 25: 183. 1965; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum.

Monocot. 28.1989; Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 168 (2000).

Dichoespermum blumei Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 41. 1870. Type– Indonesia:

Java: near Bogor Blume s. n. (L).

Dichoespermum repens Clarke, Commel. et Cryt. Beng. 42, t. 28. 1874, non

Wight, 1853. Type from India.

Aneilema hamiltonianum Wall. ex Clarke in DC., Mongr. Phan. 3:213. 1881;

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 380. 1894; Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Plain 3 (2): 277.

1915. Lectotype– India: Gualpara, Buchanan-Hamilton in 19 Oct 1802, Wall. Cat.

5222 (K-WALL; ILT: K) designated by Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 168.

2000.

Aneilema hamiltonianum var. minus (as “minor”) Clarke in DC., Mongr, Phan. 3:

214. 1881. Type– India, Assam , Buchanan-Hamilton s. n. (K).

Murdannia hamiltoniana (Wall. ex Clarke) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam., ed. 2,

15a:173. 1930.

143

Aneilema blumei (Hassk.) Bakh. f. in Backer, Beknopte Flora van Java, 10A,

Commelinaceae, 10. 1949; Bakh. f., Blumea 398. 1950.

Murdannia axillaris Brenan (?), in Hooker’s Icon. Pl., ser. 5, 6, part 4: 1, t. 3578.

1962. Type from Kenya. Plate 31 (A–C)

Erect to decumbent, sparingly branched annual herb, c 30–35 cm tall; stem

creeping to erect, rooting at lower nodes, glabrous. Leaves distichous or spirally

arranged, sheaths 3–6 cm long, glabrous to variously pubescent, linear-lanceolate

or narrowly elliptic, linear-oblong, glabrous, 1–6 × 0.5–1 cm, sessile, acute to

acuminate, base rounded–cuneate, margin undulate, glabrous–scabrous.

Inflorescence terminal and axillary, composed of solitary or 1–2 flowered cymes,

not more exceeding from the leaf sheaths. Flowers c 1 cm wide; pedicellate and

pedunculate, up to 1 cm long, glabrous; sepals 2–5 mm long, green, narrowly

elliptic; petals elliptic to obovote elliptic, white to pale pink; stamens 3, filaments

bearded (rarely glabrous), staminodes 3, filament glabrous, antherodes 3-lobed,

white; Capsule linear–oblong or ovoid–ellipsoid, 6–8 × 2.5 mm, brown, glabrous.

Seeds biseriate, c 10 (Masters 488269)–16 (Jenkins 488276) per locule, more or

less pyramidal–plano-convex in shape, polygonal to cuboid in outline, 0.5 × 0.3–

0.5 mm, testa gray to brown, reticulate–foveate or alveolate, ruminate (under

SEM), hilum elliptic–discoid, embryotega dorsal raised in deep pit.

Flowering and fruiting– September to February; flowers open by 10 am and fade

by 1 to 1.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Occurrence of this species in northeast states of India:

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya (Map 9B); Sri Lanka (Faden, 2000) is very

rare. However, besides India i. e East Africa: Kenya, this species is very common

in wet soil and on the margins of forest borders (from Greenway, P. J. and S. P.

Rawlins, 9374). Marshy ponds, rock pools, along the running streams with

Floscopa scandens Lour.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Assam– Locality unknown, Ex. Herb. Jenkins, Yr.

1847, Jenkins 488271, 488273; 488276; locality unknown, Masters 488269

(CAL).

144

Note– Apparently, this species is very similar to Murdannia lanuginosa but easily

distinguished by more glabrous habit, linear and glabrous leaves, rose to white

coloured small flowers and ellipsoid capsule. Faden (2000) described the seed testa

as grey and radiating low brown warts and ridges, but seeds from the Indian (from

Masters 488269) specimens show no warts on dorsal surface, however some warty

appearance was observed on ventral surface. Furthermore, embryotega is also

found inserted deeply in pit. Staminodes were bearded, glabrous in some flowers

while staminodes from Indian specimens were always with glabrous filament. On

the specimen from South African National Biodiversity Institute (PRE), Kenya,

Witu District, Mambasasa, Utwani Forest Reserve 18 Oct. 1957 by Greenway, P.J.

and Rawlins, S.P., 9374 (PRE photo) [isotype–Murdannia axillaris Brenan], they

have written staminal filaments are very hairy. Filamental hairyness is not constant

character in Murdannia blumei, thus M. axillaris Brenan from Africa treated under

the synonym.

3. Murdannia brownii Nandikar and Gurav in Taiwania 56(3): 227 (–229; fig. 1).

2011; Nampy et al., Willdenowia 42 (1): 79. 2012. Type– Kolhapur District,

Gaganbawda Tahsil, Borbet, Morjai plateau, 970 m, M. D. Nandikar 62 (holo–

BSI; iso–SUK). Fig. 30; Plate 20 F, 31 (D–F)

Unbranched or sparsely branched annuals with thin, fibrous roots. Shoots

erect to ascending, c 25 cm. long, often rooting at lower nodes; nodes puberulous;

internodes green to purple puberulous. Leaves cauline, basal distichous; sheath

green, 0.4–0.5 cm long, with a line of cilia along the fused edges, mouth ciliate;

lamina ovate, 1–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, pubescent base cordate, margin undulate, apex

acute. Flowers in axillary thyrses, bisexual; pedicel 1–1.5 cm long (in mature

capsule 1.5–1.8 cm long and jointed), ciliate; sepals 3, pale green with purple

tinge, elliptic, 5 × 1.2 mm, entire; petals 3, rosy red–flesh coloured, obovate, 6 × 4

mm, margin undulate. Fertile stamens 3, antesepalous; filaments free, 3 mm long,

purple, bearded; anthers whitish yellow, dorsifixed, connective deep to faint blue;

pollens monosulcate, elliptic to bean shaped. Staminodes 3, antepetalous; filaments

2 mm long, purple, sparcely bearded; antherode light yellow, basifixed, trilobed.

145

Ovary elliptic, 1mm long, glabrous, pale green; style 2 mm long, orange- yellow;

stigma simple. Capsule trilocular, trivalved, ellipsoid, apiculate, 3.5–4 × 2–3 mm,

shiny brown. Seeds uniseriate, 4–5 per locules, 1.2 × 1 mm, various in shape

trapezoidal–triangular in outline; testa yellowish-brown to grey, falsifoveate–

glebulate or alveolate; hilum elliptic; embryotega lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– September to November; flowers open between 10 am to

12 noon.

Distribution and ecology– Northern Western Ghats of India: Karnataka and

Maharashtra (Map 9C), locally endemic annual herb, adapted to high altitude

lateritic plateaus.

Specimens collected: INDIA: Karnataka– Kankumbi, Belgaum district, 27th Sept.

2009, M. D. Nandikar 117; Jamboti, on the way of Kankumbi lateritic slope 27th

Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 118 (SUK).

Note–Murdannia brownii, closely related to M. versicolor. However, in the field

M. brownii plants were quite distinct and being recognizable by their reproductive

characters like rosy-red to flesh coloured, obovate petals. Fruiting specimens had

generally less seeds per locules as compare to M. versicolor and distinctive seed

surface. In addition, M. brownii is strictly restricted to high altitude lateritic

plateaus whereas M. versicolor is widespread from low to high altitude plateaus.

4. Murdannia crocea (Griff.) Faden, Kew Bull. 32: 188. 1977; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989. Type–Myanmar [Burma]: South Myanmar.

Mergui [Myeik] Griffith 5497 (K).

subsp. ochracea (Dalz.) Faden, Kew Bull. 32: 188. 1977; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India

6: 380. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989.

Aneilema ochraceum Dalz., Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 135 (May 185I);

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 380. 1892; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 790. 1908.

Type– India: Konkan, without date, Dalzell 749 (iso–GH).

Dichaespermum repens Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: t. 2078 (3). 1853.

Isosyntype– India: Kollam, Wight Robert. 1174 1835 (E).

146

Fig. 31, 32; Plate 20 G, 31 (G–I)

Annual, ascending to erect herb, 10–25 cm tall; root fibrous, sometimes

rooting at the lower nodes; stem erect, internodes glabrous except a fine line in the

ridge and along the fused edges; sheaths very short c 0.5 mm long, fused edges

ciliate. Leaves 1–5(-6) × 0.5–1.3 cm, ovate–lanceolate, margin entire, apex acute–

acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, composed of 2–7

fascicled cyme. Flowers pedicellate, pedicel 0.5–1.5 cm long, minutely hispid,

articulate at middle; bracteolate, bracteole minute; sepals 3, green, elliptic, obtuse,

glabrous; petals 3, ochre-yellow, ovate–obovate; stamens 3, filaments densely

bearded, anther lobe black to purple; connective off-white. staminodes 3, filaments

sparsely bearded (rarely glabrous), antherode trilobed; ovary green, ovate; style

enantiostylous, stigma minutely capitate. Capsule ovoid–ellipsoid, 0.3–4 × 2–2.5

mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds biseriate, 6–9 per locule, 0.2 (–0.4)–1 × 0.5 (-0.7)–1(–

1.2) mm, ovate–triangular in outline, testa dark brown, foveolate–foveate,

reticulate, hilum linear–elliptic, embryotega dorsal–semidorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– July to October; flowers open by morning and fade by

noon–afternoon.

Distribution and ecology– Endemic to Western Ghats of Peninsular India:

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu (Map 9D) the species grows

luxuriantly during August to September in all over in Konkan. It grows sandy soils

of seacoast, seasonal streams and way side ditches, marshy places, waterlogged

areas, often exposed or partial shade.

Specimens collected: Maharashtra– Patgaon, Bhudargad Tehsil, Kolhapur, 17th

Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 0822; Shelap plateau, Radhanagari Tehsil, Kolhapur,

13th Aug. 2009, M. D Nandikar 0901; Achirne, Vaibhavwadi, 17th Sept. 2009, M.

D. Nandikar 0909; Kitwade, Ajara tehsil, 03rd Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0917;

Durgwadi Temple, Junnar, Pune, 7th Oct. 2011, M. D. Nandikar & R. V. Gurav

1119; Karjat, Thane, 8th Oct. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1121 (SUK).

Specimen examined: INDIA: Karnataka– Megarvalle, Agumbe, Fl. of Mysore, 1st

Nov. 1960, R. S. Rao 68025; Devrajdurg, Tumkur district, 19th Sept. 1974, N. P.

Singh 133173 (BSI). Kerala– Kollam district, without date, Herb Wight 1180

147

(CAL). Maharashtra– old Mahableshwar road, Satara district, 11th Oct. 1960, R.

S. Rao 67575; Ramghat, Bhedshi, Ratnagiri district, 2nd Nov. 1969, s. coll. 86743

(BSI).

Note– Murdannia crocea subsp. ochracea shows distinguishable differences in the

field. There is difference in phenology of few populations from medium elevated

plateau that bloom in between 8 to 10 am while many other populations from

medium to high altitude plateau opens their flower after 10 am. It needs thoroughly

observation to clarify complex within the species. In simple words, “this species is

reduced version of Murdannia versicolor with bi-seriate seeds”. Nandikar 0917

(SUK) from Kitiwade, Kolhapur district, Nandikar 1121(SUK) from Karjat,

Raigad district resembles M. versicolor in its habit and lanceolate leaves, but it

lacks uniseriate arrangement of seeds. Dwarf individuals collected from high

altitude laterite plateau (Fig. 31), while tall individuals collected form medium to

low altitutde region (Fig. 32).

5. Murdannia dimorpha G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 15a.:173. 1930;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989.

Aneilema dimorphum Dalz. in Hook. , J. Bot. 138. 1851; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6:

377. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 787. 1908; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres.

Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931. Isotype– India, Dalzell 1470 (GH).

Aneilema paniculata Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2075. 1853. Isosyntype– India,

Wight s. n. (E sh. no. E00179410). Fig. 33; Plate 23 A, 31 (J–L)

Tufted annual, 10–40 cm tall, erect herb with definite base; root fibrous.

Stem branched from the base, branches erect, terete, striate. Leaves 2–6 x 0.8–1.3

cm, linear–oblong to ovate–lanceolate, glabrous, obtuse or acute, base rounded or

cordate, margin entire; sheath green–purple, not more than 1 cm long, mouth

ciliate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, composed of 2–4 alternate cincinni,

peduncles 1–4 cm long, glabrous, cincinni 3–4 cm long, few flowered; bracteoles

spaced, 1–2 mm. Flowers pedicillate, pedicel 3–7 mm long, glabrous; sepals

elliptic, green to purple; petals obovate to orbicular, obtuse, liliac to lavender;

stamens 3, bent outwardly from the middle of filaments, filaments purple and

148

densely bearded, anthers elliptic; staminodes 3, filament sparsely bearded (rarely

glabrous), antherode white; ovary green, ovoid, style liliac, stigma minute, white.

Capsule oblong–ellipsoid, 3–4 × 2 mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds uniseriate, 3–4 per

locule, 0.6–1.2 × 1.2–1.4 mm, cuboid–rectangular, obovoid in outline, testa light–

dark brown, lightly rugose–ruminate, with raised ridges, hilum punctiform–oblong,

one side of a large midventral pit with a central transverse ridge, embryotega

dorsal to semi-dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– July to October; flowers open by 10–10.30 am and fade

by 1–1.30pm.

Distribution and ecology– Appearently endemic to India: Karnataka, Kerala,

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu (Map 9E); common in moist deciduous forest, roadside

ditches, marshy places.

Specimens collected: Maharashtra– Amba Ghat, Ratnagiri district, 10th Sept.

2008, M. D. Nandikar 026; Patgaon, Bhudargad tehsil, 12th Oct. 2009, M. D.

Nandikar 0921; Dukanwadi, Kudal tehsil, M. D. Nandikar 1117; Kallammawadi–

Rajapur Road, Kolhapur, 16th Feb. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 1002 (SUK). Kerala–

Calicut University campus, Kozhikode, 2nd Sept. 2012, M. D. Nandikar 1225

(SUK). Karnataka– Gudga, Karwar, North Karnataka, 20th Aug. 2012, R. V.

Gurav & M. D. Nandikar 1213 (SUK).

Specimens examined: INDIA: Karnataka– Karwar, North Kanara, Oct. 1919,

[plants up to 3ft high?], Hall and McCann 77359 (BLAT); Sullia, South Canara,

25th Oct. 1900, C. A. Barber 52313; Sampagi Road, South Canara 10th Nov. 1900,

C. A. Barber 52315, 52316 (MH). Kerala– Calicult University Campus, Calicut,

20th July 1978, Mitha Krishnan 24835 (CALI); Anaimalai, Idukki district, 4000ft,

12th March 1907, C. A. Barber 72950(x 2); Walayar, Palakkad district, 28th July.

1929, S. R. Raju Ratnavelu 78084; Ranni, Pathanamthitta district, 28th Nov. 1976,

M. Chardrabose 95257; Near Kannur Collector office, Kannur district, 15th Nov.

1977, V. S. Ramchandran 127022 (MH). Tamil Nadu– Mani Hills, around

Courtallum, Tirunelveli district, 2nd Oct. 1975, K. K. N. Nair (CALI).

Note– One of the common annual, erect herb with definite base. Murdannia

dimorpha is similar to the Sri Lankan M. dimorphoides, because of pitted seeds,

149

but can easily distinguish by its more broad leaves and white coloured antherodes.

Murdannia dimorphoides var. perennis from Sri Lanka also somewhat similar in

its inflorescences but differs in having annual, definite, erect habit, non-striated

petals.

6. Murdannia divergens (C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam., ed. 2,

15a:173. 1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989.

Aneilema herbaceum (Roxb.) Wall. ex Clarke var. divergens Clarke in J. Linn.

Soc., Bot. 11: 448. 1870.

Aneilema divergens (C. B. Clarke) C. B. Clarke, Commelyn. and Cyrt. Bengal. 28.

1874; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 376. 1894. Lectotype– India: Khasia 18th Sept.

1950, 4000–5000 ft, Herb. Ind. Or. Hooker. f. and Thomson s.n. (holo– CAL!, sh.

no. 487932; iso– P, sh. no. P00752551; E, sh. no. E00393357) lectotype

designated here. Fig. 34; Plate 31 (M–O)

Annual or perennial, forming a rosette (Joseph 43694) tufted herb; roots

tuberous, thickned; stems up to 35 cm long, erect. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate,

4–15 × 1–1.5 cm, acute at apex, base rounded, minutely red spotted above; leaf

sheaths 1–2 cm long, whitish ciliate at margin and mouth. Inflorescence in

terminal panicles, 3–8 cm long cincinni numerous, opposite or whorled, several

flowered, 2–4 cm, glabrous throughout; bracts ovate, persistent; bracteoles c. 5 ×

2.5 mm, clasping, membranous. Flowers pedicilate; pedicel c 0.5–1.5 cm; sepals

linear-oblong, c 2 × 1 mm, glabrous; petals obovate, c 8–10 × 5–7 mm, rosy to

white, stamens 3, perfect, unilateral, filaments 3–4 mm long, bearded with purplish

hairs; anther lobes oblong, c 1 × 0.5 mm; styles 2–4 mm long, straight. Capsule

ellipsoid– obovoid, brown–light brown, 6.5–8 × 0.5 mm, glabrous. Seeds 4–6 per

locule, uniseriate, 1.2–1.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, trapezoidal–quadrate in outline, testa

light brown or brown–gray, foveolate–alveolate, or glebulate, hilum elliptic,

embryotega dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– June to September; flowers open by morning fade by

afternoon.

150

Distribution and ecology– Eastern India: Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,

Nagaland, Uttarakhand (Map 9F); Myanmar, Bhutan; common among open

bushes, hilly moist slopes, 1000–2000 m.

Specimens examined: INDIA: Himachal Pradesh– Shimla, without date, E. R.

Johnson 487920 (CAL). Meghalaya– Kullong, 5600 mts, Khasi Hills, 23rd Aug.

1885, C. B. Cl. 40039 c; Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills district, 21st June 1958, G.

Panigrahi 16527; Joksi, between Garampani and Rahang, Khasi and Jantia hills,

22nd Aug. 1968, N. P. Balakrishnan 46967 (CAL); Khasi hills, on hill slopes, 9th

Sept. 2009, Ancy Antony 2384 (DEV). Nagaland– Kohima, for Fl. of Naga Hills,

Aug. 1886, D. Prain 487928 and 487929 (CAL). Uttrakhand– Askot, Pithoragarh

district Kumaon Himalaya, very common species, 31st Aug. 1971, C. M. Arora

45451; Nag Tibba, Tehari Gharwal, 27th July 1964, U. C. Bhattacharya 33762;

Dafia Dhura, Maitly, Pithoragarh district, 31st July 1972, C. M. Arora 49510

(CAL).

Note– The plant is similar to Murdannia japonica, but differs by characters like

linear leaves, more branched panicle, 4–6 seeds. Occurance of this species is from

eastern India to eastward countires of Asia.

7. Murdannia edulis (Stokes) Faden in Taxon 29: 77. 1980; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989.

Commelina tuberosa Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 1: 40. 1790, nom. illeg., non C. tuberosa

L. (1753), non C. tuberosa Forssk. (1775). Basionym– Commelina edulis Stokes,

Bot. Materia Med. 1: 184. 1812.

Aneilema loureirii Hance, J. Bot. 6: 250. 1868, nom. tant.

Murdannia loureirii (Hance) Rolla Rao and Kammathy ["loureiroi" in Ind. Kew.,

Suppl. 14: 89. 1970], Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25: 184. 1964. Type–

Apparently none preserved. Neotype, Laos/Vietnam, Mekong-Hue, September

1877, D. Harmand 1887 (P), designated by Faden (1980).

Commelina scapiflora Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 178. 1820.

151

Aneilema scapiflorum (Roxb.) Kostelesky, Allg. Med.-Pharm. Fl. 1: 127. 1831;

Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 786. 1908; Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Plain 3(2): 276.

1915; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

Murdannia scapiflora (Roxb.) Royle, Illus. Bot.Himal., 403, Tab. 95, Fig. 3. 1840.

Murdannia tuberosa C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 201. 1881. Type–

Roxburgh Plate 1521 (K).

Aneilema tuberosum Buch.-Ham. ex Wall., Cat. 5207 and 5207B. 1831–32, nom.

nud.

Aneilema loureirii Hance var. horsfieldii C. B. Clarke in DC., Mongr. Phan. 3:

201, 1881, syn. nov. Syntypes– Java, Magellan [=Magelang] to Megiri [=Imogiri];

and R[iver?] to Megiri,both Horsfield s.n. (BM, 2 sheets).

Aneilema serotinum D. Don ex C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 200. 1881,

nom. nud. pro syn.

Tradescantia aphyla Heyne ex C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 201. 1881,

nom. nud. pro. syn.

Aneilema scapiflorum (Roxb.) Kostelesky var. latifolium N. E. Brown in Forbes

and Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 36: 154. 1903. Type– China, Hainan, Ling-men,

November 1889, Henry s.n. (K).

Fig. 35 and 36; Plate 23 B, 31 (P–R)

Perennial herb. Roots tuberous. Leaves in a basal rosette, linear-oblong or

linear-lanceolate to linear, 25(–60) × 3(–4.5) cm, subglabrous to puberulous on

both surfaces, apex acute to acuminate, margin scabrid, especially towards the

apex, sometimes ciliate or ciliolate basally. Flowering shoots one to several per

plant, sometimes appearing before the leaves, sometimes with them, lateral,

scapiform, usually 20–50 (–100) cm long, erect or ascending, unbranched or

sparsely branched, with 1–3 bracts (sometimes with a short lamina) borne below

the inflorescence. Inflorescences terminal on the flowering shoots and lateral

branches, if any, narrow, lax thyrses with (3–)5–8, alternate, erect to ascending

cincinni; secondary inflorescences consisting of 1–2 cincinni, frequently produced

from the axils of the lower cincinnus bracts. Cincinnus bracts decreasing in size

from the lower to the upper cincinni, ovate, amplexicaul, perfoliate, glabrous or

152

essentially so, dotted with maroon. Cincinni very short to elongate, to c 3 cm long,

to 16-flowered. Bracteoles ovate, amplexicaul, usually not perfoliate, glabrous,

dotted with maroon, persistent. Pedicels erect to ascending, 4–7 mm long,

glabrous. Sepals 4–8 mm long, glabrous to very sparsely pilose with eglandular

hairs. Petals pink to reddish purple, or blue to purplish blue or greenish white.

Fertile stamens 3, equal, filaments bearded. Staminodes 3, subequal, alternating

with the stamens, filaments bearded, antherodes trilobed (sometimes the medial

lobe obscure), yellow. Capsule ovate-oblong, 5–6 × 3 mm across, locules 4-

seeded, apex mucronulate. Seed uniseriate, 1.3–2 × 1.3–1.5 mm, testa grey-brown

to brown, trapezoidal–deltoid, or ovoid in outline, foveolate–scrobiculate,

ruminate, hilum punctiform, embryotega dorsal [description modified after Faden,

1980].

Flowering and fruiting– June to September; flowers open by morning fade by

afternoon

Distribution and ecology– India: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Sikkim,

Tamil Nadu (Map 10A); Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea,

Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam; frequently distributed in forest margins,

undergrowth of forest, along the running water bodies.

Specimens collected– Goa: Netravali, Sanguem tehsil, East Goa, 30th Sept. 2010,

M. D. Nandikar 1014 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Dharwad, May 1951, A. R. Braganza

77464; Dandeli, in deciduous forest, 30th May 1954, H. Santapau 77478 (BLAT).

Kerala– Muthunga, Waynad district, 10th April 1985, Balkrishnan 40943 (CALI).

Maharashtra– Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai district, 27th June

1953, R. R. Fernandez 77465 (BLAT). Sikkim– Sikkim, G. King 487888 (CAL).

Note– Murdannia edulis is distributed in temprate and tropical parts of India, the

species treated under various names since 1790. Seeds per locule are varies from

4–7, but four seeds are commonly found in studied specimens.

8. Murdannia esculenta (Wall. ex C. B. Clarke) R. S. Rao and Kammathy, Bull.

Bot. Surv. India 3: 394. 1961; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989.

153

Aneilema esculentum Wall. ex Clarke in DC., Mongr. Phan. 3: 206. 1881; Hook. f.

Fl. Brit.. Ind. 6: 377. 1894; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546.

1931. Lectotype–India, Wall. Cat. 5208A (K; K–WALL, isolectotype) [cited by

Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 147 (2000)].

Aneilema pulneynsis (as “pulneyensis”) Fyson, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1914:

332. 1914. Lectotype– Designated by Faden (2000) India: Pulney Hills (Pullneys),

near Perumalmalai, 27th May 1897; Bourne 144 (K).

Fig. 37; Plate 32 (A–C)

Annual to perennial, erect to ascending herb with definite base, up to 45–50

cm tall; roots thick, but fibrous. Leaves strongly reduced distally on the flowering

shoot, sheaths c 2 cm long, glabrous, ciliate at the leaf base, lamina linear-oblong

to lanceolate-elliptic, 1.3–8 × 0.5–1.5 cm, apex acute–acuminate, base rounded,

both the surfaces glabrous, margins undulate. Inflorescence terminal in lax to

dense thyrses composed of several cincinni; peduncle 1–6 cm long, glabrous,

cincinni composed of many flowers, bracteoles spaced and cup shaped. Capsules

oblong–ellipsoid, 5–7 × 3 mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds uniseriate, 3–6 locule,

trapezoidal, ovate–quadrate in outline, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.5 mm, testa dark brown,

rugose–scorbiculate with raised, flattish, lighter brown warts and ridges on all

surfaces, hilum elliptic to linear oblong, embryotega dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– September to December; flowers open by 9–10 am, fade

by 1.30–2. 30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– India: Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Map 10B); Sri Lanka;

evergreen forest margins, undergrowth in hilly grasslands and slopes.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Aruvampara, Palghat district [habit up to

60 cm], common semi-prostrate herb, without date, N. C. Nair 64467 (CAL);

Karuvarakundu, Periyar, 16th June 1982, Mathew 333343 (CALI). Tamil Nadu–

Kodaikanal, Palani Hills, Dindigul districts, Sept. 1912, P. F. Fyson 2135;

Shevaroy, Salem district, Jan. 1931, P. F. Fyson 7068 [x2] (Herb. Madras Pres.

College, Chennai); Kavayi, Upper Pulney Hills, Dindigul district, 6400 ft, 21st

Sept. 1911, C. E. C. Fischer 3039; Thekkumalai Hills, Coimbatore district, 12th

Dec. 1956, K. M. Sebastine 1734; Kannikatti, Triuneveli district, 10th Nov. 1959,

154

K. M. Sebastine 9630; Veerapuli Reserved Forests, Kalakad, 4th Sept. 1976, A. N.

Henry 488221 (CAL); Kodaikanal, Pillair Rock, 1800 m, without date, Ashok

Kumar 25 (CALI); Pulney Hills, Dindigul district, July, 1884, Madras Herb. s.

coll. 72941; Mudaliaruttu, Srividriputtur, Triuneveli district, 21st Sept. 1917,

Madras Herb. s. n. 52303; Naterikal, Triuneveli district, 21st Sept. 1914? 1917?

Madras Herb. s. n. 72944; Way to Virusadi, Mudaliaruthu, Ramnad district, 12th

Dec. 1971, 1000m, E. Vajravelu 39379 (MH).

Note– More than 10 Indian collections from various localities were screened to

conclude proper identity of the species. Hooker (1894) and Fischer (1931) stated

that this species has tuberous roots, but tuberous roots are not seen in Indian plants.

However, in Indian plants roots are thickened as compare with Sri Lankan plants

[C. P. 3314], in addition Indian plants [E. Vajravelu 39379; Madras Herb. s.n.

72944; P l a t e 2 1 B ] are more robust in all of its part, basal leaves are also

apparently rosette while few collections [Madras Herb. s.n. 52303; Madras Herb.

s. n. 72941; A. N. Henry 488221] are conspecific with Sri Lankan plants [C. P.

3314 (P-isotype from Sri Lanka; P l a t e 21A) isotype mentioned by Faden

(2000)]. The specimens by Fyson under inscription by himself as Aneilema

pulneynsis from Pulney Hills studied at Herbarium of Presidency College, Chennai

and found to be not great variation apart from robust habit with more thickened

roots. The present observation reveals Sri Lankan plants [M. esculenta =Aneilema

scapiflorum (Roxb.) Kostel. var. minus Thwaites (Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 322. 1864) C. P.

3314] and Indian plants are conspecific.

9. Murdannia fadeniana Nampy and Joby in Candollea 58: 79. 2003. Type–

India, Vagamon hills, Kerala Nampy 431(holo–K; iso–CALI, SJC).

Aneilema glaucum Thw. ex Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 200. 1881; Fischer, in

Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931. pro. parte.

Plate 23; 32 (D–F)

Rosette tufted perennial herb with thickened roots. Leaves all are in a basal

rosette, lamina oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 4–20 × 1.5–4 cm, apecx acute to

acuminate, base rounded–amplexicaul, surface glabrous, margin undulate to entire.

Inflorescence terminal scaopse, peduncles 4–8 cm long, bracteate, bract 8 mm,

155

bracteole minute, persistant. Flowers pedicilatte, pedicel 1.3–1.5 mm long,

glabrous; sepals 3, pale green, 3–4 mm long; petals 3, pale pinkish to purple,

violet, ovate to lanceolate, margin entire, 5 × 5 mm; stamens 3, filaments bearded;

staminodes 2–3, filaments bearded, antherode yellow; ovary ellipsoid, stigma

capitate with long papillose. Capsule oblong–ellipsoid, trivalvate, 6.5–0.8 × 3–3.5

mm. Seeds 10–16 per locule, biseriate, triangular–rectangular in outline, 0.8–1 ×

1.2–1.5 mm, testa ruminate–reticulate, with white flaky material along the margin

and surface, hilum punctiform– elliptic, embryotega dorsal in deep pit.

Flowering and fruiting– September to May; flowers open by morning, fade by

afternoon.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to southern Western Ghats of

India: Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Map 10C); extremely rare, on moist rocks in

stream banks.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Peermade Ghat, alt. 4000 ft, Travancore,

Dec. 1910, A. Meebold 13344 (CAL); Agasthyamalai, Athirumala, 5th Dec. 1988,

N. Mohanan 8990 (CALI); Forest near Bonaccord Estate, alt. 875 m. Trivandrum

District, 2nd Oct. 1973, J. Joseph 44521; Darbhakram to Ponamudi, Trivandrum

district, 15th Sept. 1977, N. C. Nair 49848; Agasthyarkoodam, alt 500 m,

Trivendrum district, 5th March 1980, M. Mohanan 66073; Tholanda to

Pooyamkutty, Idduki district, 2nd Oct. 1990, P. Bhavgavan 92067 (MH). Tamil

Nadu– Kollar river bank, Tirunelveli district, 16th Oct. 1989, R. Gopalan 165444;

Kollar to Sangamithirai way, 23rd Feb. 1990, R. Gopalan 165573; Agasthyamalai,

alt. 4000–5000 ft., 22nd May, 1901, C. A. Barber 2890 (MH).

Note– This species is very similar to Sri Lankan Murdannia glauca (Thw. ex

Clarke) G. Brückn. in habit and other vegetative characters but differs by having 3

staminodes (rarely two) and biseraite seed arrangement. Number of stamen or

staminodes in a flower is not a qualitative character to weigh the species but seed

arrangement is one of the qualitative characters, it made difference in Sri Lankan

and Indian plant of Murdannia. However, from a single specimen Bhavgavan

92067 from Idduki district placed at Madras Herbarium a capsule was dissected to

find out the seed arrangement and surprisingly locules were with uniseriate seeds.

156

Therefore, we could not contradict the occurance of Murdannia glauca in India; it

needs to execute more field studies to depict any conclusion.

10. Murdannia gigantea (Vahl) G. Brückn. in Engler and Prantl, Nat.

Pflanzenfam., ed 2, I5a: 173. 1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.

1989; Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 147. 2000.

Commelina gigantea Vahl in Enum. Pl. 2: 177. 1805–06. Lectotype– India:

Röttler s.n. (C- Herb. Vahl.) lectotype designated by? [cited by Faden, Revis.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 147 (2000)].

Aneilema giganteum (Vahl) R. Br., Prodr. 271. 1810. Clarke in DC., Mongr. Phan.

3: 212. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 379. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 789.

1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

Aneilema ensifolium Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 30, t. 2074. 1853; Clarke, Commel.

et Cryt. Beng., t. 22. 1874 (excluding syn. A. nudiflorum). Syntype: India,

Courtallum, Herb. Wight (K).

Fig. 38; Plate 23 C, 32 (G–I)

Tufted, rosette perennial herb, producing lateral rosette, roots long and

thickened but not tuberous. Stem 25–60 cm high, glabrous, or puberulous, with

long internodes. Rosette leaves linear, 25–60 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acuminate to finely

acuminate, base narrowed, sheath 1–7(–8) cm long. Flowering shoots terminal in

the rosette, erect, c 100 cm tall, leafy with long internodes, leaves on flowering

shoot gradually reduced. Inflorescences terminal with many flowered cincinni;

bracteoles c 5 mm long. Flowers many, pedicilate; pedicel erect, 6 mm long,

glabrous; sepals elliptic, 5–8 mm long; petals ovate to obovate, pale lavender to

blue; stamens 3 (rarely 2), filaments bearded, anthers ellipsoid; staminodes 3

(rarely 4), filaments sparsely bearded, antherodes trilobed, yellow; ovary green,

ovoid. Capsules ellipsoid–ovoid, 0.6–10 × 5–6 mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds

uniseriate, (1–) 2 per locule, ovoid–ellipsoid in outline, 2.5–4 × 2–2.5 mm, testa

rugose–ruminate, glebulate–foveolate or alveolate with warts and ridges in line

radiating from the embryotega, hilum linear, embryotega dorsal.

157

Flowering and fruiting– August to January; flowers open by 10–10.30 am fade by

afternoon.

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya,

Tamil Nadu (Map 10 D); Sri Lanka, Australia and Madagascar; medium to high

elevated rocky outcrops.

Specimen collected– Kerala: On the way to Ponmudi, Thiruvananthapuram dist.,

4th July 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1102a (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Mundomurhi, Travancore district, 26th

Aug. 1913, C. C. Clader and M. S. Ramaswami 210 (CAL); Agasthyamalai,

Kappukadu, 28th May 1991, N. Mohanan 10674 (CALI); Kottar Reserved Forest,

Trivandrum, 27thAug. 1973, J. Joseph 85741; Ponmudi, 10thAug. 1977, N. C. Nair

108855; Ponmudi, 29th July, 1978, M. Mohan 115456 (MH). Meghalaya–

Cherapunji, East Khasi Hills district, June 1911, E. H. Burkill and S. C. Banerjee

162 (CAL). Tamil Nadu– Kumaramperur Reserve Forest, Kollam District, 13th

Nov. 1976, M. Chandrabose 94859; Old Courtallum, Aryankavu, 19th Dec. 1978,

C. N. Mohanan 134164 (MH).

Note– Faden (2000) cited that the species ranges between 0–200 m elevations in

Sri Lanka, but Indian plants reported only from high altitude peakes, or high

altitude plateaus. This species is resembles with Murdannia simplex, but differs by

producing flowering shoots terminaly in the rosette. In addition, the species also

similar to M. saddlepeakensis, but significant differences are forming offset

rosettes, thick, fibrous roots, broad leaves, three stamens and seeds with dorsal

embryotega.

11. Murdannia hookerii (Clarke) G. Brückn. in Engler and Prantl, Nat.

Pflanzenfam., ed 2, I5a: 173. 1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.

1989.

Aneilema hookeri Clarke in Commel. and Cryt. Beng. t. 17. 1874 and DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 204. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 376. 1894. Type– India:

Khasi hills, 6,000 feet. alt., Herb. Hooker f. and Thomson, s.n. (holo–P photo, sh.

no. P01740295).

158

Phaeneilema hookeri (C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-

Dahlem, 10: 56. 1927. Fig. 39; 32 (J–L)

Tufted perennial herb. Roots fibrous. Stem erect to ascending,

dichotomously branched, up to 60 cm, with a line of dense hairs along its margin.

Leaf sheaths marginally cilate; leaves lanceolate, 10–12 × 1–2.2 cm, glabrous,

base clasping, apex shortly acuminate or obtuse. Inflorescences in terminal panicle

composed of several cincinni, 2–4 cm, glabrous throughout. Flowers bisexual,

bracteate, bracts leaflike, 0.2–5 cm; pedicel glabrous, erect; sepals elliptic; petals

obovate-orbicular, pale purple to nearly white; stamens 3; filaments densely

bearded, anthers elliptic; staminodes 3, filaments sparsely bearded, antherodes

trilobed. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid, trigonous, 6 × 1–2 mm, acute at both ends,

apiculate at apex. Seeds uniseriate, ca. 3 per locule, rectangular–quadrate or

trapezoidal in outline, 1–1.2 × 0.8–1.3 mm, testa reticulate–foveate, or ruminate,

light–dark brown or gray, hilum punctiform to linear, embryotega dorsal in large

cavity.

Flowering and fruiting– June to October; flowers open by morning and fade by 1–

1.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Khasi Hills, India: Meghalaya (Map 10E); East Asia;

occasionally on edges of ponds, forest borders, shaded rodside ditches.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Meghalaya– on the margins of Mawphlang forest,

East Khasi hills district, 5th July 1902, s. coll. 81237 (BSI); Mawphlang, East

Khasi hills district, 23rd Sept. 1959, G. K. Deka 11089; Bhitarkanika? 6th Feb.

1961, G. Panigrahi 23746 (CAL); Without locality, from Meghalaya, 19th Sept.

2009, Anna Ancy Antony 2381 (DEV).

Note– The species is distinguised by lanceolate, 10–12 × 1-2.2 cm leaves, terminal

panicle inflorescences and three seeded locule. The original specimen was

collected by Hooker f. and Thomson from Khasi hills as Anilema scapiflorum

Wight, Clarke in 1874 made a new species Aneilema hookeri, even he has also

stated that the species is similar to Anilema lincolatum [= M. japonica] in capsule

and seed characters. Deka 11089 (CAL) from Meghalaya is having oblong to

oblanceolate leaves, branches from the base and rooting from the base. This plant

159

appears to be annual?. Need to study more live specimens to conclude the plant is

annual or perennial.

12. Murdannia japonica (Thunb.) Faden in Taxon 26: 142. 1977; Karthik. et al.,

Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989.

Commelina japonica Thunb., Trans. Linn. Soc. 2: 332. 1794. Type– Thunberg

Herbarium 1857? (UPS).

Aneilema japonicum (Thunb.) Kunth, Enum. 4: 70. 1843.

Commelina elata Vahl, Enum. 2: 178. 1805–6. Type from India, ex Herb. Juss.

Aneilema elatum (Vahl) Kunth, Enum. 4: 70. 1843.

Murdannia elata (Vahl) Briickn. in Engler and Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed 2,

I5a: 173. 1930.

Commelina herbacea Roxb., Fl. Ind. I: 179. 1820. Type– Without locality,

Probably from India, Roxburgh s. n. (sh. no. BM BM000958461).

Aneilema herbaceum (Roxb.) Wall., Cat. 5223, 182. 1831; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay 2: 786. 1908.

Commelina lineolata Bl., Enum. 1: 3. 1827.

Aneilema lineolatum (Bl.) Kunth, Enum. 4: 69. 1843; Clarke, Commel. and Cryt.

Beng. 27. 1874; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India 6: 376. 1894; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres.

Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

Murdannia lineolata (Bl.) J. K. Morton, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 59: 474. 1966.

Aneilema latifolium Wight, Icon. P1. Ind. Or. 6: 30, t 2072. 1853. Lectotype–

India: Malabar, Nilgherries, June 1836, Herb Wight 1169 (x 4) (CAL) lectotype

designated here. Fig. 40; Plate 23 D; 32 (M–O)

Tufted, robust, rosette, glabrous, 60–120 cm tall, perennial herb. Roots

slender, linear–oblong tuberous or thick cylindrical. Stem stout, glabrous with long

internodes. Rosette sessile, narrowly oblong–ensiform, 20–30 × 2–5 cm, cauline

10–18 × 1.5–3 cm, both the leaves are glabrous, apex acuminate, base cuneate,

rounded or cordate, margin undulate; sheaths 2–3 cm, glabrous. Inflorescences few

flowered, branched panicle, entirely glabrous; cincinni widely spaced, 10–12 cm

long; cincinnus peduncles reduced apically, c 1 cm long; cincinnus bracts minute,

160

soon falling; bracteoles spaced, ovate to amplexicaul. Flowers bisexual, c 1.3–1.5

cm wide; sepals 0.5(–0.6) cm long, elliptic–oblong, concave, persistent, marked

with brown lines or dots; petals rosy white–blue, obovate–suborbicular; stamens 3

(rarely 2), with bearded filaments, outwardly curved; staminodes 3, antherodes

trilobed, yellow, filament sparsely bearded; ovary green, ovoid; style

enantiostylous, stigma simple. Capsule broadly ellipsoid, trigonous, 5 × 4 mm,

obtuse at both ends. Seeds 2–4 per valve, uniseriate, obovoid–ovoid, or

trapezoidal, 0.5–1 × 1.5–1.8 mm, testa brown-gray, reticulate, tuberculate–

verrucate, hilum punctiform–elliptic; embryotega dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– July to January; flowers open by 10 am, fade by 2 pm.

Distribution and ecology– India: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,

Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa,

Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand (Map 10F); East Asia; evergreen

and semi-evergreen forest margins, moist shady slope, in bamboo plantation, along

the watercourses.

Specimens collected– Karnataka– Jambhoti–Kankumbi road, Khanapur tehsil,

26th Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0914 (SUK). Kerala– on the way between

Vizhachal and Ponmudi, Thiruvananthapuram district, 9th July 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 1103 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Assam– Halflong near Lake, Dima Hasao District

[Fl. of North Cachar], 30th Aug. 1908, W. G. Craib 11 (CAL). Bihar– Chota

Nagpur [Fl. of Chota Nagpur], 12th Sept. 1896, D. Prain 487972 (CAL). Goa–

Ponda, 7th Oct. 1964, R. S. Raghavan 103367; Butpal–Nadguem, 10th Oct. 1964, R.

S. Raghavan 103477 (CAL). Karnataka– Guddahalli, Uttara Kannada, without

date, Hall and Mc Cann 77371; Gund, Uttara Kannada, without date, P. V. Bole

77366; Devimane Ghat, Uttara Kannada, 1300 ft., Oct. 1919, Hall and McCann

77369 (BLAT); Sampaje, Uttar Kannada, 22nd July 1978, S. R. Ramesh 1899;

Shiradi Ghat, Hassan district, 19th Sept. 1979, K. P. Sreenath and C. J. Saldanha s.

n. (CAL). Kerala– Wachivathmmurhi, Trivendrum district, 26th Aug. 1913, C. C.

Clader and M. S. Ramaswamy 172; Chindaki forest, Palghat district, 9th Oct. 1965,

E. Vajravelu 26045; Mukkali forest, Palghat district, 15th Oct. 1979; Nedumpoyil,

161

Cannanore district, 14th Aug. 1979, V. S. Ramchandran 63951; Thannithode,

Kollam district, 10th Oct. 1980, C. N. Mohanan 69318 (CAL); Kallur, Waynad

district, 9th July 1999, Omana 79714 (CALI); Northern Kerala, Collection of

Stocks, Law and C. Herb. Ind. Hook. f. and Thomson 73009 (MH). Manipur–

Nungba, 500m, Nov. 1907, A. Meebold 6230; Mapoong Valley, 27th May 1882, G.

Watt 7192 (CAL). Nagaland– Mamtar Forest, Naga Hills, [Fl. of Assam], May

1895, G. Watt 11390 (CAL). Orissa– Mahodadhi in sandy brown soil, 31st Oct.

1959, G. Panigarahi 20830 (CAL). Sikkim– Tista Valley, Reong, Nov. 1908, W.

G. Craib 237 (CAL). Tripura– Along the Chandrapur reserve forest,

Magapushkarani village, 29th Aug. 1957, Rolla S. Rao 8965 (CAL). West Bengal–

South Moraghat [Fl. of Jalpaiguri dist.], 31st May 1975, J. K. Sindar 433 (CAL).

Jharkhand– Prashanth Wildlife Sanctuary, Giridih district, 20th Sept. 2002, Vinay

Ranjan and K. L. Maity 31809 (CAL).

Notes– This is very robust and distinct, perennial spcies of Murdannia,

distinguished by its rosette, tuberous roots (fusiform–cylindrical), broadly ovate–

lanceolate cauline leaves, large panicle with white to blue rose coloured flowers,

persistant sepals, broadly ovoid capsules and typical waterloving habitat. However,

its rosettes are similar to M. glauca but differ in flowering character. Four sheets

from Robert Wight collection of his Aneilema latifolium placed at CAL, mixed

with other specimens, from Malabar in June 1836 [Aneilema latifolium = M.

japonica ] are selected here as type.

13. Murdannia lanceolata (Wight) Kammathy in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 24: 206.

1982–83; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 29. 1989; Faden, Revis.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 147. 2000.

Dichaespermum lanceolatum Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2078, f. 1. 1853. Type–

India, Palamcottah, April, 1835, Wight s. n. (K).

Aneilema koenigii Wall. ex Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 215. 1881; Hook. f.,

Fl. Brit. India 6: 381. 1894; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546.

1931. Lectotype–India: Herb. Madras, Koenig s.n. in Herb. Wallich 5214A (K-

WALL; K–isolectotype).

162

Murdannia koenigii (Wall. ex Clarke) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 173.

1930. Fig. 41; Plate 33 (A–C)

Annual, branched from the base or unbranched, erect, annual herb. Leaves

linear–lanceolate, sheaths 2–8 cm long, finely and sparsely pubescent along the

fused edges (Faden, 2000) or ciliate–glabrous, 2–6 × 0.2–0.5 cm, apex acute–

acuminate, base rounded, glabrous, margin entire. Inflorescences terminal and

axillary, consist of 1–2 opposite or alternate cincinni, peduncle 1–4 cm long,

glabrous; cincinni several flowered, peduncles short, bracteoles minute, distantly

arranged, cup shaped. Flowers bisexual, 1–2 cm wide; pedicels erect, c. 1 cm.;

sepals elliptic–lanceolate; petals orbicular to obovate, blue–liliac; stamens 3,

bending outwardly, filaments densely bearded, anthers elliptic; staminodes 3,

filaments sparsely bearded, antherodes trilobed, yellow. Capsules oblong–

ellipsoid, 4–6 × 2 mm, light brown glabrous, style base persistent. Seeds biseriate,

c 18–20 per locule, ovoid–obovoid, or angular in outline, 0.5–8 × 0.5 mm, testa

colliculate–acellate, or reticulate–alveolate, grey–brown, hilum punctiform–

elliptic, embryotega dorsal raised on areolate surface.

Flowering and fruiting– October to January; flowers open between morning to

afternoon.

Distribution and ecology– Southern India: Tamil Nadu (Map 11A); Sri Lanka;

very rarely along the forest margins, grassy slopes and wet places.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Tirunelveli district, Vasudevallur,

13th Nov. 1925, S. R. Raju 77266; Singampatti, Tirunelveli district, 3rd March

1958, K. M. Sebastine 5490; Pothayadi, Kanyakumari, 24th Jan. 1978, A. N. Henry

594 (MH).

Note– The species first collected by Stocks and Law from Malabar and Konkan

(Concan) region. Based on which Wight (1853) described Dichaespermum

lanceolatum. Kammathy transferred it to Murdannia in 1983. The specimen

collected by Barber in late February 1899 from Madras probably the second oldest

collection next only to the type. Apart there are only very few specimens available

at Madras Herbarium collected from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, Tamil

Nadu.

163

Murdannia lanceolata is native to the low hills of Kerala and plains of

Tamil Nadu (Ahmedulla and Nayar, 1987). It found in isolated populations across

its range (only four locations) and it threatened by habitat conversion due to

urbanization (Arisdason, 2011). Sharma et al., (1996: 173) included this species in

treatment of flora of Maharashtra from Konkan by citing Hook. f. (1894: 381), the

occurrence of this speices in Konkan belt of Maharashtra is suspicious, because

not a single herbarium or live collection known from Maharashtra.

14. Murdannia lanuginosa (Wall. ex Clarke) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2.,

15a: 173. 1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 29. 1989.

Aneilema lanuginosum Wall. ex Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan., 3: 215. 1881;

Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 381. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 790. 1908;

Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931. Type– India Wallich Cat.

5221.

Phaeneilema lanuginosum (Wall. ex C.B. Clarke) G. Brückn., Notizbl. Bot. Gart.

Berlin–Dahlem, 10: 56. 1927.

Aneilema siennea Blatt. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 75. 1928. Lectotype–

India, Pachgani table land, Aug. 1925, Blatt. and McCann P.74.A (holo–Blatt. and

McCann P.74.A; iso–Blatt. and McCann P.74.B BLAT) lectotype designated here

Murdannia siennea (Blatt.) Raiz. In Indian Forester. 84: 499. 1958.

Fig. 42; Plate 23 E, 33 (D–F)

Perennial herb, 15 to 40 cm length, erect to ascending with tufted fusiform

tuberous roots. Stem pubescent, stout to prostrate. Leaves sessile, linear to linear

lanceolate with broad base, finely acuminate, pubescent on both sides, margin

undulate. Flowers axillary, 1–4 flowered cyme, pedicillate, pink coloured at the

time of opening then after turn orange yellow and blue when fade starts. Fertile

stamens 3 densely bearded while 3 sterile faintly bearded and shorter than fertile

one with tri lobed antherodes; ovary comes out from one side with short and

curved style (enantiostylus) and simple stigma. Capsule oblong–ellipsoid, 8–1 × 3

mm, glabrous with mucronate apex, brown. Seeds biseriate, 12 per locule, ovoid–

trapezoidal or pyramidal–deltoid in outline, 1–1.2 × 1–1.5 mm, testa falsifoveate–

164

scorbiculate, or reticulate–alveolate, hilum punctiform to discoid, embryotega

semi-dorsal–lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– August to November; flowers open by 11 am and fade by

3 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Endemic to Western Ghats: Karnataka, Kerala,

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu (Map 11B); it is observed in higher abundance in

lateritic plateaus and hilly slopes at an altitude range of 900 to 1600 m. Murdannia

lanuginosa found on open grassy plateaus along with herbs like M. simplex, M.

versicolor, Ischaemum impressum, Glyphochloa forficulata, Paspalum canarae,

Smithia bigemina, Rotala densiflora, Pogostemon deccanensis, etc.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra– Kas plateau, Satara district, 14th Aug. 2008,

M. D. Nandikar 0820; Morjai plateau, Gaganbawada Tehsil, Kolhapur district, 12th

Sept. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 0827; Shelap Plateau, Radhanagari Tehsil, 13th Aug.

2009, M. D. Nandikar 0903 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Mysore, 7th Sept. 1893, Talbot 2997;

Castle Rock, Uttar Kannada, Oct. 1908, A. Meebold 10699 (CAL). Kerala–

Chembra peak, Waynad district, 28th Sept. 1984, R. T. Balakrshnan 40619 (CALI);

Aruvampara grassy slopes, Palghat 10th Oct. 1979, N. C. Nair 125188 (MH).

Maharashtra– Lingmala waterfall, Mahabaleshwar, 15th Sept. 1958, H. Santapau

77364 (BLAT).

Note– Very distinct species, recognized by its pubescent erect habit, fusiform

tuberous roots, ochra yellow flowers and biseriate seeds. It categorized as

regionally endangered taxon owing to its restricted habitat and low population

status in lateritic plateaus and grassy slopes of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala

states of India. Extent of occurrence of Murdannia lanuginosa estimated to be

4,000 sq. km and found only at few locations.

15. Murdannia loriformis (Hassk.) R. S. Rao and Kammathy, Bull. Bot. Surv.

India 3: 393. 1961; Rolla Rao in Notes R. B. G. Edinb. 25: 184. 1965; Karthik. et

al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 29. 1989.

165

Aneilema loriformae Hassk. In Miq., Pl. Jungh. 143. 1852. Type– Java, Mt.

Unugerang, near Medini, Junghuhun s. n. (L).

Aneilema terminale Wight (as “terminalis”), Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 31, t. 2076. 1853.

Type– India, Wight s.n. (K).

Aneilema nudiflorum (L.) Sweet. var. terminale (Wight) Clarke, Commel. and

Cryt. Beng. 211. 1874; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 379. 1894; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl.

Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

Murdannia malabarica (L.) G. Brückn. var terminalis (Wight) Sant. and Jain in

Indian Forester 92: 643.1966. Fig. 43; Plate 23 F, 33 (G–I)

Annual to perennial herb, roots thick but fibrous, cylindrical. Rosette leaves

are forming a cylindrical green to purple broad base, linear, 20–30 × 1.2–1.5 cm,

margin entire with prominent midrib, apex acute–acuminate; leaves on lateral

flowering scapes are having prominent, marginally ciliate sheaths, lanceolate, 2–8

× 0.5–1 cm, distally reduced margin entire, apex acute–acuminate, base rounded to

amplexicaul, surfaces glabrous; flowering shots lateral in the rosette, ascending to

decumbent, 20–30 cm in length, spreading in all directions from the axils of rosette

leaves. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, few flowered cincinni; peduncle c 10

cm long, glabrous, cincinni c 3 cm long; bracteoles c 5 mm long, caduceus.

Flowers c 5 mm wide; pedicels 3–5 mm long, glabrous; sepals lanceolate–elliptic,

c 3 mm long, green; petals obovte, c 5 mm long, liliac–blue liliac; stamens 2,

antisepalous, curving outwardly, filaments densely to sparsely bearded, anthers

broadly elliptic; staminodes 4, one antisepalous with sparsely bearded filament and

ends with a knob, remaining 3 antisepalous, filaments glabrous, antherodes

trilobed, white; ovary ovoid to elliptic, green, enantiostylous, stigma simple.

Capsule ovoid, 4–5 × 2.5 mm, brown. Seeds uniseriate, 2 per locule, ovoid–

obvoid, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm; testa brown, foveolate–reticulate, or tuberculate, radiately

ridged with pale brownish flaky granules on the ridges around the depressions,

hilum linear–oblong forming a cavity; embryotega semi-dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to January; flowers open by 10 am while fade by 2

pm.

166

Distribution and ecology– India: Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

(Map 11C); Tropical Asia to Malaysia (Faden, 2000); one of the common

seasonal species from low to medium land, along the forest margins, roadside

ditches, partial to full shaded habitat.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra– Tilari Ghats, Chandgad tehsil, Kolhapur, 24th

Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0911; Patgaon, Bhudargad tehsil, Kolhapur, 12th Oct.

2009, M. D. Nandikar 0920; Faye, Budhargad tehsil, Kolhapur, 4th Aug. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 1006 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Yellapur to Dasarahalli road, Uttar

Kannada, without date, H. Santapau 77551 (BLAT); Mysore district,

Gopalaswamy hills, without date, B. D. Naithani 46025 (MH). Kerala–

Paramlikulam submergible area, Thrissur district, 26th July 1962, K. M. Sebastine

14613 (CAL); Athirappilly, Thrissur district, 27th Sept. 1958, E. Govindaragalu

and B. G. L. Swamy (Herb. of Pres. College, Chennai). Agasthyamalai, Neyyar,

Without date, N. Mohanan 11558 (CALI); Thrissur district, Thurakadava, Sept.

1965, K. M. Sebastine 42937; Aruvikkara, Thiruvananthapuram district, 15th Nov.

1979, M. Mohanan 118108 (MH).

Note– The distinctiveness of this species from Indian and African wide spread

Murdannia simplex is doubtful. Although the species occurs in range of low to

medium altitude, with laterally spreading narrower scapes and linear leaves,

inflorescence with large number of flowers, but these are not qualitative characters

to determine distinctiveness of the species. Further detailed investigation on M.

loriformis will help to solve taxonomic recognition.

16. Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan in Kew Bull. 7: 189. 1952; Hara, Fl. E.

Himal. 401. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28.1989.

Commelina nudiflora L., Sp. Pl. 1:41. 1753. pro parte. Type–India, Osbeck 2

(LINN 65.12).

Tradescantia malabarica L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 412. 1762. Type–Rheede, Hort. Malab. 9:

123, t. 63.

167

Aneilema nudiflorum R. Br., Prodr. 271.1810; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 378. 1894;

Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 788. 1908; Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Plain 3(2): 277.

1915; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

Aneilema compressum Dalz. In Hook., Kew J. Bot. 3: 138. 1851. Type– India:

Bombay; Dalzell s. n. (K).

Aneilema nudiflorum var. compressa (Dalz.) C. B. Cl. in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3:

211. 1881.

Murdannia malabarica (L.) Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2., 15a: 173. 1930.

Murdannia malabarica (L.) Brückn var. compressa (Dalz.) Sant. and Jain in

Indian Forest Rec., Bot. 3: 55. 1941. Lectotype– H. Santapau 77424 designated

here (BLAT).

Phaeneilema malabarica (L.) Naryanasw. and Biswas in Indian Forest Rec., Bot.

3: 55. 1941.

Fig. 44; Plate 24 A, 33 (M–O)

Annual herb. Root fibrous. Stem subsimple or much branched from the

base, branches up to 30 cm long, weak, procumbent often rooting at nodes. Leaves

linear to oblong or lanceolate, 2–6 × 0.5–0.7 cm, reduced distally in flowering

shoots (rarely clustered in a base forming small rosette), sheaths 0.2–1 cm long,

ciliate or glabrous in reduced leaves, margin undulate to entire; apex acute–

acuminate, base rounded. Flowers in terminal from the main and laterally

branched scapes, rarely axillary, pedunculate, few flowered cincinni, rarely

cincinni are axillary from the terminal leaves of lateral shoot but it is usually

shorter than the terminal ones, peducle 2–8 cm long, terminal cincinni c. 2 cm

long, axillar 1 cm long, few flowered; bracteoles 3 mm long caducous. Flowers

0.8–1 cm wide; pedicels 5 mm long; bract c 3 mm, cymbiform, caducous; sepals

oblong or ovate–elliptic, c 2–3 mm, obtuse; petals suboribicular or rhombic–

cuneate, liliac to pink liliac; stamens 2, filaments densely bearded and closely

parallel to each other, anther elliptic to ovate; staminodes 4, one antespealous with

bearded filament and ends with antherode with small knob or lacking, 3

antepetalous staminode with sparsely bearded to glabrous filament, antherode

trilobed, white; ovary green, style c 1–1.2 mm long, stigma simple. Capsule

168

ovoid–subglobose, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, brown, glabrous, trilocular, locule 2 seeded.

Seeds uniseriate, ovoid or occasionally ellipsoid, 1.5 × 1–1.4 mm, testa brown,

foveolate–reticulate, or tuberculate, radiately ridged, with numerous pale warts

around the depressions, hilum linear–oblong, embryotega semi-dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to May; flowers open by 9 am and fade by 1 pm

Distibution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 11D); Tropical Asia to

Malaysia; naturalized in West Africa and southeastern United States and the West

Indies to Brazil; common along roadside, ditches, rocky outcrops with pools,

marsy and swampy areas, open flats, stream margins, waste lands, in cultivation

fields, full sun to partial shade (Faden, 2000).

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Shelap Bus stand, along roadside,

Radhanagari tehsil, Kolhapur, 13th Aug. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0902; Hasne,

Dajipur, Radhanagari tehsil, Kolhapur, 28th Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0916

(SUK). Dukanwadi, Kudal tehsil, Sindhudurg, 2nd Oct. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1118

(CALI, SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Pakhal lake, Warangal district,

7th Sept. 1961, K. M. Sebastine 3151 (CAL). Arunachal Pradesh– Saikhowa,

Tinsukia district, 22nd Nov. 1911, H. Burkill 35770 (CAL). Assam– Halflong [Fl.

of North Cachar], 27th Aug. 1908, W. G. Crate 477; Kobo Chapori, Pasighat, 27th

Feb. 1912, [Fl. of Abor Expedition] H. Burkill 38119 (CAL). Bihar–Ranchi, 7th

Oct. 1981, M. K. Manna and U. P. Samadder 1174 (CAL). Dadra and Nagar

Haveli– Dapada (Chinchpada forest), 6th Oct. 1963, Rolla S. Rao 94294 (CAL).

Kerala–Sholiyar Forest, Palakkad district, 24th Sept. 1925, K. C. Jacob 9573

(MH). Karnataka– Karwar, Uttar Kannada, Oct. 1919, Hall and Mc Cann 77363;

Gersoppa, Uttar Kannada, without date, J. Fernandez 77361 (BLAT); Castle Rock,

2000 ft, [Fl. of South India], Oct. 1908, A. Meebold 10684 (CAL). Maharashtra–

Dapoli, Ratnagiri district, Sept. 1922, R. D. Ackland 77372; Khandala, Pune

district, 4th Sept. 1941, H. Santapau 77424 (BLAT). Meghalaya– Cherapunji, 20th

Sept. 1959, G. K. Deka 19086, Khasia Hills, 8th Nov. 1872, Walong 2080 (CAL).

Middle Andaman– Rangat Eastward way to Jetty in roadside ditches, 5th Nov.

1977, N. Bhargava 14283; Mayabundar, 1st Aug. 1974, N. Bhargava 4667 (PBL).

169

North Nicobar– Mus, Car Nicobar, 28th Sept. 1976, N. G. Nair 10680; Delhi

village, West Bay Katchal Island, 13th June 1977, P. Chakraborthy 13619 (PBL).

South Andaman– Jhinga Nala reserve forest, 13th Nov. 2007, R. R. Pandey

22735; Dhanikari, 14th July 1973, N. P. Balakrishnan 612; Camp no. 1, Hovelock

Island, 8th Sept. 1977, R. K. Premnath 13891 (PBL). Sikkim– Senadah, 6000 ft,

Oct. 1868, S. Kurz 488164 (CAL). Punjab– Hosaripur, 25th Aug. 1970, O. P.

Mishra 41513 (CAL). Rajasthan– Jhalawar–Sarhad, Jhalawar district, 24th Sept.

1964, B. M. Wadhwa and D. M. Verma 3569; Shergarh village, Banswara district,

27th Aug. 1976, V. Singh 3066 (CAL). Tamil Nadu– Tinnevelly, Shembaka Devi

and Puliaravi junction, 15th Dec. 1957, K. Subramanyam 9574; Kanyakumari,

Thregapatanum, 02nd Aug. 1977, A. N. Henry 100384 (MH). Tripura– Cherilam

reserve forest, along the river bed, Bishalgarh Taluk, West Tripura district, 27th

Sept. 1957, R. S. Rao 8866 (CAL). Zharkhand– Prashanth Wildlife Sanctuary,

Giridih district, 20th Sept. 2002, Vinay Ranjan and K. L. Maity 31766 (CAL).

Uttar Pradesh– Katra, Gonda district, 5th Oct. 1969, G. Panigrahi 12222 (CAL).

West Bengal– Mungpoo, 3500 ft, East Himalayan, Darjeeling District, 25th May

1914, C. W. Cousins 78 (CAL).

Note– One of the common species occurs abundantly across the India. It closely

similar to M. loriformis, but can be easily distinguished by its smaller rosette,

rosette leaves in M. loriformis are 10–30 cm. long.

17. Murdannia pauciflora (G. Brückn.) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 15a:

173. 1930.

Aneilema pauciflorum Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 31, t. 2077. 1853; C. B. Cl. in DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 207. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 378. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay 2: 788. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931.

[non Dalzell, 1851]. Type–India: Kerala, Kollam (Quilon), October, 1835. Herb.

Wight 1179 (Isosyntype–E).

Murdannia wightii Rao and Kammathy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Ednb. 25(2): 184.

1964; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 29.1989.

Fig. 45; Plate 24 B, 33 (J–L)

170

A small, decumbent, profusely branched, annual herb with or without

definite base. Roots fibrous. Stem creeping and rooting at the nodes, marginally

villosus. Leaves 1–6 × 0.5–1 cm, sessile, ovate to lanceolate, subacute, base

rounded or cordate, margin entire to undulate; sheaths 0.2–0.5 mm, with ciliate

margins. Inflorescenes axillary, 3–4 flowered cyme. Flowers c 1 cm wide,

pediciliate; pedicel 1–2 cm, jointed in the middle, sparsely pubescent to glabrous,

bent downwards in fruit; sepals narrowly oblong thickened at the tips c 4 mm long;

petals obovate, ochra yellow; stamens 3, filament densely bearded, anthers elliptic;

staminodes 3, filaments sparsely bearded or glabrous, antherodes bi to tri-lobed;

ovary elliptic, green, enantiostylous, stigma simple. Capsule 5–7 × 2 mm, linear–

ellipsoid. Seeds uniseriate, 3–4 per locule, dark brown– black with faint white–

yellow in clusters, rectangular–cuboid or cylindric in outline, 0.5–1 × 1 mm,

colliculate–acellate, reticulate–alveolate, white flakey material in thick round

clusters; hilum linear – elliptic; embryotega semi-dorsal–lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– July to December; flowers open by 10.30 am and fade by

1.30–2 pm.

Distribution and ecology– India: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil

Nadu (Map 11E); Myanmar [Kee 5839 (P)] and Indonesia [H. Zollinger 3312 (P)];

one of the common species of southern parts of Western Ghats, occasionally found

along the low land of Konkan and along the Ghats in Maharashta. Occur in mid to

low lands upto 800 m in wet palces, along the roadsides, ditches, forests margins

and agricultural fields at partialy exposed situations.

Specimens collected– Karnataka– Hulikal Ghat, Hosangar tehsil, Shimoga

district, 9th Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1127 (BSI, CAL, SUK); Charmudi Ghat,

Dakshin Kannada district, 8th Nov. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1124 (CALI, SUK); Jog

falls, Thirthahalli tehsil, 16th Jan. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 1001 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Gersoppa Ghat, Uttar Kannada, Oct.

1919, Hall and McCann 77460; Mirijan, Uttar Kannada, Oct. 1919, Hall and

McCann 77461 (BLAT); Vanakaebbe falls, Agumbe, 28th Oct. 1960, A. S. Rao and

Raghvan s. n.; Koinad forest, Sampage, Kodagu district, 24th Oct. 1963, A. S. Rao

95045; Yettinahalli, Shiradi Ghat, July 1989, HFP 2053 (BSI). Kerala– Paluravi,

171

old Kuttalam, Tenmalai, 28th Nov. 1961, K. N. Subramanian 77194; near temple

Cherthala/ Shertallai, Alappuzha district, 8th Sept. 1961, K. N. Subramanian

73921; Tenmalai–Shencotii railway lines, near Tenmalai, Sept. 1961, K. N.

Subramanian 77012; Varand, Shertallai, Alleppey, 25th Dec. 1962, R. V.

Kammathy 82602; on the bank of Kazhuthurity river, Tenmalai, 30th Dec. 1962, R.

V. Kammathy 82612 (BSI); Paisakkiri, Kasargod district, 23rd Sept. 1982, R.

Ansari 73964 (CAL); Aickad, Kollam District, 15th Aug. 1978, C. N. Mohanan

133920, 133921; Agasthyamalai, Theerthakara, 28th Sept. 1993, N. Mohanan

1155A (MH); Kollam/ Quilon, Oct. 1835, Herb Wight 2850 (P).

Note– Very distinct species, not likely to be mistaken for any other Murdannia;

Cooke (1908) treated this species is appreantly endemic, but after screening of

herbarium specimens placed at P, the species seems to be distributed in Tropical

Asia.

18. Murdannia saddlepeakensis M. V. Ramana and Nandikar in PhytoKeys 20: 9–

15. 2013. Type– India: North Andaman: Saddle Peak National Park, open scrub

forests, 13°9’20.4”N, 093°01’08.2” E, at 508 m, 18th November 2011, M. V.

Ramana 0550 (holo CAL, iso BSI; PBL; SUK; US). Fig. 46; Plate 24 F

Erect, 40–60 cm high, glabrous perennial herb with a basal rosette leaves;

roots thick fibrous. Rosette leaves with narrowly linear lamina, 20–60 cm long, 0.4

to 0.8 cm wide, apex acuminate, base rounded, margins entire; cauline leaves with

sheaths 0.2–2 cm long, glabrous, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 1–25 × 0.2–0.5 mm

wide, base rounded, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous, margin entire, often

scabrid; flowering shoot terminal in the basal rosette, erect, 20–40 cm long,

unbranched. Inflorescence terminal and axillary of peduncled cincinni; peduncles

2–7 cm long, glabrous, cincinni up to 2 cm long, few flowered, bracteoles 5 mm

long, caducous. Flowers bisexual, c 1.5 cm wide, pedicels (2–) 3–5 mm long (not

declinate in capsule); sepals elliptic to oblong elliptic, 5–6 mm long; petals ovate

to obovate, lilac to pale lavender; stamens 2, filaments densely bearded, (3–) 4 mm

long, anthers elliptic, c 1 mm long; staminodes 3, antepetalous with glabrous to

sparsely bearded filaments, antherodes tri-lobed, yellow; one rudimentary stamen,

172

antisepalous with densely bearded filament ending with sterile knob; ovary

glabrous; style recurved towards staminodes, (3–) 4 mm long; stigma simple.

Capsule subglobose, 4–5 mm long, 3 mm wide, locules 1-seeded. Seeds elliptic or

rarely ovoid, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm, testa scorbiculate on all surfaces, the depressions

often partially uniting on the dorsal surface, forming a little larger, irregular

depressions, dark brown, hilum linear or oblong-linear, embryotega dorsal-

semidorsal, farinose sparsely in all depressions and around the embryotega.

Flowering and fruiting– October to February; flowers open by 12.30 pm to 1–1.30

pm.

Distribution and ecology– Murdannia saddlepeakensis currently known only from

the type locality Saddle Peak National Park, North Andaman Islands, India (Map

11F). It grows in open scrub forests in rocky situations at elevation 508 m and

shares its habitat with the species such as Sonerila andamanensis Stapf and King

(Melastomataceae), Ophiorrhiza mungos L. (Rubiaceae) and Gomphostemma

javanicum (Blume) Benth. (Lamiaceae).

Note– Murdannia saddlepeakensis is closely related to M. simplex, but

recognizable by its narrow linear leaves, terminal flowering shoot in the basal

rosette, glabrous leaf sheaths, single seeded capsule, elliptic seed with scorbiculate

surface. In addition, M. saddlepeakensis is restricted to northern Andaman Island

whereas M. simplex is much wide spread in Tropical Africa and Asia. Moreover,

M. gigantea is also close to M. saddlepeakensis by having terminal flowering

shoot, but significant differences are forming offset rosettes, thick, fibrous roots,

broad leaves, three stamens and seeds with dorsal embryotega. M. saddlepeakensis

generally resembled the widespread species M. loriformis except for the presence

of erect, terminal flowering shoot and scorbiculate, single seeded locule, in

addition to flowers opening by noon.

19. Murdannia satheeshiana Joby, Nisha and Unni in Phytotaxa 22: 41. (2011);

Nampy et al., Willdenowia 42(1): 79. 2012. Type– INDIA. Kerala: Idduki District,

Mathikettanshola National Park, Sivanpara, 24th Oct. 2010, Joby, Rameshan and

Thoms 431 (holo– CAL, iso– CALI, MH and Herbarium, School of Environmental

173

Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India). (Joby et al.,

2011).

Small, erect annual herb, 2.5–10 cm long, branches ascending to erect, habit

definite. Stem with small internodes, internodes 0.5–2.5 cm long. Leaves ovate,

0.5–2 × 0.3–1 cm, sparsely pubescent. Flowers in axillary 1–4 flowered cyme,

pedicilate; pedicel 0.5–0.7cm long, pubescent. In fruiting pedicel increases up to 1

cm. Capsule 3–4 × 2 mm, ovate-oblong, trivalvate, glabrous, green. Seeds

uniseriate, 2–3 per locule, 1 × 1 mm, rectangular in ventral view, cylindrical to

heart shaped in apical view, alveolate, grayish brown, rugose, with ridges and

furrows, white farinose granules in the furrows, small ventral pit near the hilum,

filled with white flakey material and farinose granules, apex rounded in basal and

apical seeds, cupulate in the middle seeds, hilum ovate-elliptic, embryotega lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– September to December; flowers open between 8.30 am–

1.30 pm.

Distribution and habitat– Apparently endemic to southern India: Kerala (Map

12A). It grows in wet grasslands with a rocky substrate, fully exposed to sun (Joby

et al., 2011).

Specimen examined– INDIA: Kerala– Idukki District, Mathikettanshola National

Park, Sivanpara, 24th Oct. 2010, 1593 m, Joby, Rameshan and Toms 431

(Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,

Kottayam, Kerala, India). However, the type specimen has not been found at CAL,

CALI and MH.

Note– This species is illustrated here based on single herbarium specimen from

Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,

Kottayam, Kerala, India. Species collected from a single locality (1593 m alt.) of

Mathikettanshola National Park, this place restricted for collection of plant

material. Murdannia satheeshiana is similar to M. crocea subsp. ochracea in habit

but distinguished by pubescence on vegetative parts and uniseriate seeds.

Similarly, it is more close to M. paucilfora by having 2–3, uniseriate, rectangular–

cuboid, or cylindric seeds, but differ in habit and rugose–ruminate seed surface.

174

20. Murdannia semiteres (Dalzell) Santapau in Poona Agric. Coll. Mag. 41: 284.

1951; Brenan, Kew Bull. 7: 184. 1952; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

29. 1989.

Aneilema semiteres Dalz. in Hook., Kew. Journ. Bot. 3: 138. 1851; Dalz. and

Gibs., Bombay Fl. 254. 1861; Drury, Handb. Ind. Fl. 3: 315. 1869. Type from

India, Malwan.

Aneilema paniculatum (non Wight)–Wall. Cat. 5216. 1831–32, nomen nudum;

Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 215. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 381. 1894;

Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 790. 1908; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543,

1546. 1931 pro parte.

Commelina nimmoniana Grah., Cat. Pl. Bombay, 224. 1834, nomen subnudum,

fide Cooke, supra; Clarke, in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3:191. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit.

Ind. 6: 374. 1894. Type from India (type destroyed)

Dichoespermum semiteres (Dalz.) Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 41. 1870. Type from

India.

A small, branched or unbranched, erect, annual, herb, c 4–30 cm in height;

roots fibrous, thin; internodes reddish–green, 2–10 cm long; stem sheathed at the

base with yellowish, conspicuous, scarious sheaths or without sheaths; leaves 3–12

× 0.05–0.2 cm, glabrous, linear, finely acuminate; flowers in terminal and axillary

paniculate cymes, or pedunculate–non pedunculate psudoumbellate cinicinni;

bracts filiform; barcteoles amplexicaul, persistent; pedicels glabrous, red to purple,

2–3 mm long; sepals 3, 1.5–2 × 0.8–1 mm, elliptic, apex obtuse with purple tinge,

glabrous; petals 3, 2.5–4 × 2–4 mm, obovate–orbicular, blue to purple (–white),

incurved, margin entire, undulate apically, apex obtuse–acute; stamens 3,

antesepalous, curved inwardly or outwardly, filaments glabrous, basally connate,

anther elliptic, dorsifixed, balck–brown; staminodes 3, antepetalous, anthrodes

trilobed, lobes white–crimson; ovary elliptic–ovate, pale green–maroon; style

central–enantiostyly; stigma papillate. Capsule 1–2 × 0.5–1.5 mm, ellipsoid–

subglobose, glabrous, trilocular. Seeds 2–8 per locule, biseriate, 0.2–1 × 0.2–0.8

mm, rounded–elliptic or trapezoidal–irregularly angular; testa dark brown or grey,

175

or black, smooth or with white flaky depositions forming striations or faintly

reticulated–verrucate, hilum punctiform, embroyotega dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open between 9 am to 4 pm

Distribution and ecology– India and East Africa. High to low altitude lateritic,

sandstone plateaus, on the murum rocks, margin of shallow pools, in small rain

pools, in saturated soil on edge of a muddy pool on Murum rocks, in moist soil on

the fringe of seasonal rain pond, uncleared land where vegetation is less and

grasses are shorter, in vicinity of rock outcrops with densely packed individuals.

Note– This is one of the common, widespread and variable species of Murdannia,

spreads in East Africa and India. The species is variable in flowering phenolgy,

capsule and seed characters. Some populations are retaining their distinctiveness in

ex-situ conditions, but these diagnostic characters are not qualitative to raise a

distinct species. Therfore, we considered these populations as a variety rather than

the species.

Brenan (1952) affirmed in his note “I have dissected flowers of both

African and Indian specimens and can see no significant difference between the

former and what has in India usually gone under the name Aneilema paniculatum

Wallich. Many of the Indian specimens are dwarf, but the largest from are as tall

as the largest from Africa; and much variation in size is nothing surprising in a

plant with the habitat of Murdannia semiteres”. Our interpretation and Brenan’s

studies specify that, the phenotypic inconsistency is one of the common facts in

Murdannia.

The populations belongs to typical, occur in between low to high elevation,

altitude ranges between 100–1200 m and all the individuals are densely packed. It

shows continuous range of variation. However, plenty of times many individuals

from the same locality demonstrate very diverse characters in their petal shape,

stamen ornamentation, enantiostyly, texture and shape of seeds. It is very difficult

to put all these variations within same context, but all these variations not found

constant many of times. However, it is possible to tag with a variety. In addition to

this, few of the populations show unique character in their habit, seed number,

seed texture and it is included under var. sahyadrica. These populations were

176

found to be with distinct habitats, one is collected from margins of shallow pools

on ironstone in humic silt where individuals are solitary, plant apparently look like

lithophytic, having low soil content (individuals were collected from Malatpur,

Dist. Satra), another population treated under var. sahyadrica (individuals were

collected from Manohargad, Dist. Sindhudurg) is having similar habitat. These

individuals were collected from undergrowth of sedges. The ample amount of soil,

interspecific competition and limiting factor, light may results into extreme height.

Three populations of var. sahyadrica were screened, in conclusion based on

slightly different petals, staminal orientation, seed shape, size and texture of seeds,

it could not be stand as a distinct species. Recently, Nampy et al., (2012)

considered these quantitative characters and raised a new species viz. Murdannia

sahyadrica Ancy and Nampy. In addition to these, they reported uniseriate

arrangement of seeds in locule, but this character is misleading and it was not seen

in even type specimen and also in live collections from the provided type locality

and therefore, it is better to placed variety sahyadrica in Murdannia semieters than

the distinct species.

The Indian plants of var. juncoides, referred to Murdannia juncoides

(Wight) Rolla and Kammathy as a different species, differing only by having

perennial habit with underground bulb. However, bulbous base is not clear in iso-

syntype (Wight 967) from Courtallum, roots may also be more near to fibrous. The

only difference is stem tufted and sheathed at the base with broad scarious sheaths.

Two populations of var. juncoides, from Chembra (M. D. Nandikar 542) and from

Irupu falls (M. D. Nandikar 548), were found to be tufted stem and base covered

with broad scarious sheaths, however, underground bulb, was never present. In

addition to this, flowers enantiostylous and are open by noon in their natural

habitats, while open by 10.30 am under cultivation, seeds ovoid–trapezoidal,

black–gray–dark brown, reticulate–irregular striated, and embryotega raised in

deep cavity or pit. The introduced individuals (collected from Chembra) in

Botanical Garden of Shivaji University, Kolhapur were no live longer, the plants

are definitely annual. With sufficient evidences gathered so far, it is now clear that

177

the taxon in question is a distinct species. Hence, in present work, the Murdannia

juncoides has been treated as a variety of M. semiteres.

1. Plant broadly sheathed at the base, flowering by noon………………….var. juncoides

– Plant base sheathed, flowering by morning ……………………….………………….2

2. Seeds reticulate, 2(3)–4 per locule, obovoid–ovoid………………….…var. sahyadrica

– Seeds smooth, 5–8 per locule, trapezoidal–irregularly angular……….…var. semiteres

var. juncoides (Wight) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat. nov.

Dichaespermum juncoides Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 2078. 1853. Type–India, Tamil

Nadu, Courtallum Hills, 1835, Wight 967 (isosyntype–E)

Aneilema paniculatum (non Wight)–Wall. Cat. 5216. 1831–32, nomen nudum;

Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 215. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:381. 1894;

Cooke, Fl Bombay Pres. 2: 790. 1908; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543,

1546. 1931 pro parte.

Murdannia juncoides (Wight) Rao and Kammathy in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 3.

1964; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989.

Fig. 48; Plate 24 E, 32 (P–R)

Annual–perennial herb with 8–20 cm hight, base covered with broad

sheaths; flowers with enantiostyly; seeds 6–8 per locule, 0.5–0.8 × 0.5–0.8 mm;

ovoid–pyramidal, or trapezoidal; black–grey–dark brown, reticulate with irregular

striations, white farinose on testa, embryotega dorsal in deep pit; flowering by

noon. Capsule ovoid, 1.2–1.5 × 2 mm, glabrous, brown. Seeds biseriate, 8 per

locule, 0.05–1 × 0.06 mm, ovate–pyramidal, or trapezoidal in outline, testa

smooth–striated, or grooved with white flaky material, hilum punctiform,

embryotega dorsal in deep pit.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open by afternoon 1 pm in

wild and flowers open by morning by 10 in cultivation.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to Western Ghats of India:

Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 12B); humid, evergreen forest of southern

India, along the perennial waterfall, looks like lithophytic.

178

Specimens collected– Karnataka: Irupu falls, Kodagu district, 14th Dec. 2011, M.

D. Nandikar 542 (SUK). Kerala: Chembra, Waynad, 18th Dec. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 1113 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– about 1/5 mile from Shencottai railway

station towards Arienkav, 31st Dec. 1962, R. S. Rao 82613;Thenmalai, Kollam

district, s. coll. 9460 (BSI); Bekal, 100 m alt., Kasargod district, 28th Sept. 1982, R.

Ansari 74357; Choothuporuthupara Vayyattupuzha, Pathanamthitta district, 25th

Dec. 1989, N. Anilkumar 2171 (CAL); Agasthyamalai, Meenmutty, 6th Oct. 1990,

N. Mohanan 10148 (CALI). Tamil Nadu– Thekkumala, Coimbatore, 10th June

1977, Devyani 15929; Courtallum, Thirunelvely, without date, Majeed 20624

(CALI).

var. sahyadrica (Ancy and Nampy) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et stat. nov.

Murdannia sahyadrica Ancy and Nampy in Willdenowia 42 (1): 79. 2012. Type–

India, northwestern Ghats, Maharashtra, Pune district, Sinhagad, Nampy and

Manudev 2394 [holo–DEV; iso– DEV, CALI].

Fig. 47 H and I; Plate 24 D, 35 (D–F)

Annual herb of 4–30 cm hight; flowers with or without enantiostyly.

Capsule 1–2 × 0.5–1.5 mm, ellipsoid–subglobose, glabrous, trilocular; seeds

biseriate, 2(3)–4 seeds per locule, 0.4–1 × 0.4–1 mm, testa grey–black, flaky

depositions forming reticulations, obovoid–ovoid (rarely angular–pyramidal),

hilum punctiform, embroyotega dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open by 10 am and fade by

12.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to Western Ghats: Maharashtra

(Map 12C), fairly occurs in rains, in grassy slopes, high to medium altitude

lateritic plateaus.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Morjai, Gaganbawada, Kolhapur district,

22nd Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 74; Morjai, Gaganbawda, Kolhapur district, 21st

Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0910; Malatpur, Wai, Satara district, 16th Sept, 2010,

179

M. D. Nandikar 423; Manohargad, Kudal, Sindhudurg district, 2nd Oct. 2011, M.

D. Nandikar 517 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Maharashtra– Kukadi River, Junnar, Pune district,

13th Oct. 1962, R. S. Rao 81943 (BSI).

Note– 3 to 4 biseriately arranged seeds, flaky depositions on the seed surface are

the only characters make it distinct from its typical variety.

var. semiteres Fig. 47; Plate 24 C, 35 (A–C)

A annual herb of 4–30 cm in height; internodes reddish–green; stem

sheathed at the base ovary elliptic–ovate, pale green–maroon; style central–

enantiostyly; stigma papillate. Capsule 1–1.8 × 0.5–1.2 mm, ellipsoid–subglobose,

glabrous, trilocular. Seeds 6–8 per locule, biseriate, 0.2–1 × 0.2–0.8 mm, rounded–

elliptic, or trapezoidal–irregularly angular; testa dark brown, or grey, or black,

smooth or variously striated.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open between 9 am to 12

noon.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka,

Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu (Map 12D); East Africa. Low to medium

altitude lateritic, on the murum rocks, margins of shallow pool, in small rain pools,

in saturated soil on edge of a muddy pool on Murum rocks, in moist soil on the

fringe of seasonal rain pond, uncleared land where vegetation is less and grasses

are shorter, in vicinity of rock outcrops with densely packed individuals.

Specimens collected– Goa– Bambolim, University of Goa, 16th Sept 2010, M. D.

Nandikar 543 (SUK). Krarnataka– Badami, Bagalkot district, 11th Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 492 (SUK). Maharashtra– Shelap, Radhanagari, 28th Sept 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 149; Achirne, Sawantwadi, 1st Oct. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 57; Faye,

Bhudargad, 24th July 2009, M. D. Nandikar 142; Panhala, Sardesai MS 316;

Durgawadi, Junnar, Pune district, Dec. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 117; Agriculture

college, Kolhapur, 19th Sept. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 0829 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Osmania University, Hydrabad,

17th Sept. 1961, R. S. Rao s. n. (BSI). Karnataka– Kankumbi, 12th Aug 2009;

180

Chandore ANC815 (SUK). Maharashtra– Marve Road, Malad, Mumbai district,

7th Aug. 1957, G. L. Shah 77487; Wada and Suriamal, Thane district, 31st Aug.

1959, H. Santapau 77490; Saswad to Purandhar road, Pune district, 3rd Oct. 1959,

Y. A. Marchant 77491; Kolhapur, Aug. 1927, R. D. Ackland 77495 (BLAT); Kas,

Satara district, 22nd Sept 2009, Lekhak MLL288 (SUK).

21. Murdannia simplex (Vahl) Brenan in Kew Bull. 7: 186. 1952; Rao and

Kammathy in J. Bombay Nat. His. Soc. 59: 66. 1962; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.

Enum. Monocot. 29.1989.

Commelina simplex Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 177. 1805–06. Type– Guinea: West Africa,

without date Thonning 75 [syntype–C designated by Brenan, 1952:187].

Aneilema sinicum Ker Gawl., Bot. Reg. t. 659. 1822; Clarke in DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 212. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 379. 1897; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay,

2: 789. 1908; Fischer, in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1543, 1546. 1931. Type– from

China.

Commelina sinica (Ker Gawl) Roem. and Schult., Syst. Veg., Mant. 1 Addit. 1,

376. 1822.

Aneilema secundm Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 31, t. 2075. 1853. Type–from India.

Aneilema sinicum Ker Gawl. var. simplex (Vahl) C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr.

Phan. 3: 212. 1881.

Pheneilema sinicum (Ker Gawl.) G. Brückn., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 61, Beibl. 137, 69.

1926.

Aneilema rigidum Blatt., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 73, f. 1,2. 1928. Type–

India. Blatter and McCann s.n. (BLAT).

Murdannia sinica (Ker Gawl) G.Brückn. in Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 15a: 173. 1930.

Fig. 49; Plate 24 G, 33 (P–R)

Tufted, perennial herb with basal rosette. Roots fibrous, cylindrical, more

than 2 mm thick. Rosette leaves linear–lanceolate, 10–30 × 1–1.8 cm, glabrous,

apex acute to acuminate, base narrow, margin entire; cauline leaves 4–10 × 0.7–1

cm, lanceolate, base rounded to amplexicaul, sheathed; sheaths long, closely or

scarred above, cilate at apex, 1.5–2 cm, margin undulate to entire; flowering shoots

181

in the lateral rosette, ascending become decumbent to erect, rooting at the nodes.

Inflorescences terminal, consisting single to branched, peduncled cincinni;

peduncle c 1–4 cm long, closely scarred above, glabrous; cincinni few to many

flowered; bracteoles 2–5 cm, caducous. Flowers 1.5 mm wide, pedicilate; pedicel

0.2–0.5 mm long, green to purple; sepals ovate–lanceolate, cuneate at apex, c 5

mm long; petals exceeding the sepals, obovate to suboribcular, pale lavender to

blue; stamens 2, twice as long as the staminodes, with bearded filaments;

staminodes 4, one antesepalous with rudimentary antherode or sterile knob,

filaments bearded, remaining three antepetalous with glabrous filaments and tri-

lobed white antherodes; ovary ovoid, green, style enantiostylous, stigma simple.

Capsule ovoid to subglobbose, 5 × 3–3.5 mm, brown, glabrous, locules 2 seeded.

Seeds uniseriate, obovoid–ellipsoid in outline, 1.6–2 × 1.5 mm, testa brown,

faintly rugose, foveolate–scorbiculate, or reticulate–granulate, with pale falky

material around the depressions, hilum linear oblong, embryotega semidorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– September to January; flowers open by 1 pm and fade by

4 pm.

Distribution and ecology– it commonly occurs at high to medium altitude lateritic

ranges of Western Ghats and hill slopes of north Esatern parts of India: Arunachal

Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu (Map 12E);

Tropical Asia and Africa (Faden, 2000).

Specimen collected– Maharashtra: Kas plateu, Satara district, 07th Sept. 2009, M.

D. Nandikar 0905 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Benne Forest, Wynad, 19th July 1960, K.

subramaniyan 30570 (MH). Tamil Nadu– Siruvani, Coimbatore district, without

date, A. N. Henry 77340 (BLAT); Eastern Slopes, Sanjeen Mala, Rajapalayam,

without date, E. Vajraveli 77164 (MH). Maharashtra– on the way to Kates point,

Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, without date, P. V. Bole 77539; Mahabaleshwar,

without date, T. Cooke 77543 [from College of Science, Pune] (BLAT).

Meghalaya– BSI Campus, 13th June 1978, Abdul Majeed 23816 (CALI).

Note– Apparently similar to Murdannia loriformis, but differs in more robust habit

and broad leaves. However, further detailed investigation of M. loriformis and M.

182

simplex will help to solve taxonomic recognition of both the species. Specimen

placed at K [Scaetta, H., 3061] has been determinavit by Brenan in 1951 as a type

specimen of Commelina simplex by Thonning from Guinea, even his proposed

combination [Murdannia simplex 1952: 186] based on the same specimen. Scaetta

(collected in 1937) originally collected while designated type specimen by Brenan

was from Ivory Coast of West Africa, not of Thonning from Guinea, so the

specimen can’t be served as original type, it should be served as any type, because

all the Thonnig collections were placed at C, and many of them are determinivit by

Brenan. All the collections made by Thonning and cited by Vahl as Commelina

simplex were syntypes.

22. Murdannia spirata (L.) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 173. 1930; H.

Hara, Fl. E. Himal. 402. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989.

Commelina spirata L., Mant. Pl. 2: 176. 1771. Type– Anonymous, without

locality, Linnean Herbarium 65.15 (LINN).

Aneilema spiratum (L.) Sweet, Hort. Suburb. Land. 12.1808; Clarke in DC.

Monogr. Phan. 3: 207. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 377. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres.

Bombay 2: 787. 1908; Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Plain 3(2): 276. 1915.

Commelina nana Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 176. 1820. Type– East India, Roxburgh s.n.

(K).

Aneilema nana (Roxb.) Kunth. Enum. Pl. 4: 65. 1843; Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 31,

t. 2077. 1853; Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 322. 1864; Clarke, Commel. et. Cryt. Beng.,

t. 18. 1874.

Aneilema canaliculatum Dalz. in Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 137. 1851.

Type– India, Malwan, s. d., Dalzell 1472 (holo–K).

Diffusely spreading annual herb with or without definite base, shoots erect to

ascending, usually rooting at the nodes, not deeply penetrate in soil, roots thin,

fibrous. Stem much branched, internodes short, 1.5–3 cm, striate, hairy along the

margin, green. Leaves sessile to subsessile, sheathed, sheath 0.2 cm long, ciliate or

variously pubescent, basal leaves broadly linear to lanceolate, descrescent leaves

on erect flowering shoot are ovate, 1–4 × 0.2–1.2 cm, both the surfaces glabrous,

183

base semi cordate or rounded, apex acute, margin undulate or entire. Inflorescence

terminal and axillary panicle; cincinni 4–6 cm long and many flowered; bracteoles

spaced 1–5 mm, persistent, cup shaped. Flowers pedicilate, pedicel 0.5–1 cm long;

sepals 3, elliptic to oblong elliptic, 2–4 mm long; petals 3, c 4–6 mm long, obovate

to orbicular or elliptic, liliac to lavender or blue, with or without contrasting veins;

stamens 3, filaments bearded, anthers elliptic; staminodes 3, filaments bearded or

glabrous, antherodes trilobed, white or yellow, ovary ovoid, enantiostylous,

stigma simple. Capsule ovoid–ellipsoid, 2.5–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm, brown glabrous.

Seeds uniseriate, 2–7 per locule, obovoid–ovoid or trapezoidal in outline, 0.4–1 ×

0.7–1 mm, testa brown, rarely gray, foveolate–reticulate, falsifoveate–scorbiculate,

verrucose or acellate, with raised warts and short ridges, hilum punctiform–elliptic,

embryotega semi-dorsal–dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open by 9.00 am and fade

by 1.00–2.00 pm

Distribution and ecology– Throughout the range of the species as whole (Faden,

2000); very common annual found in wayside ditches, roadside, moist open places,

in seasonal pools, wastelands along with or without M. nudiflora and M. dimorpha.

1. Plants with or without definte base; petals blue without striations; antherodes white

………………………………………………………………………..…… var. spirata

– Plants without definte base; petals blue and striated; antherodes yellow–cream

yellow…..………………………………………………………......…..var. flavanthera

var. spirata Fig. 51; Plate 25 A, 34 (A–C)

Tufted annual herb with or without definite base; erect to ascending; root

fibrous; leaves linear-lanceolate–ovate, (0.4)–0.7–4(–5) × 0.3–0.8(–1) cm; petals

obovote–orbicular, liliac to lavender; stamen filaments sparsely bearded,

staminode filament glabrous, antherode white; capsule ovoid to ellipsoid; Seeds

uniseriate, 2–7 per locule, obovoid–ovoid, or trapezoidal in outline, 0.4–1 × 0.7–1

184

mm, testa brown, rarely gray, foveolate–reticulate, falsifoveate–scorbiculate,

verrucose, or acellate.

Distribution– Throughout India (Map 12F); abundant in waste land, crop fields,

etc.

Specimens collected– Karnataka– Badami, Bagalkot district, 11th Nov. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 1017 (SUK). Maharashtra– Shivaji University campus, Kolhapur,

25th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar 0904; Gadhinglaj–Ajara road, Kolhapur district,

M. D. Nandikar 0918; Faye, Budhargad tehsil, Kolhapur district, 4th Aug. 2010, M.

D. Nandikar 1007; Arey Milk colony, Goregaon, Mumbai, 18th June 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 1102 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Nisamsagar (Near lake), 30

miles away from Hydrabad, 15th July 1962, R S. Rao, 21386 (BSI). Goa– Pale

village, North Goa, 2nd Sept. 1963, K. C. Kanodia 181970; Dudhsagar water falls

[Fl. of Goa], Kolem, 17th Sept. 1970, M. Y. Ansari 124005; Anvaldem [Molem],

Sept. 1974, N. P. Singh 133024 (BSI). Karnataka– Megarhalle road, Agumbe,

Mysore district, 31st Oct. 1960, R. S. Rao 68018 (BSI). Maharashtra– Khandala,

Pune district, March 1917, H. Santapau 77561; Matheran, Raigad district, 6th Oct.

1959, N. A. Irani 77576 (BLAT). South Andaman– Corbyn’s care in Coconut

plantation, 31st Oct. 1973, N. P. Balkrishnan 1794 (PBL). North Andaman–

Diglipur 4 wasteland, 5th Dec. 1976, N. P. Balkrishnan and N. G. Nair 11518

(PBL).

Note– Murdannia spirata (L.) G. Brückn. is one of the common and widely

distributed variable species in India. Many inconsistent morphological forms have

been observed within the studied populations, under cultivation many of them

were not retained their natural trait. Individuals collected from Orissa state, India

able to hold their natural characteristics and only these are more clearly definable

than others and easily recognizable in the field is described below as M. spirata

var. flavanthera Nandikar and Gurav.

var. flavanthera Nandikar and Gurav var. nov.

Fig. 50; Plate 25 B, 34 (D–F)

185

Type– India. Orissa. Puri district. Nimapada. On the way to Nimapada to Pipili,

c 20°07′ N 85°09′ E, 10 m alt., open sandy plots and area, 2nd Dec. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar and S. S. Kamble 1130 (holotype–CAL; isotypes– BLAT, BSI, CALI,

SUK, US).

Tufted annual–perennial (apparently like) herb without definite base; new

plants produced from the swollen nodes forming a keiki; roots fibrous; stem repent

with erect flowering shoots; leaves linear-lanceolate–ovate, (0.5–)0.8–4.5(–5) ×

0.3–0.8(–1) cm; petals obovote–orbicular, liliac to lavender with dark to faint

contrasting veins; stamen filaments sparsely bearded, staminode filament glabrous,

antherode yellow to creamy yellow; capsule ovoid to ellipsoid; seeds 5–6 per

locule, testa smooth–alveolate, or reticulate, or areolate–reticulate (under SEM),

slightly raised warts.

Flowering and fruiting– September to February; flowers open by 11 am, fade by

2.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– It appears to be endemic to India: Orissa (Map 13A),

locally abundant on the margins of ponds in sandy or muddy soil, and abandoned

rice fields.

Specimens collected– INDIA: Orissa– Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack,

20°45’N 85°90’E, 5th Dec. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1131 (CALI, SUK, US);

Kandarpur pond, Cuttuck, 5th Dec. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1132

(SUK); Hatabaradi, Chilika Tehsil, Khordha District, 6th Dec. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar 1133; on the way to Bhejiput to Balantar, Ganjam district, Aska Tehsil,

7th Dec. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1134 (SUK).

Note– This variety is apparently similar to Sri Lankan and Indian plants of

Murdannia dimorphoides, M. dimorphoides var. perenis Faden, M. striatipetala

and M. spirata var. parviflora. But distinctiveness of var. flavanthera is in the

presence of indefinite base in the plants, annual to perennial, repent habit, new

plants produced from the swollen nodes forming a keiki, obovate–orbicular petals

with faint contrasting veins, sparsely bearded stamens and glabrous staminode

with yellow to creamy yellow coloured antherodes, seeds 5–6 per locule, testa

smooth – alveolate or reticulate or areolate–reticulate (under SEM). Yellow

186

coloured antherodes known in Sri Lankan M. dimorphoides var. dimorphoides and

var. perennis (Faden, 2000) but definite habit, linear–oblong–lanceolate, 1.5–11 ×

0.2–0.6 cm leaves, densely bearded stamens, 3–4 seeded locule. Striated petals

also characteristics of M. spirata var. parviflora and M. striatipetala but definite

habit, stamen filament densely bearded below with suppressed hairs, white

antherode make the var. flavanthera distinct. Specimen placed at P, sh. no.

P02189662, from Vietnam: Tonkin: Taai Wong Mo Shan (July 1939), by W. T.

Tsang 29380 is apparently similar to variety flavanthera in habit and leaf

characters. Further studies from Vietnam and its vicinity will help to acertain its

distribution and taxonomic status.

23. Murdannia striatipetala Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14:

163, 2000; Nandikar and Gurav in J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 108: 67, 2011. Type–

Sri Lanka, Jaffna district, Arukuveli, Faden and Faden 77/202 (US photo).

Fig. 52; Plate 25 C, 34 (G–I)

Annual herb of definite to indefinite base. Roots fibrous. Shoots erect to

ascending, rooting at lower nodes. Leaves decrescent on the flowering shoots;

sheaths c 5 mm long, cilate at apex; leaf 1–5 × 0.2–0.5 cm, lanceolate or oblong–

lanceolate, margin undulate to entire, apex acute–acuminate, base amplexicaul,

surfaces glabrous. Inflorescens terminal and axiallry panicle, consist of 2 or more

pedunculate cincinni; peduncle c 5 cm long; cincinni c 5 cm long, few to many

flowered, bracteolate; bracteole minute, ovate. Flowers pedicilate; pedicel c 0.5–1

cm long, glabrous; sepals 4–5 mm long, elliptic; petals orbicular, c 6 mm long,

dark to pale lavender with dark, contrasting veins, margin crenulate; stamens 3,

bending outwardly, filaments bearded with short appressed hairs below half of

filament, anthers ovate to elliptic; staminodes 3, filament glabrous, antherodes tri-

lobed, white; ovary green, ovoid, style enantiostylous, stigma simple. Capsule

oblong–ellipsoid, 3–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm, brown, glabrous. Seeds uniseraite, 4–7 per

locule, obovoid–ovoid, or trapezoidal in outline, 0.6 × 0.5 mm, testa grey–grey

brown, alveolate–colliculate, or reticulate, hilum punctiform–elliptic, embryotega

semi-dorsal–dorsal.

187

Flowering and fruiting– November to March; flowers open by 11 am and fade by

2.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (Map 13B); Sri

Lanka; seasonally swampy palces, vicinity of waterholes, moist open sandy sea

faces, in area of 30–60 m from sea level.

Specimens collected– INDIA: Tamil Nadu– Thirmalvollyal, Chennai, on the bank

of Red hill lake, 10th Feb. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 204 (CALI, SUK).

Note–Murdannia striatipetala is a dazzling but little known species of southern

India. It was described by Faden (2001) based on his earlier collection from Jaffna,

Sri Lanka, in 1977. According to him, M. striatipetala closely related to M.

spirata, but characters such as definite base, narrow leaves, dark-veined petals, and

short appressed hairs on the stamen filaments had made it distinct. In addition,

restricted habitats of M. striatipetala against widespread habitats of M. spirata was

notable. Inflorescence of M. dimorphoides closely resembles M. striatipetala. `

This species was rediscovered after a lapse of centuray during present

investigation.

24. Murdannia triquetra (Wall. ex C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. Nat. Pfl. Syst. (ed. 2)

15a: 173. 1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989.

Aneilema triquetrum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 3: 208. 1881. Type–

Bangladesh, Sylhet [former Indian Orientalis, in provincis Sylhet], Wall. Cat.

Wallich 5220 (E).

Phaeneilema triquetrum (Wall. ex C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. Notizbl. Bot. Gart.

Berlin-Dahlem 10: 56. 1927.

Erect to ascending, annual or perennial herbs with fibrous roots. Stems

much branched, 20–40 cm; internodes long, line of cilia along the margins. Leaves

sessile, leaf sheath, c 1–1.5 cm, linear to lanceolate or linear to elliptic, 2–6 × 0.5–

1 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate. Flowers pink, purple-red, blue to

purple in terminal and axillary cincinni, usually 1-flowered, flowers pedunculate,

peduncle 1–4 cm long; sepals oblong, 4–6 mm, green; petals pink, purple-red, or

blue-purple, obovate; stamens 3, filaments densely bearded; staminodes 3;

188

antherodes sagittate. Capsule globose, trilocular, 5–7 × 3–4 mm, obtuse or acute

apex. Seeds 3 per locule, uniseriate, testa brown to gray, quadrangular, reticulate,

pitted, rugose, or verrucose.

Flowering and fruiting– September to January.

Distribution and ecology– India: Assam, Uttar Pradesh (Map 13C); south East

Asia; in wet places, along the road sides.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Assam– Dibru reserve forest, 20th Oct. 1960, G.

Panigrahi 21620; Dibrugarh, G. Panigrahi s. n. (ASSAM). Uttar Pradesh–

Lakhimpur district, Kankan Pagag s. n. (ASSAM).

Note– Murdannia triquetra listed by Karthikeyan et al., (1989), with its

distribution based on Clarke’s Monographae Phanerogamarum (1881). But Clarke

cited Wallich [Wallich 5220 (E)] specimen in his combination viz. Aneilema

triquetrum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke and originally it was collected by Wallich from

Sylhet (Clarke has written ‘et Assam’) and Sylhet is now part of Bangladesh. Very

handful collections have seen in Indian herbarium and all of these from north

Eastern parts of India.

25. Murdannia vaginata (L.) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 173. 1930;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev.

Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 166. 2000.

Commelina vaginata L., Mant. Pl. 2: 177. 1771. Type– Without provenance or

collector, Linnean Herbarium 65.10 (LINN).

Aneilema vaginatum (L.) Wall., Cat. 5212 (p.181). 1831–32]; Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind.

Or. 6: 31, t. 2076. 1853; Hassk., Commel. Ind. 34. 1870; Clarke, J. Linn. Soc. Bot.

11: 450. 1871; Clarke, Commel. et Cyrt. Beng. t. 23. 1874; Clarke in DC.,

Monogr. Phan. 3: 216. 1881; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 381. 1894; Cooke, Fl.

Bombay Pres. 2: 781. 1908; Duthie, Fl. Upp. Gang. Plain 3(2): 278. 1915.

Dictyospermum vaginatum (L.) Hong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12: 477. 1974.

Fig. 53; Plate 25 D, 34 (M–O)

A small, erect, annual herb up to 60 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stem not much

branched, if branched branching from the base, green to purple couloured, striate,

189

branches end with filiform peduncles with a distinct flowering branch. Leaves

linear–lanceolate, 6–20 × 0.4–0.7 cm, both the surfaces glabrous, apex acuminate,

base rounded, margin entire, sheath short, upto 0.5 cm, ciliate. Inflorescence

terminal and axillary, composed of 2–3 fascicles of 2–10 flowered cincinni

enclosed in largely ribbed, glabrous, bladeless sheaths, 0.8–2 cm long. Flowers

pedicilate, pedicel jointed in the middle, 2–5 mm long, glabrous; sepals 3.5–5 mm

long, ovate to oblong, three nerved, green with purple dots, densely to sparsely

pubescent; petals 3, orbicular or obovate to rhombic, blue–lavender or liliac or

rarely white; stamens 2, filaments densely bearded, anthers elliptic to ovate,

yellow; staminodes 4, bearded, antherodes trilobed, yellow; ovary green, ovoid,

style enantiostylus, stigma simple, white. Capsule stipitate, ovoid, 4 × 3–3.5 mm,

brown, glabrous. Seeds one per locule, ellipsoid or broadly ellipsoid in outline,

dorsiventrally compressed, 1.7–2 × 1.3–1.8 mm, testa grey or grey brown,

reticulate–colliculate covered with a raised irregular reticulate appendages, hilum

linear, embryotega dorsal, raised in discoid cavity.

Flowering and fruiting– September to December; flowers open between 9 am to

1–1.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Throughout India (Map 13D); Myanmar [Kurz 2645:

CAL], Sri Lanka, Australia; common in grasslands, moist places, edges of ditches.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Achirne, Vaibhavwadi, Sindhudurg district,

17th Sept. 2009, M. D. Nandikar 0908; Faye, Bhudargad tehsil, Kolhapur district,

4th Aug. 2010, M. D. Nandikar 1003 (SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh– Tada near Kambakam, Nellore

district, 1946, T. N. Venkatanathachari 452 (Herbarium of Presidency College,

Chennai). Karnataka– Karwar, Uttar Kannada, Oct. 1919, Hall and Mc Cann

77612 (BLAT); Bidi, Belgaum district, very robust habit, 2500 ft., Sept. 1907,

Herb. L. J. Sedgwick 3002 (Herb. Pres. College, Chennai). Kerala–Karimpuzha,

Periyar, 12th Dec. 1980, Mathew 32313 (CALI); Tillichurry, Cannanore district,

17thAug. 1979, V. S. Ramachandran 120113, 120114; Karumkutty, Chalakudi

Range, Trichur distirct. 11thDec. 1965, K. M. Sebestine 51935 (MH).

Maharashtra– Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, Mumbai district, 26th Aug.

190

1956, J. Fernandez 77613; Tungar Hill, Vasai, Thane district, 21st Aug. 1956, H.

Santapau 77614 (BLAT). South Andaman– Viper Island, 29th July 1978, P. Basu

14797; Choudhari, 28th Sept. 1973, N. P. Balakrishnan 1206 (PBL). Tamil Nadu–

Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district, 3rd Feb. 1957, B. G. L. Swamy 851 [x 2]

(Herb. Pres. College, Chennai).

Note– On of the distinct species of Murdannia, identified easily by its distinctive

inflorescences i.e. flowers enclosed in prominently ribbed bract, two seeded

capsule and elliptic seeds. Faden (2000), described one more variety from Sri

Lanka, M. vaginata var. glabrisepala and quoted, “it occurs in India also”, we

never found glabrous pedicels and smooth seeds in Indian plants, therefore exluded

this variety from the present treatment.

26. Murdannia versicolor (Dalzell) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 173.

1930; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989.

Aneilema versicolor Dalz. in Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 137. 1851;

Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 253. 1861; Hook. f, Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 378. 1894; Cooke,

Fl. Bombay Pres. 2: 788. 1908. Type– India, Dalzell s. n. (K).

Fig. 54; Plate 25 E, 34 (J–L)

A small herb with weak suberect branches. Root fibrous; stems 10–20 cm

long, many from the base, deeply striate, glabrous or hispid. Leaves alternate,

bifarious, 2.5–5 × 1.0-1.5 cm, flat, oblong–lanceolate, acuminate, smooth, stem

clasping, 5–7 nerved; sheaths rather long, furrowed, more or less hispid. Flowers

in axiallary 2–6 flowered cyme, ochre-yellow, bluish when withering; pedicels

axillary, jointed about the middle solitary; sepals oblong, obtuse, concave; petals 3,

ochra yellow, obovate; stamens 3, spreading; filaments bearded in lower parts;

staminodes 3, shorter than the stamens; filaments sparingly bearded. Ovary

trigonous, style enantiostylous. Capsule ovoid, 5–6 × 2 mm, brown, glabrous.

Seeds 7–9 per locule, uniseriate, 0.7–1 × 0.6 mm, cuboid–rectangular, or obovoid

in outline, testa gray to light brown, rugose– ruminate, or reticulate–foveolate,

warty, covered with white flaky granulates, hilum elliptic, embryotega dorsal.

191

Flowering and fruiting– August to December; flowers open by 9 am and fade by

12.30 to 1.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology– India: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil

Nadu (Map 13E); Myanmar [Kurz 2644] and Philippines [Reillo 19171; Ramos

1980 (P)]; common annaual of low to medium altitude lateritic land, grassy plains,

undergrowth of forest, along the seasonal ponds and streams.

Specimens collected– Maharashtra: Pachgani table land, Satara district, 07th Sept.

2010, M. D. Nandikar 0906; Achrine, Vaibhavwadi, Sindhudurg district, 17th Sept.

2009, M. D. Nandikar 0907; Vengurla to Kudal along the road side ditches,

Sindhudurg district, 14th Sept. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1108; Manohar Mansantosh

Gad, Kudal tehsil, Sindhudurg district, 2nd Oct. 2011, M. D. Nandikar 1114 (CALI,

SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Karnataka– Karwar, Uttar Kannada district, 28th

Aug. 1885, W. A. Talbot 1303 (CAL). Kerala– Silent Valley National Park,

Palghat district, 10th Oct. 1965, E. Vajravelu 26120 (CAL). Maharashtra–

Khandala, river Beds, Pune district, 8th Nov. 1943, H. Santapau 77623; Dapoli,

Ratnagiri district, Aug. 1922, R. D. Ackland 77632; Sanjay Gandhi National Park,

Borivali, Mumbai district, 4th Sept. 1957, P. S. Herbert 77633 (BLAT).

Note– One of the common annual of Western Ghats, many times confused with M.

crocea subsp. ochracea, but easily distinguished by more ovate leaves and

uniseriate, cuboid–rectangular seeds. Only two plants from Myanmar [Arracan

(Rakhine State), Kolodyne valley, Kurz s. n.; Rangoon Lake, Kurz 2644] are

placed at CAL, deposited as M. crocea subsp. ochracea, but identified as M.

versicolor only after dissecting the capsule with uniseriate seeds, which confirms

the occurrence of M. versicolor in Myanmar.

27. Murdannia zeylanica (C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. in Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a:

173. 1930; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 166, 2000.

Aneilema zeylanicum Calrke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 204. 1881; Hook. f, Fl. Brit.

Ind. 6: 376. 1894. Lectotype– Thwaites in C. P. 3025; Sri Lanka (K; ILT: BM,

192

BOG, G, GH, P, PDA, SING) [lectotype designated by Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl.

Ceylon 14: 142. 2000].

Murdannia zeylanica (C. B. Clarke) G. Brückn. var. longiscapa (C. B. Clarke)

Raiz. In Indian Forester 84: 499. 1958; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.

30. 1989.

Aneilema zeylanicum var. longiscapa Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 204. 1881

Aneilema dimorphum Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 322. 1864, pro parte (non syn. A.

paniculatum Wight; non Dalz., 1851). Fig. 55; Plate 34 (P–R)

Erect to ascending, annual (perennial? Faden, 2000) herb. Roots fibrous.

Stem with long internodes and swollen nodes. Leaves alternate, sheaths 2–3 cm,

pubescent or glabrous, ciliate at apex, leaf lamina ovate to oblong, elliptic or

lanceolate, 2–15 × 1–4 cm, apex acute, base amplexicaul, surface glabrous to

puberulous, margin undulate to entire. Inflorescences terminal and axiallry

panicles, bracts foliaceous, 0.5–2 cm long, bracteoles 3–5 mm long. Flowers

pedicilate, pedicel 2–7 mm long, glabrous; sepals c 4 mm long, elliptic, white–

green; petals 5–6 mm ovate to elliptic, white; stamens 3, on one side of a flower,

filaments 3–4 mm long, densely bearded, anthers elliptic; staminodes 3, filament

sparsely bearded, antherode tri-lobed, yellow; ovary pale green, style glabrous,

stigma simple–capitates. Capsule oblong–ellipsoid, 4–7 × 2.5 mm, brown,

glabrous. Seeds uniseriate, 3–6 per locule, cuboid–rectangular, or trapezoidal in

outline, 0.6–1.5 × 1–1.2 mm, testa gray–brown, tuberculate, or reticulate–

scorbiculate, or reticulate–foveolate, flattish, raised ridges and warts, sometimes

white farinose around the hilum, hilum elliptic–linear, on a longitudinal ridge,

embryotega dorsal–semi-dorsal.

Flowering and fruiting– June to February, flower open by 9.30–10 am and fade by

12.30–1 pm.

Distribution and ecology– Southern India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Map 13F); Sri

Lanka; along the perennial water streams, moist and shady places of evergreen

forests.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Kerala– Agasthyamalai, Allayar, without date, N.

Mohanan 10524; Mlappara, Periyar, 10th Sept. 1994, Jomy A. 14491;

193

Vallakkadaru, Periyar, 18th Aug. 1996, Jomy A. 16395 (CALI); near Tirtakari falls,

Tennamalai, Travancore, Dec. 1983, E. Barnes 87269; Nedumgayan–Meenmutty,

Malappuram district, 13th March 1984, N. C. Nair 137139; Concan (Konkan)

Ghat?, 20th July 1887, C. A. Barber 72935; way to Pampa Moozhiar, 425mts,

Pathanamthitta district, 10th Jan 1988, N. Anilkumar 146601 (MH). Tamil Nadu–

Kodaikanal Ghat, Dindigul district, 2nd July 1901, Bourne 2073; Gudalur, Salisury

Estate, Nilgiris district, 20th Sept. 1928, S. K. Raju 85927; Moyar, Nilgiris Hills,

3rd Oct. 1956, N. P. Balakrishnan 97480; Near Benne Rest House, Nilgiris district,

16th July 1960, K. Subramayam 20389, 20388; along the streams in Vellimalai,

Madurai district, 1460 m, 29th April, 1960, B. V. Shetty 20340, 20341;

Mahendragiri slope, very common, Kanyakumari district, 29th July 1966, B. V.

Shetty 61361, 61362; Periachoondi–Ouchterlony Valley, Nilgiris district, 1000 m,

27th July 1970, J. L. Ellis s. n.; Cherambadi area, Nilgiri district, 920 m, 28th July

1972, E. Vajravelu 80637; Cherambadi area, Nilgiris district, 28th Jan. 1972, E.

Vajravelu 80636; Cherambadi, Nilgiri district, Nov. 1884, G. S. Gamble 72940.

(MH).

Note– In India, this species referred as a var. longicapsa, but we does not find any

qualitative differences between Indian [N. Mohanan 10524 (CALI)] and Sri

Lankan [G. Davidse and Sumithraarachchi 8791 (CAL)] plants, therefore all the

collections from India, treated as synonym here rather than var. longicapsa.

Excluded taxa–

1. Murdannia crocea (Griff.) Faden, Kew Bull. 32: 188 1977; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989. Type– Myanmar [Burma]: South Myanmar.

Mergui [Myeik] Griffith 5497 (K).

Aneilema crocea Griff. Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: 235. 1851.

Aneilema pilosum Wall. Cat. 5219. 1831. Type from Myanmar [Burma]: Dawei

[Tavoy].

Aneilema ochraceum var. crocea Clarke in Monogr. Phan. 214. 1881; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India 6: 380. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28. 1989.

194

Type– MYANMAR? and INDIA?: Tenasserim? and Andmans?, without date,

Herb. Helfer 5497 (K).

subsp. crocea

Description after Clarke (1881).

Aquatic herb, leaves ovate, subacute, pedicel solitary or 2–nate, sepals

densely pubescent, capsule narrower.

Specimens examined– MYANMAR? and INDIA?: Tenasserim? and Andmans?,

without date, Herb. Helfer 5497 (P).

2. Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Mazz, Symb. Sin. 7(5): 1243. 1936; Karthik.

et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 29. 1989.

Aneilema keisak Hassk. Commelin. Ind. 32. 1870. Type– Probably from Japan

Aneilema taquetii H. Lév. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8: 284. 1910. Type– Quelpaert,

in silvis Hallaisan, Korea, Taquet 1547 (holo–E).

This is the exclusive species of Eastern Asia, earlier cited occurance for the

species in India is doubtful. Not single collections have seen from India.

9 . P O L L I A

Thunb., Nov. Gen. Pl. 1: 11. 1781. Type––Pollia japonica Thunb.

Aclisia E. Mey. ex C. Presl. Reliq. Haenk. 1: 137. 1827; Brückn. in Engl. Bot.

Jahrb. LXI, Beibl. 137: 66. 1926. Type–– Aclisia sorzogonensis E. Mey. ex C.

Presl.

Diffusely branched, perennial herb; roots fibrous; leaves spirally arranged,

petiolate; inflorescences thyrses, terminal or terminal and axillary, composed of

few to many cymes; flowers actinomorphic to zygomorphic; sepals free, suequal,

sepaline or petaline; petals free, equal or subequal, sometimes shortly two clawed,

white to pale mauve or pale blue; stamens 6, equal or unequal, rarely one stamen

lacking or 3 stamens are apparently looks like staminode, filament free, glabrous;

ovary trilocular, glabrous, locules 1–10 or many ovulate; fruits trilocular,

indehiscent, berry like, globose to ellipsoid, lustrous, metallic blue or gray blue or

195

black, locules 1–10 seeded; seeds biseriate or rarely uniseriate, polygonal in

outline, dorsiventrally compressed, hilum punctiform to linear, embryotega dorsal.

x = 16 ((Faden, 1998 and 2000).

About seventeen species, pantropical to warm temperate. Mainly diversified

in Asia, Pollia americana Faden a single species was found in New world

(Panama). Five species enumerated by Karthikeyan et al. (1989) for India, are

illustrated in details in present treatment with their description, nomenclature and

distribution.

1. Ascending herb; flowers sessile in extremely condensed panicle…….......P. thyrsiflora

– Erect to ascending herb; flowers pedicelate in loose panicle…………...…………..…..2

2. Seeds 4–6 per capsule …………………………………………….....….P. pentasperma

– Seeds more than 10 per capsule ……………………………………..………..………..3

3. Inflorescence exceeded than distal leaves; peduncle longer than 10 cm…P. secundiflra

– Inflorescence shorter than distal leaves; peduncle less than 9 cm………………….....4

4. Robust herb, up to 200 cm high; leaves not crowded at apex, ovate to oblong–ovate to

lanceolate; stamens 6, all fertile ……………………..…………………….P. hasskarlii

– Robust small herb, 50–70 cm high; leaves crowded towards apex, broadly ovate or

elliptic; stamens 6, only three fertile…………………………………… P. subumbellata

1. Pollia hasskarlii R. S. Rao, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 25: 188. 1964;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30. 1989. Fig. 56 B; Plate 27 E

Stems upto 2 m high, jointed; nodes swollen with dry scales; internodes

shortened towards the apex and completely clothed with overlapping sheaths,

lower internodes c 6 cm long. Leaves not crowded towards apex, ovate to oblong–

ovate to lanceolate, 3–32(–35) × (1–) 4–10(12) cm, apex acute to acuminate, base

narrowed to in a sheathing petiole, attenuate. Inflorescence usually shorter than

distal leaves, in terminal panicle; peduncles stout, about 6 cm long, hairy;

bracteoles membranous, amplexicaul; pedicel stout (in fruit), 0.5–1 cm long,

pubescent. Flowers white; sepals 3, orbicular or ob-orbicular, green; petals

orbicular with distinct claw and short limb; stamens 6, all seems to be fertile,

filaments filiform; anthers yellow, elliptic bi-lobed; style short, erect with truncate

196

stigma. Fruit globose to ellipsoid, 5 mm across, deep blue or metallic black,

glossy, locule 5–8 seeded; seeds flat, angular, testa scorbiculate to alveolate or

reticulate, off-white to gray, embryotega deeply inserted, hilum rounded or curved

deeply inserted.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– Eastern parts of India: Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Sikkim, West Bengal (Map 14A); Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam;

rare, occurs in shady places along the streamsides or in dense forest’s

undergrowth.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Nagaland– Forest towards Westward from Meheri

road house, 29th March 1975, T. N. Hynniewta 56385 (ASSAM); Vekuhomi

village, Wokha district?, 1478 m, 4th Sept. 2011, Santosh Nampy 4756 (DEV).

Meghalaya– Badapani, Shillong, 15th March 1916, Kanjilal 6991 (ASSAM); Tura

peak, West Garo hills, Myrthong 1943 (NEHU, Shillong Herbarium). Mizoram–

Teirei to Dampa, Dampa Tiger Reserve, 30th Oct, 2007, B. K. Sinha 117165

(ASSAM). Sikkim– locality unknown, s. d., Anderosn s. n.; Kurz s. n.; Hooker f.,

s. n. (CAL). West Bengal– Kolbong, Darjiling?, 7th July 1862, T. Anderson 1264

(CAL).

2. Pollia pentasperma Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan. 3: 129. 1881. Hook. f., Fl. Brit.

India 6: 368. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30. 1989. Type––

India, Meghalaya, Shillong (Khasi Hills district), 4000 ft, 23rd Oct. 1872, C. B.

Clarke 1724A (K).

Aclisia pentasperma (Clarke) G. Brückn. in Engl. and Prantl, Pflanzenfam., ed. 2,

15a: 176. 1930.

A perennial herb; roots fibrous; stem erect (rarely twining with rooting at

basal nodes), simple, glabrous or finely pubescent; internodes up to 5 cm long.

Leaf sheaths c 2.5 cm long, pubescent, mouth ciliate; leaves petiolate, petiole 1 cm

long, ovate to obovate or lanceolate, 4–12 × 2–5(–6) cm, glabrous above, minutely

villous beneath, apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate. Inflorescences in terminal

panicle, 4–5 cm long, not exceeding from the apical leaves, densely pubescent;

197

Flowers bisexual, white?, pedicelate, pedicel 1–2 mm long; bracteate and

bracteolate, bracts 1–2 cm long, foliaceous, lanceolate; bracteoles c. 8 mm long,

oblong, ochreatae, imbricate, persistent; sepals 3, elliptic c. 2 mm, minutely

pubescent, it covers the capsule after maturity, grows up to 4 mm; petals white?;

stamens 6, nearly equal to subequal, probably 3–4 fertile with elliptic anthers,

while reaming with minute anthers assumed to be sterile. Fruit 4–5 mm long,

glossy white to off-white, ovoid, acute, smooth, brown, shining. Seeds c 3 × 2 mm,

compressed, minutely rugulose or striated, testa brown.

Flowering and fruiting– June to December.

Distribution and ecology– Apparently endemic to North Eastern India: Assam,

Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland (Map 14B); in evergreen forests

undergrowth.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Assam– Kidima forest? 23rd May 1895, 500 ft, for

Fl. Assam, Coll. by the reporter on Economic Products, Govt. of India, s. coll.

487152; Naga Hills, June 1936, N. L. Bor 21086 (ASSAM); Assam, district

unknown, s. d. s. coll. 487137, 38 (CAL). Meghalaya– Shillong, 4000 ft., Nov.

1890, for Fl. Khasi Hills, s. coll. 487135 (CAL). Manipur– Khongni Valley, 4000

ft., April 1882, George Watt 7437 (CAL). Mizoram– Lushai (Mizo) Hills, Fl

Lushai Hills, 30th July 1924, N. E. Parry 18 (CAL). Nagaland– Kohima, for Fl.

Naga Hills, 4000 ft., June 1866, Dr. Prain 487145, 46, 47 (CAL).

Note– The species is apparently looking like Dictyospermum ovalifolium in

vegetative stage. It is unclear, whether the name ‘pentasperma’ applied correctly?.

In some of the herbarium sheets seed number per fruit is varies from 4–6. Too few

live and herbarium specimens have been studied to draw any conclusion.

3. Pollia secundiflora (Blume) Bakh. f. in Backer, Beknopte Fl. Java. Afl. X a.

Fam. 211, 10 (in Clavi). 1949; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989.

Commelina secundiflora Blume, Enum. Pl. Jav. 1: 3. 1827. Type– Java, Salak,

Blume 713 [Herb. Lugd. Bat. 907, 135–620] (L).

Aclisia sorzogonensis E. Mey. In Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 138, t. 25. 1827. Type–

Philippines, Sorzogon I, Haenke s. n. (iso–B, sh. no. B 10 0296493).

198

Pollia sorzogonensis (E. May.) Steud., Nomencl., ed. 2, 2: 368. 1841; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India 6: 367. 1894.

Aneilema secundiflorum (Blume) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 69. 1843.

Pollia elegans Hassk. in Pl. Jungh. 149. 1852. Type– Java, 20th June 1851,

Junghuhn s.n. [Herb. Lugd. Bat. 899, 759–183] (L).

Pollia aclisia Hassk. in Pl. Jungh. 148. 1852.

Aclisia indica Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 6: 29, t. 2068. 1853. Type– from India.

Pollia indica (Wight) Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 323. 1864. Pollia sorzogonensis (E.

Mey.) Steud. var. indica (Wight) Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 127. 1881; Hook.

f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 368. 1894; Pollia secundiflora var. indica (Wight) Sanjappa in

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30. 1989.

Aclisia gigantea Hassk., Commel. Ind. 46. 1870. Lectotype– Borneo: Mt.

Sakumbang, Korthals s. n. (Herb. Lugd. Bat.–907,135-621), lectotype designated

by Faden, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 175. 2000. ––Pollia sorzogonensis (E.

Mey.) Steud. var. gigantea Clarke in DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 127. 1881; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. Ind. 6: 368. 1894.–– Pollia secundiflora var. gigantea (Hassk.) Sanjappa in

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30. 1989.

Aclisia secundiflora (Blume) Bakh. f., in Backer and Bakh. f., Fl. Java 3: 658.

1968.

Fig. 57; Plate 26, 27 A–B

Profusely branched, perennial herb with erect to ascending shoots; roots

thin fibrous; internodes comparatively long. Stem decumbent to erect with dry

scale like sheaths from the basal portion. Leaf sheaths 0.5–4 cm long, glabrous to

puberulous, ciliate at the mouth, leaves compactly arranged at the apex, lower

leaves shortly petiolate while upper ones sessile, lamina elliptic to lanceolate or

oblong, 10–25(–30) × 4–6(–8) cm, unequal sided, apex acute–acuminate, base

cuneate or oblique, surfaces glabrous or variously puberulous. Inflorescence

terminal branched panicle, rarely axillary. Flowers white, bisexual, pedicelate;

pedicel horizontal in flower, erect or ascending in fruit, c 5 mm long; sepals 3,

petaliod, concave, c 3–5 mm long, white; petals 3, white, clawed, elliptic to ovate,

inner petal shortly clawed, obovate and small; stamens 6, dimorphic, lower three

199

with elliptic anthers, while upper three with short filament and with anther elliptic

or saddle shaped; ovary ellipsoid, style white, stigma capitate. Fruits ellipsoid or

globose, 5–7 × 4–5 mm, white when young, turning lustrous blue at maturity;

seeds c 24–30 per locule, biseriate, polygonal in outline, testa dark gray to black,

finely pitted, embryotega dorsal, hilum oblong to linear.

Flowering and fruiting – July to November.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andaman and Nicobar Island, Assam, Karnataka,

Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (Map 14C);

Sri Lanka to New Guinea; occasionally in evergreen forests, along the roadsides in

shady areas, in association with other herbaceous flora.

Specimen collected– Karnataka– Hulical Ghat, North Kanara district, 09th Nov.

2011 M. D. Nandikar 701 (SUK).

Specimens examined––INDIA: Andaman and Nicobar– Anikhet Jungle Hills,

South Andaman, 13th June 1881, Dr. King 487020; Rung a Chang, Andaman, 16th

Nov. 1889, David Prain 487067; Dhani Khari Jungle Hill land, 28th Sept. 1891,

Dr. King 487024; way to Forest Nursery Hut Bay, 14th Aug. 1976. N. Bhargava

4119; Inland forest, sandy loam, way towards Hut Bay, Little Andaman, 1st Sept.

1976, N. Bhargava 6564 (CAL, PBL); Guptapara, Mount Hariet, 22nd Oct. 1975,

N. P. Balkrishnan and N. G. Nair 2280 (PBL). Karnataka– near Gare Moorie

Estate (5 kms to Koinad), Kodagu district, 23rd July 1978, S. R. Ramesh 1926

(CAL). Kerala– Orukomban, Palakkad district, 19th Sept. 1958, E. Govindaragalu

and B. G. L. Swamy 2633 (Herb. Madras Pres. College, Chennai); Thalichola, for

Fl. of Nilambur, 2nd Jan. 1981, Philip Mathew 25641; Nadugani Ghats, Gudalur,

for Fl. of Nilambur, 14th Sept. 1881, Philip Mathew 28579 (CALI). Meghalaya–

Daroki forest, Khasi hills district, 25th Oct. 1937, Shri Ram Sharma 10858;

Umling, Nongpoh district, 25th Sept. 1965, J. Joseph 43748; on the way to

Badangiri, Garo hills district, 4th Sept. 1975, M. K. V. Rao 61475 (ASSAM);

Dawki, Jaintia Hills, Myrthong 1264; Tasak, Garo hills district, Myrthong 1989

(NEHU, Shillong, Herbarium). Mizoram– Dampa Rengini, Damapa Tiger

Reserve, 16th Sept 2006, B. K. Sinha and N. Odyuo 112809 (ASSAM). Tripura–

Vanghmun, North Tripura Region, 23rd Jan. 1962, D. B. Deb 27074 (ASSAM).

200

Uttar Pradesh– Jeypore, Lakhimpur district, 18th July 1935, Shri Ram Sharma

3231 (ASSAM). West Bengal– Chilapata, Jalpaiguri district, 7th Sept. 1981, B.

Jafti and Party 10387 (CAL). BHUTAN: Samdrupghonkar forests, Eastern

Bhutan, 13th Oct. 1965, N. P. Balkrishnan 43843 (ASSAM). SRI LANKA:

[Thwaites in] Ceylon Plants C. P. 2327 (MH).

4. Pollia subumbellata Clarke in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 451. 1871; Hook. f., Fl.

Brit. India 6: 368. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989. Type–

–India: Mont. Khasia (Khasi Hills), Meghalaya, 1000 ft, Herb. Hook. f., et

Thomson [Aclisia (3)] (holo–P, sh. no. P01795528; iso–E, sh. no. E00393358).

Aclisia subumbellata (Clarke) Clarke Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal. t. 30. 1874.

Dictyospermum wightii var. robustum Hassk. Commelin. Ind. 19 1870. Fig. 56 A

Profusely branched, perennial, small herb; stems creeping, rooting at the

nodes. Leaves crowded towards apex, broadly ovate or elliptic, 8–12 × 3–5 cm,

pointed at both the ends, obscurely 7–11 nerved, petiole 0.5–2 cm long; leaf

sheaths closed, hyaline, glabrous or scabrous on both the surfaces. Inflorescences

shortly peduncled, umbellate, puberulous, axillary and terminal, panicle sessile,

depressed, branches subumbellately decurved, much shorter than leaves; bracts

small; bracteoles amplexicaul, persistant, glabrous. Flowers regular, white; sepals

3, green or petaloid, rounded, membranous; petals 3, white, elliptic to rounded,

clawed; stamens 6, dimporphic, equal or unequal, filaments as long as the petals;

anthers elliptic or saddle shaped; ovary ellipsoid, 3 celled, many ovuled, style

slender, stigma sub-capitate. Fruit globose, trilocular, 12–27 seeded; seeds

pyramidal or trapezoid, dorsally much flattened or compressed, testa brown,

smooth or faintly reticulate.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– North East part of India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,

Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim (Map 14D); Thailand and Borneo; occasionally in

thick primary, evergreen forest, undergrowth or along the streams.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Sadiya, NEFA, 26th Aug.

1947, G. K. Deka 16935; Banfera to Kanubari, Tiraf forest division, 15th July

201

1961, D. B. Deb 26750 (ASSAM). Assam– Dophu, Nowgong district, 30th July

1935, G. K. Deka 13232; Segusa, district unkown, 18th Feb. 1957, G. Panigrahi

5758; Kaziranga Reserve Forests, Golaghat and Nagaon districts, 21st Sept. 1957,

Rolla Rao 9719; Pankari, Sibsagar district, 15th June 1963, D. B. Deb 34853;

Panlanki, N. C. Hills, 23rd June, 2007, R. S. Barnah 115619; (ASSAM).

Meghalaya–Tura peak, West Garo hills, 29th Aug. 1962, D. B. Deb 28867;

Balarba tilla, Nongpoh district, 31st July 1964, J. Joseph 37478 (ASSAM); Tura

peak, West Garo hills, Myrthong 1924 (Herb. NEHU, Shillong). Nagaland– Aka

hills, July 1934, N. L. Bor 19017; Wokha, 15th Oct. 1981, T. M. Hynniewta 80641

(ASSAM). Sikkim– Khursing, 7000 ft., 28th Sept. 1884, Clarke 25962 (MH).

5. Pollia thyrsiflora (Blume) Steud. Nomencl. Bot. 2: 368. 1841; Hook. f., Fl. Brit.

India 6: 367. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 30.1989.–– Pollia

thyrsiflora (Blume) Endley ex Hasskarl in Miquel, Pl. Jungh. 2: 150. 1852. later

homonym.

Tradescantia thyrsiflora Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 6. 1827. Type– from Salak

mountains Java.

Lamprocarpus thyrsiflorus (Blume) Blume, Syst. Veg. 7: 1726. 1830.

Fig. 58; Plate 27 C–D

Herbs perennial. Stems ascending, sparsely puberulous. Leaves sessile or

with broad 3 cm long petiole; leaf sheath c 2 cm, rather densely puberulous; leaf

blade oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 15–35 × 3–8 cm, glabrous above,

puberulous below. Inflorescence condensed panicle, shorter than distal leaves;

peduncle absent or to 1 cm, glabrous; cincinni numerous, c 2 cm, not in whorls,

glabrous or puberulous. Flowers sessile, numerous, white; bracts membranous,

very short at anthesis, to 4 mm in fruit, persistent; sepals ovate-elliptic, shallowly

boat-shaped, c 5–6 mm, densely glandular hairy abaxially, petaloid or green; petals

white, ovate-orbicular, c 5 mm long, thickened at apices; stamens 6, all fertile,

exerted, filaments c 1 cm long, white, anthers with two distinct lobes or sagittate,

yellow in colour; style as long as filaments, white, stigma capitate. Fruit ovoid-

202

globose, 4–5 × 3 mm, c 24 seeded, metallic blue; seeds sub quadrate, small,

dorsally compressed.

Flowering and fruiting– Throughout year.

Distribution and ecology– India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura,

Uttarakhand (Map 14E); Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand,

Vietnam; along the margins of seasonal streams, in undergrowth of evergreen

forests.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andaman and Nicobar– watering cave, South

Andaman, s. d., S. Kurz 487015 (CAL); Chiria Tapu to Kodiaghat, 25th Sept. 1973,

N. P. Balkrishnan 389; Katchal Island, Mildera Forest near spices introduction

area, on the bank of the water course, 28th March 1979, M. K. Rao 7438 (PBL).

Tripura–Sherumn, district unknown, 4th Feb. 1962, D. B. Deb 27457 (ASSAM).

Uttarakhand–Mussoorie, Dehradun district, 4000 ft, 23rd May 1909, Kari 1462

(CAL).

Note– One of the distinct species of Pollia with terminal, condensed inflorescences

and metallic blue fruits.

1 0 . PO R A N D RA

D. Y. Hong in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12 (4): 462. 1974; Faden, Fam. Gen. Vas. Pl. 4:

120. 1998. Type– Porandra ramosa D.Y. Hong.

Perennial rhizomatous scandent herbs. Inflorescence very compact globose

head, subsessile. Flowers bisexual, subsessile. Sepals equal, sepaline. Petals free,

equal, not clawed. Stamens 6, free, equal, all fertile; filaments bearded; anthers

dehiscing by apical pores. Capsules trilocular, trivalved; seeds 2 per locule,

arillate.

Genus Porandra is described by Hong in 1974. It consists of three species

and all are known to occur in East Asia (China and Thailand). The identity of the

genus from Amischotolype is questionable (Faden, 1998), but it differs and

separated from Amischotolype by its climbing or scandent habit and anther cells

203

opening by apical pores (Thitimetharoch et al., 2003). Duistermaat (2012) has

stated P. ramosa has teardrop-shaped anthers and after screening the collection of

Griffith 5486 (K) from Mishmi hills, India she has confirmed the occurrence of the

Porandra in India. The specimen was cited by Clarke (1881) and Hook. f., (1894)

in their treatment of family Commelinaceae as Forrestia marginata var. rostrata.

Only two specimens [A. S. Rao 48050 and J. Joseph 48538 (ASSAM)] from

Arunachal Pradesh on which we could able to check the habit character (Plate 28).

It is scandent, straggling, branched herb and resembles with Porandra ramosa, but

too few specimens have been studied to draw any conclusion.

Porandra ramosa D.Y. Hong in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12(4): 462. 1974; D.Y. Hong

and DeFilipps in Fl. China 24: 24. 2000. Type– China, Yunnan, Feng Qing, T.T.

Yü 16255 (holo– PE) Fig. 59; Plate 28

Scrambling, branched herb, possibly perennial; stem with long internodes,

glabrous?; leaf sheath 2–4 cm long, glabrous?, mouth ciliate; leaves crowded

terminally, elliptic to lanceolate or oblanceolate, c 8–12 × 3–5 cm, apex acute to

acuminate, base attenuate, midrib prominent; inflorescence a head [usually with

(4–) 6–8 flowers; flowers pinkish purple; sepals 6–8 cm long, elliptic, sparsely

ciliate; stamen 6, anthers drip-shaped (Thitimetharoch, 2003)]; capsule trilocular,

ovoid, c 10 × 7 mm, sparsely ciliate; seeds ellipsoid, with bright red aril.

Flowering and fruiting– August to October.

Distribution– Eastern India: Arunachal Pradesh (Map 14F) (incompletely known);

China, Thailand.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Dalai bridge, Hayuliang,

Lohit district, 23rd Sept. 1969, A. S. Rao 48050; around Glow village, Lohit

district, NEFA, 9th Dec. 1969, J. Joseph 48530 (ASSAM, CAL).

Note– Porandra ramosa is readily distinguished from all other members of the

genus by its unique drip-shaped anthers and densely pubescent petioles, sepals,

capsules and leaves (Thitimetharoch, 2003). However, we are unable to find dense

pubescence on petioles and leaves in referred specimens, only capsules are

sparsely ciliate.

204

1 1 . R H O P A L EP H O R A

Hassk., Bot. Zeit: (Berlin) 22: 58. 1864-a; Lauterb. in K. Schum. and Lauterb.,

Nachtr. Fl. Schutzgeb. Südsee: 63. 1905 (“Rhopalophora”); Faden, Phytologia 37:

479. 1977. Lectotype: Rhopalephora blumei Hassk., nom. superfl. pro Commelina

monadelpha Blume [= Rhopalephora micrantha (Vahl) Faden], designated by

Faden (1977). Lauterbach (1905) incorrectly designated Aneilema vitiense Seem.

[= Rhopalephora vitiensis (Seem.) Faden], but this species was not included by

Hasskarl (1864-a).

Piletocarpus Hassk., Flora 49: 212. 1866; Commelin. Ind.: 14. 1870. Lectotype–

“Aneilema protensum Wall.” [= Rhopalephora scaberrima (Blume) Faden],

designated here.

Scrambling perennial herbs; roots fibrous; leaves distichous or spirally

arranged, lamina usually petiolate; involute when young; inflorescence terminal

and axillary, intravaginal, corymb-like thyrses composed of several to many

elongate cymes; bracteoles perfoliate; flowers zygomorphic, pedicellate, all

bisexual; sepals free, sepaline; petals free, subequal, clawed; fertile stamens 3,

anterior, filaments fused basally, glabrous, anthers semilunate; staminodes (0–) 2

or 3, posterior, filaments free, glabrous, antherode bilobed; ovary trilocular,

densely covered with white glandular hairs; style long, slender; capsule stipitate or

sub-stipitate, 1- or 3-locular, bivalved, sticky, pubescent with uncinate hairs,

locules 0– or 1–2 seeded; seeds elliptic to rectangular with linear hilum and lateral

embryotega.

According to Faden (1977a) there are 4 species distinguished mainly by

distribution and fruit characters. Rhopalephora micrantha (Vahl) Faden occurs in

Western and Central Malesia, R. rugosa (H. Perrier) Faden is endemic to

Madagascar, R. scaberrima (Blume) Faden ranges from India, Sri Lanka to China

and Western and Southern Malesia, and R. vitiensis (Seem.) Faden is found from

Eastern Malesia to the West Pacific. There is a single species in India with a new

subspecies.

Recent opinions (Faden, 1998 and Evans et al., 2003) stated that, the genus

is a part of the tribe Commelineae. The genus Aneilema R. Br. is quite similar to

205

Rhopelephora and it is a pantropical genus especially speciose in Africa (Faden,

1998). Morphologically, the two can only be distinguished by a polythetic

assemblage of characters, and not by one or more discrete ones. It seems not be

separable on anatomical characters (Faden, 1991). In molecular analyses (Evans et

al., 2003) Rhopalophora appeared to be nested within Aneilema.

Traditionally, the genus is defined as having corymb-like inflorescences,

anterior fertile stamens, posterior staminodes with bilobed antherodes and capsules

with hooked hairs and empty to one-seeded locules. Aneilema would differ by

having usually thyrsiform inflorescences, glabrous to pubescent capsules, rarely

with hooked hairs and often more than 1-seeded locules.

In India, the genus Rhoaplephora is represented by one species.

Rhopalephora scaberrima (Blume) Faden, Phytologia 37: 480. 1977; Karthikeyan

et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocotyl. 31. 1989; D. Hong and DeFilipps, Fl. China,

illus. 24: t. 30, f. 1–3. 2002; Nandikar et al., * in prep.

Commelina scaberrima Blume, Enum. Pl. Jav. 1: 4. 1827.

Tradescantia scaberrima (Blume) Hassk., Tijdschr. Natuurl. Gesch. Physiol. 10:

120. 1843 (after Mar. 4).

Aneilema scaberrimum (Blume) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 69. 1843 (17–19 July); Hook.

f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 382. 1892, isonym.

Phaeneilema scaberrimum (Blume) Raizada, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 48: 677.

1950.

Dictyospermum scaberrimum (Blume) J. K. Morton, J. Linn. Soc. Bot., London

59: 435, 1966, comb. inval.; J.K. Morton ex D. Hong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12: 476.

1974; J. K. Morton ex Panigrahi, Phytologia 29: 338. 1975, isonym; H. Hara in H.

Hara et al., Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 1: 82. 1978, isonym. Lectotype: Reinwardt s.n. (L,

holo, sh. no. 899.258-214), “crescit in Javae sylvis montanis”, designated here.

Aneilema protensum Wall., Numer. List # 5218, 1831—1832, nom. nud., Wall. ex

Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 95, 1840, nom. nud.; Wall. ex Thwaites, Enum. Pl.

Zeyl.: 322, 1864; Wall. ex C.B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc. 11: 450. 1871, isonym;

206

Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal.: 36, t. 24. 1874; in A. and C. DC., Monogr. Phan. 3:

220, 322, t. 4, f. 4. 1881; Koord., Exkurs.-Fl. Java 4: 217, t. 430. 1923.

Commelina protensa Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 95, 402, 1840, nom. nud.

Dictyospermum protensum Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 30, t. 2071. 1853.

Lamprodithyros protensus (Wight) Hassk., Flora 46: 389. 1863 (19 Feb); in Peters,

Naturw. Reise Mossambique 6, Bot. 2: 529. 1864 (ante 4 Mar; comb not made).

Piletocarpus protensus (Wight) Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 15. 1870. --- Piletocarpus

protensus (Wight) Hassk. var. intermedius Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 17. 1870, nom.

inval. (autonym required). Lectotype: Wallich 5218 (K, holo, IDC microfiche

7394; B, sh. no. 10.03657823; W), designated by Panigrahi (1975), superseding

Herb. Wight s.n. (K, holo), designated by Faden (2000).

Piletocarpus protensus (Wight) Hassk. var. angustifolius Hassk., Commelin. Ind.:

17. 1870. Type– Hooker f. and T. Thomson s.n. (L, holo, sh. 899.258-210, B,

extant?; L, sh. 899.258-211; M, U, sh. 68276-B; W), “Khasia regione tropica inter

3-6000 ped.”.

Piletocarpus protensus (Wight) Hassk. var. latifolius Hassk., Commelin. Ind.: 15.

1870. Lectotype– Korthals s.n. (L, holo, sh. no. 899.258-219; iso, L, sh. no.

899.2580-215, -220), Sumatra, designated here (syntype L. sh. 899.258-221 is R.

micrantha).

Floscopa bambusifolia H. Lév. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9: 20. 1910.

Pollia bambusifolia (H. Lév.) H. Lév., Fl. Kouy-Tchéou: 77. 1914–1915. Type–

Cavalerie 3471 (E, holo; K), Kouy-Tchéou, Lo-Fou (McKean, 1988, in syn.).

Rhopalephora scaberrima (Blume) var. fruticosa Vrinda and Panikkar, J. Econ.

Taxon. Bot. 23: 670. 1999, nom. inval. Voucher: “Accession-II”, presumably in

Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala, but not found there.

Fig. 60; Plate 27 F

Spreading perennial herb, sometimes subfruticose. Stem creeping at base,

rooting at the nodes, ascending distally, 50–100 cm long; branches subglabrous

proximally, glandular pubescent distally; internodes 2–5 cm long. Leaves alternate,

blades ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, or oblong lanceolate, (5–)10–18 × 2–4.5 cm,

base acute, apex finely acuminate; upper surface densely scabrous, lower surface

207

sparsely scabrous; petiole short or absent; sheath 2–5 cm, pubescent, mouth ciliate.

Cincinni lax, elongate, often several forming a terminal umbel; involucral bracts

narrowly oblong or ovate-orbicular, less than 10 mm long, glabrous; bracts small,

membranous, enveloping the axis of the cincinnus; peduncle 5–7 cm long; pedicels

slender, 1–1.5 cm. Sepals 3, persistent, spreading or reflexed, broad, concave, c 2

mm long, herbaceous, glabrous. Petals 3, orbicular, 5–6 × 7 mm, pale lilac or

bluish white. Stamens 3, dimorphic; filaments glabrous, slender, connate at base,

1–2 mm long, one stamen with a slightly shorter filament and semi-lunate anther;

staminodes 3 (sometimes one lacking or vestigial), free, lateral, one staminode

vestigial (vestigial median staminode), situated at the base of ovary with a globular

antherode, remaining two antherodes bilobed. Ovary globular, trilocular, densely

covered with white uncinate hairs, laterally flattened, ventrally subglobose. Style

long, slender, glabrous, stigma capitate. Capsule trilocular 4 × 6–10 mm, shortly

stipitate, hispid, subglobose, unequal-sided, more than 3 mm in diam., ventrally

subglobose, densely covered with hooked hairs, crowned by the long persistent

style, coriaceous, ventral locule indehiscent, lateral locules flattened and dehiscent.

Seeds usually 3, one per locule, sometimes 2, very rarely 1, 4 × 3 mm, flat, broadly

oblong–elliptic, plano-convex, reticulately foveolate; hilum linear, embryotega

lateral.

Flowering and fruiting– September to February; sometimes throughout year as in

Java; flowers open between 10.00 to 13.30.

Distribution and ecology– The species is widely distributed from the Himalayas to

Southern India: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,

Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu (Map 15A); Sri Lanka,

Bhutan, Nepal, to Malesia [Celebes, Flores, Java (W, C), Malaysian Peninsula

(Pahang), Sumatra, Timor], and to S China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou,

Hainan, Xizang, Yunnan), and Taiwan (Rao, 1964).

It is the most common component of the herbaceous undergrowth in the

Siang and Lohit valleys of the North-East Frontier Agency of India and further

extending to the Tirap and Manipur ranges. There is a quite considerable variation

in the size and robustness of the plants. They mainly occur in forest margins,

208

undergrowth and riverbanks from 250 to 2000 m altitude. The sticky fruit seems

likely to be dispersed externally by birds and mammals.

Specimens collected– Kerala: Mukkali, 22nd Dec. 2009, M. D. Nandikar125

(SUK). Karnataka: Charmadi Ghats, South Karnataka, 9th Nov. 2011, M. D.

Nandikar R011 (SUK). Maharashtra: plants cultivated at Departemntal Botanical

Garden, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 14th Aug. 2011, M. D. Nandikar R03

(SUK).

Specimens examined– INDIA: Andhra Pradesh–forest near Sunkarimetta,

Vishakhapatannam, 29th Aug. 1960, N. P. Balakrishnan 10925; Sunkarimetta 14th

Oct. 1964, R. V. Kammathy 41229 (MH). Assam– Assam, 1893, King 72636

(MH); Tengali Kam (?) Garden Oct. 1888, Prain’s collector 175 (CAL, L); s. d.

Masters s. n. (CAL, L). Goa– Poinguinam, 12th Oct. 1964, R. S. Rao 103528

(CAL). Karnataka– Bhimagundi, Coorg, 18th Feb. 1963, A. S. Rao 85687;

Sollekolli forest, along Barpole river bank, frequent, Coorg Dist., 29th Oct. 1963,

A.S. Rao 95293 (BSI, L), voucher for n = 29; Hegni Forest, Jogfalls, 30th Nov.

1961, Ansari and Kammathy 78698; Nikund Ghat, North Kanara, 05th Dec. 1883,

Talbot 367 (BSI). Kerala– Palaruvi Hill, Travancore 10th Sept. 1913, C. C. Calder

and M. S. Ramaswami 782; Munnar, Oct. 1938, T. Ekambaram 160 (Herb. Madras

Pres. College, Chennai); Orkuomalan, 19th Sept. 1958, E. Govindaragalu and B.

G. L. Swamy 2630; Palaruvi Side, Tenamalai, 10th May 1961, K. N. Subramnaiyan

71560; Bal-mora track, Tenamalai, 04th May. 1961, K. N. Subramnaiyan 70895;

Ammanar estate, Tennamalai, 21st Nov. 1962, K. N. Subramnaiyan 77030 (BSI);

Nedumgayam to Meenmutty, Malappuram, 13th March 1984, N. C. Nair

81221(MH). Manipur– Karong, 16th Oct. 1950, W. N. Koelz 26622 (L, MICH).

Meghalaya– Khasi Hills, Burnabat, c 2000 ft, 30th May 1949, Thakur Rup Chand

1595; Khasi Hills, Mawryngkneng, 4000 ft. 20th Sept.1951, Thakur Rup Chand

4763; Khasi Hills, Mawryngkneng, 4000 ft, 1st Oct. 1951, Thakur Rup Chand

4931-a; Khasi Hills, Shillong, 6000 ft. 17th Sept. 1954, Thakur Rup Chand 8217

(L, MICH). Nagaland: Naga Hills, Kohima, 5000 ft., 16th Sept. 1950, W. N. Koelz

26198 (L, MICH). Orissa: Shrikuti, Ranapur State, 5th Oct. 1942, H. F. Mooney

2106 (DD); Medeng Gandi, near Pottangi, bank of stream under slight shade,

209

Koraput Dist., 3300 ft., 11th Oct, 1950, H. F. Mooney 4102 (K, L). Tamil Nadu–

Paringal, 26th Nov.1957, G. S. Puri 15953; Gokulmalai, Gudalur, 07th Jan. 1963,

K. N. Subramnaiyan 82660; Waterfall estate, Annamalai 13th Sept. 1961, K. N.

Subramnaiyan 73948; 37902; at the foot of Bonda, 16th May 1964, G. V. Subbarao

37903; Gale Bonda 16th May 1964, G. V. Subbarao 37902, 37903 (MH).

Based on capsule and seed charachters one subspecies is recognized from

the present study.

- Capsule stipitate; seeds reticulate, smooth, grey to white.........subsp. scaberrima

- Capsule sessile; seeds reticulate to scorbiculate, dark orange to pale salmon

..........................................................................................................subsp. sessilis

subsp. scaberrima

Capsule stipitate, humpbacked, densely puberulous; seeds reticulate,

smooth, grey to white.

subsp. sessilis Nandikar et Gurav subsp. nov. Fig. 61; Plate 30 A

Type– India, Tamil Nadu and Orissa (INDIA); on the way to Ootacamund

from Gudalur (Tamil Nadu); 11°26'28"N, 76°37'31"E; elevation 1200-1500 m. M.

D. Nandikar 168 (holotype: BSI; isotypes: CAL, SUK, US).

The subspecies is very similar to the typical one in habit and inflorescence

but differs by having sessile to subsessile or substipitate, slightly humpbacked,

sparsely puberulous capsules and roughly reticulate to scrobiculate with white

farinose granules in the depressions, dark orange to pale salmon coloured seeds.

Flowering and fruiting– Flowering specimens were collected in December. Under

cultivation it shows continues Flowering and fruiting. Flowers open at c 10:00 hrs

while fading by c 12:30 hrs.

Distribution and ecology– India: Tamil Nadu, Orissa and West Bengal (Map

15B). Whether it occurs elsewhere is not yet known; along the roadside and

undergrowths of forests.

Conservation status– The subspecies is described from India and further work be

needed to establish a reliable conservation assessment.

Etymology– The specific epithet is derived from the sessile to subsessile capsules.

210

Accessions used for the description– Studied in the field: M. D. Nandikar 168,

169; from the departmental garden M. D. Nandikar 202, 203, 205.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Orissa – Waltair to Jeypore, 23rd Nov. 1956, H.

Santapau 21374, 21375 (BLAT); West Bengal– Seshachal Wildlife Sanctuary,

Darjeeling, 20th Oct. 2008, A. K. Ghosh and Bardhman Raj 41559 (CAL).

Note– A few specimens collected by R. S. Rao in Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh (CAL)

most likely belong to the present subspecies. Unfortunately, no mature capsules

were present, so certain identification could not be made and they are therefore not

included here.

Studies, both in the field (M. D. Nandikar 202, 203) and in cultivation (M.

D. Nandikar 168, 169) showed no phenotypical differences, except that in the field

the plants were erect to ascending while they became more ascending and more

robust when cultivated.

1 2 . S TR E P T OL I R I O N

Edgew., Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 1: 254. 1845.

Type– Streptolirion volubile Edgew.

Twining herbs; stem grooved. Leaves ovate–cordate, caudate–acuminate at

apex, margin densely ciliate, deeply cordate at base. Inflorescence axillary or

terminal racemes. Flowers usually bisexual, when unisexual then only male; sepals

ovate-oblong, petals linear, free; stamens 6; anthers yellow; filaments bearded with

jointed hairs, hairs yellow; ovary trigonous. Capsules 3-valved, beaked.

Streptolirion is endemic Asiatic genus of Commelinaceae. One species

distributed in E. Himalaya to Korea and SE Asia (Mabberley, 2008). Streptolirion,

Spatholirion and Atheolirion, represent an isolated group of taxa within the family.

Their distinguishing characters include a twining habit (except Spatholirion

ornatum Ridley), sympodial growth, leaf-opposed, thyrsiform inflorescences with

the lowermost cincinni subtended by ovate, spathaceous bracts, and typically,

staminate and perfect flowers in each inflorescence. These three genera were

considered sufficiently distinctive by Brenan (1966) to form Group IV of his

arrangement of the genera of Commelinaceae into approximately the groups of

211

sectional rank. A relationship of these three genera with Commelina has been

suggested by Faden (1978), but the evidence for that is still unsubstantiated, and

the true affinities of these genera are uncertain (Faden and Suda, 1980). Among

the four species which compose these genera, Streptolirion volubile Edgeworth is

by far the most widespread (foothills of the Himalayas in India to Japan). This

species is currently treated as consisting of two subspecies: S. volubile subsp,

volubile, occurring throughout the range of the species, and S. volubile subsp,

khasiana (C. B. Clarke) Hong, extending from India to southwest China (Yunnan

and Kweichow Provinces) (Hong, 1974).

Streptolirion volubile Edgew. in Proc. Linn. Soc., London 1: 245. 1845. Hook. f.,

Fl. Brit. India 6: 389. 1894; H. Hara, Fl. E. Himal. 402. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl.

India Enum. Monocot. 31. 1989; Noltie, Fl. Bhutan 3(1): 218. 1994. Type– China:

Hubei, Fanxian Shan, c. 900 m, Oct. 1906, Silvestri 174 (iso– FI).

Sterptolirion cordifolium (Griff.) O. Ktz., Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 722. 1891; Brückner

Engl. and Prantl, Nat. Pflanzef. ed. 2, 15a: 171.1930.

Tradescantia cordifolia Griff. J. Trav. 208 1847. Type from India, Himalaya.

Fig. 62; Plate 30 B

Twinning herbs; stems deeply grooved. Leaves ovate-cordate or cordate-

orbicular, upper leaves 6–9.5 × 4.5–7 cm, lower leaves 10–13 × 8.5–11 cm long,

acuminate at apex, densely ciliate at margin, base deeply cordate, upper surface

glabrous, reticulate venation prominent beneath; petioles 3–10 cm long; sheaths

short, 0.5–1 cm long, glabrous, mouth ciliate, oblique. Inflorescence borne at each

node, in thrysifom panicles; peduncles 4–15 cm long, subtended by a leafy bract.

Flowers bisexual or unisexual, when unisexual only with male flowers; flowers

white; sepals 3, free, ovate-oblong, c 3 × 1.5 cm; petals 3, linear-lanceolate, free, c

4 × 0.7 mm, stamens 6, filaments 0.7–1 mm long, bearded with jointed hairs;

anthers dumb-bell shaped; filaments connate below; ovary 3-locular, gradually

tapers to a style, style c 0.5 mm long. Capsules oblong-trigonous, loculicidal; seeds

2 per valve, rugose; hilum linear.

212

1. Stem and leaves densely pubescent with brown hairs……...….. subsp. khasiana

– Stem and leaves glabrous. ………………………………...…….. subsp. volubile

subsp. khasiana (C. B. Clarke) D. Y. Hong, in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12:463.1974;

Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 31. 1989.

Streptolirion volubile var. khasianum Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan. 3: 261. 1881;

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 389.1894 (in a note ).

Stems all climbing. Stems and leaves densely hirsute with brown,

multicellular hairs. Capsule villosus and stigma penicillate. (Hook. f., 1894). 2n=

10 (Kammathy and Rao, 1964).

Flowering and fruiting – July to September.

Distribtution and ecology– Eastern parts of India: Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,

Nagaland, Meghalaya (Map 15D); Bhutan and Vietnam; tropical and subtropical

forests, scattered in moist areas. 1000–3000 m .

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Aka Hills, 14th Nov. 1951, G.

K. Deka s. n.; Sessa, Kameng forest division, NEFA, 1050 mts. 12th Sept. 1964, J.

Joseph 39847 (ASSAM); Mayndia, Dibang Valley, 19th May 2000, Manas

Bhaumik 3051 (CAL). Manipur– Ngaino Hills, Ukhrul district, s. d. A. A. Mao

109396 (ASSAM). Nagaland– Naga Hills, June 1935, N. L. Bor 21227;

Triensang, Nagaland; 12th Oct. 1981, T. M. Hynniewta 80470 (ASSAM).

Meghalaya– Woodland office compound, new colony, Shillong [introduced from

Shillong], 3rd July 1967, P. K. Hajara 37329 (ASSAM).

Note– Rarely found in the tropical and subtropical broad-leaved forests. 900–1800

m.

subsp. volubile

Stems usually very long and climbing, glabrous or puberulous, to 6 ft. or

more, sometimes erect or suberect, not climbing, 12–50 cm. Stems and leaves

mostly glabrous, stems rarely villous with brown, multicellular hairs or petioles

yellowish hirsute. 2n= 12 (Sharma and Sharma, 1958; Kammathy and Rao, 1964;

and Suda and Faden, 1980).

213

Flowering and fruiting– July to October.

Distribution and ecology– India: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal (Map

15C); East Asian countires; occasional on mountain slopes of tropical rain forests,

occurs from sea level to 3000 m alt.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Ninguing, Siang forest

division, NEFA, 15th Nov. 1958, Rolla Rao 17656; Beki to Amji, Subansiri forest

division, NEFA, 6th June 1961, G. V. S.Rao 24824; Rothong, Tirap forest division,

NEFA, 25th June 1961, D. B. Deb 26086 (ASSAM); Roing–Thewarygaon, Dibang

Valley,1300 m. 28th Nov. 1996, Manas Bhaumik 1145 (CAL). Sikkim– near

Rajbhavan, East district Sikkim, 18th Aug. 1980, P. K. Hajra 0559 (BSI, CAL).

West Bengal– Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, 30th Sept. 1907, A. K.

Ghosh 42876 (CAL).

1 3 . T I N A N T I A

Scheidw. Allg. Gartenzeitung 7: 365. 1839. nom. cons., non Dumort, 1829. Type–

Tinantia fugax Scheidw.

Annual herbs, ptyxis involute; inflorescences paniculiform thyrses

composed of 1–2 cincinni; flowers zygomorphic; sepals and petals free slightly to

strongly unequal; stamens 6, filaments fused basally, densely bearded or glabrous;

seeds uniseriate, locules 2 to many seeded, embryotega lateral, hilum linear.

Thirteen species, from texas to neotropics (Faden, 1998). It seems to have

escaped in some parts of the Himalayan foothills and found growing wild.

Tinantia erecta (Jacq.) Schltdl. Linnaea 25: 185. 1852. “Upright Spiderwort”

Tradescantia erecta Jacq. Collectanea 4: 113. 1791. Type– Cultivated in Europe

(BM?).

Commelina rosea Schltdl. Index Sem. (Halle) 7. 1838. Plate 30 D

Upright Spiderwort is an annual plant native to Mexico. It seems to have

escaped cultivation in some parts of the Himalayan foothills, and is found growing

wild. It is an erect or ascending herb, occasionally branched from the base. Stems

are up to 1 m high, but usually smaller, somewhat fleshy, often purple. Leaves

214

alternately arranged, elliptic to broadly ovate, up to 16 × 6 cm (although usually

smaller), hairy, pointed; base sharp or rounded, often becoming narrow stalk-like

(up to 1.5 cm long) and then becoming wider to form tubular sheath surrounding

the stem (up to 1× 7 mm). Inflorescences up to 5 × 7 cm, composed of 3–20

flowers on stalks up to 2.2 cm long, covered with glandular hairs. The goblet of 3

sepals elliptical, erect, up to 1 cm long, covered with abundant glandular hairs.

Petals c 1.5 cm long, purplish-blue to pink or purple. Stamens are 6, all fertile

(sometimes 3 infertile), unequal, 3 short, filaments with hairs at base, their anthers

oblong, and 3 more long, with hairs towards the middle or above, their anthers

globose. Capsule c 1.2 × 6 cm, which opens at maturity. Seeds are gray or light

brown with very rough surface.

Flowering and fruiting– August to December.

Distribution and ecology– Neotropic species, recognized from Mussoorie,

Uttarakhand, along the Dehradun-Mussoorie road.

[FOI (http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Upright%20Spiderwort.html):

Shaista Ahmad].

Note– This is the first record of genus in India. A New world taxon, cultivated in

Eurpoe, seems to be introduced long back in India and now it is naturalized and

known from some wild localities of Uttarakhand.

1 4 . TR A D E S CA N T I A

Linn. Species Plantarum 1: 288. 1753; Hunt, Kew Bull. 30: 443–458. 1975. Type–

Tradescantia virginiana L.

Campelia Démonstrations Botaniques 46. 1808.

Cymbispatha Pichon, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 12: 224. 1846.

Zebrina Schnizl. Botanische Zeitung (Berlin) 7: 870. 1849. Type– Zebrina

pendula Schnizl.

Rhoeo Hance, Ann. Bot. Syst. 3: 659. 1852. Type– Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance

ex Walp.

Separotheca Waterf. Rhodora 61: 138. 1959. Type– Separotheca pumila (Greene)

Waterf.

215

Setcreasea K. Schum. and Syd. Just's Bot. Jahresber. 27 (1:3): 452. 1901.

Perennial herbs of various habits; leaves variable in shape and colour;

infloresecences terminal and axillary, composed of paired, sessile cincinni,

subtended by spathaceous or foliaceous bracts; flowers regular and bisexual;

stamens 6, equal, fertile, filaments bearded or glabrous; capsules trilocular; seeds

1–2 per locule, embryotega dorsal or lateral, hilum oblong to linear.

About 70 species, originated from new World, most of the taxa are

cultivated for its ornamental foliage. Six spcecies are recognized in present work,

all are cultivated for thier beautiful foliage.

1. Plants cob-webby …………………………..…...………... Tradescantia sillamontana

1. Plants not cob-webby …………………………………………..……...………………2

2. Leaves 2-ranked; bases oblique, cuneate; blade usually variegated; sepals connate

basally……..……………………………………….……………….….……..T. zebrina

2. Leaves spirally arranged; bases symmetric, rounded to broadly cuneate; blade not

variegated; sepals distinct……………………………..………………………………..3

3. Inflorescences pedunculate in axils, enclosed in boat-shaped spathes…………......… 4

3. Inflorescences terminal, not enclosed in spathes ………………………………………5

4. Leaves lanceolate, in basal rosette …………………………...…………. . T. spathacea

4. Leaves elliptic, not in basal rosette………………...…………………….… T. pallida

5. Leaves lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, flowers white green.…....T. fluminensis

5. Leaves linear–lanceolate, flowers blue ………………...….……….…..…T. virginiana

1. Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. Florae Fluminensis 3: 140, pl. 152. 1825.

“White Spiderwort, White Wandering Jew, green wandering Jew, small leaf

spiderwort, inch plant, speedy Jenny” Plate 30 F

White Spiderwort is a trailing groundcover plant with succulent stems. The

glossy forest-green to parrot-green parallel-veined leaves are oblong to ovate with

pointed tips, 2.5–6.4 × 2.5–2.8 cm. Leaves are sometimes subtly striped with

darker green or tinged with purple on the underside. They emerge alternately from

fuzzy margined closed sheaths that encircle the stem at the nodes. The little white

three petaled flowers appear in clusters at the stem tips. The three parted capsules

contain pitted black seeds. The cultivar 'Variegata' has bright green leaves with

216

irregular white stripes. White Spiderwort is native to South America, cultivated as

a garden plant in India.

Cultivated at Jammu and Kashmir.

[FOI (http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/White%20Spiderwort.htm)]:

Gurcharan Singh.

2. Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D. R. Hunt, Kew. Bull. 30: 452. 1975.

Setcreasea pallida Rose Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 13(9): 294. 1911. Type– Mexico:

Tamaulipas: collected by Dr. E. Palmer near Victoria 1907, and flowered in

Washington, D. C., Jul 1907, Palmer s. n. (US) Plate 30 G

Herbs, perennial, succulent. Stems suffused with purpulish violet. Leaves

spirally arranged; blade not variegated, suffused with purplish violet, lanceolate–

oblong to oblong-elliptic, (4–) 7–15 × 1.5–3 cm, base symmetric, rounded to

broadly cuneate, margins ciliate or ciliolate, apex acute, glabrous or glabrescent.

Inflorescence terminal, often becoming leaf-opposed, pedunculate; peduncles

(3.5–) 4–13 cm; bracts similar to leaves but usually greatly reduced. Flowers

subsessile; pedicels densely white –pillose at summit; sepals distinct, 7–10 mm,

pilose basally; petals slightly connate at base, pink clawed, 1.5–2 cm; stamens

epipetalous; filaments very sparsely bearded. Capsules 3.5 mm, glabrous. Seeds

2.5–3 mm. It is a native to Mexico; introduced in a garden as ornamentals.

Propagated at Botanical Garden of Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Familiar

with its earlier botanical name Setcreasea pallida Rose.

3. Tradescantia sillamontana Matuda, Bol. Soc. Bot. México 18: 1, f. 1. 1955.

Tradescantia pexata H. E. Moore Baileya, 4: 100. 1960. “Cobweb Spiderwort”

Plate 30 J

Cobweb spiderwort is a fascinatingly beautiful plant. With its gray-green

leaves and thick stems covered with white cobwebs, it can be a showpiece in both

ground beds and container gardens. To add to the beauty, it sports deep pink three

petal flowers. Cobweb Spiderwort is native to the mountains of northern Mexico.

217

The plant is highly adaptable thriving in both sunny and shady light conditions and

a variety of soil types. Cobweb Spiderwort is propagated by cuttings of growing

shoots, seeds, or division.

Propagated at Departmental Botanical Garden, Shivaji University,

Kolhapur.

4. Tradescantia spathacea Swartz, Prodr. 57. 178. Type– Jamaica, Swartz s. n. (S)

Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance ex Walp. Ann. Bot. Syst. 3: 660. 1852.

Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Stearn, Baileya 5: 195. 1957.

‘Boat lily, Moses-in-a-boat, Oyster lily’. Plate 30 H

Herbs perennial. Stems erect, often forming colonies, simple, glabrous.

Leaves alternate, sometimes seemingly spirally arranged, sessile; leaf sheath

sometimes pilose at mouth; leaf blade dark green adaxially, purple abaxially,

oblong-lanceolate, 20–40 × 3–6 cm, glabrous, somewhat fleshy, base narrowed

and semiclasping, apex acuminate. Flowers in axillary, pedunculate, simple or

forked, many-flowered umbels subtended by 2 large, conduplicate, ovate bracts to

3 cm. Petals white, ovate, 5–8 mm, apex abruptly acute. Seeds rugose. Naturalized

all over world, native to Caribbean region and Central America. Widely cultivated

as an ornamental in India.

Propagated at Botanical Garden of Shivaji University, Kolhapur. This plant

is also known as Rhoeo discolor and more frequently in the horticulture trade as

Rhoeo spathacea.

5. Tradescantia virginiana L. Species Plantarum 1: 288. 1753. Neotype– R. B.

Faden and J. A. Faden 87-1A (BM) Neotype designated in Reveal, Regnum Veg.

127: 95.1993.

“Virginia Spiderwort, Lady's Tears” Plate 30 I

Virginia Spiderwort is a herbaceous plant, growing up to a foot tall, found

mainly in the US. It is cultivated as a garden plant in colder parts of India. Flowers

are blue, purple to pinkish red, with 3 petals which are broadly ovate, up to 2 cm

long and broad, spreading. In the center are 6 erect stamens. Filaments are 6 mm

long, purple, densely velvety with long, purple, multicellular hairs in the lower

218

half. Anthers are yellow, 2-lobed, 2.5 mm broad. Sepals are 3, up to 1.5cm long,

elliptic, entire, slightly inflated, pointed, densely velvety externally, hairless inside.

Alternately arranged stalkless leaves are linear, grass-like, up to 30 cm long, and

1.5 cm broad, green above, silvery-green below with parallel venation.

Located at Shillong, Meghalaya. [FOI

(http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Virginia%20Spiderwort.html)]:

Thingnam Girija.

6. Tradescantia zebrina Heynh. ex Bosse, Vollst. Handb. Bl.- Gartm. 4: 655.

1849.

Zebrina pendula Schnizlein. Botanische Zeitung (Berlin) 7: 870. 1849.

Tradescantia pendula (Schnizl.) D. R. Hunt, Kew Bulletin 36(1): 197. 1981.

“Wondering-Jew” Plate 30 K

Herbs, decumbent. Leaves 2-ranked; blade variegated, abaxially reddish

purple, adaxially striped green and white, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 3–9

× 1.5–3 cm, base oblique, cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence

terminal, consisting of pairs of sessile cymes enclosed in sheath of spathaceous

bracts, pedunculate; spathaceous bracts foliaceous, reduced. Flowers subsessile;

sepals basally connate, 4–5 mm; petals pink, clawed, claws basally connate

forming tube; stamens epipetalous; filaments bearded. Capsules 3-locular; locules

2-seeded. Native to Tropical America; introduced as garden ornamental.

Propagated at Botanical Garden of Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

1 5 . T R I C A R P E L EM A

J. K. Morton, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 59(380): 436. 1966. Type– Tricarpelema

giganteum (Hassk.) H. Hara.

Perennial herbs; root fibrous, thick; leaves usually spirally arranged; leaves

usually petiolate, rarely sessile; inflorescences terminal and axillary thyrses;

flowers zygomorphic, pedicellate; sepals free subequal, sepaline; petals free,

unequal, clawed or not clawed; stamens 6, unequal, dimorphic, glabrous; capsules

219

trilocular, locules 1 to 10 seeded; seeds uniseriate or biseriate (Morton, 1966),

hilum linear, embryotega lateral to semidorsal. 2n= c 46 (Faden, 2000).

The genus Tricarpelema J. K. Morton was described by Morton (1966) for

a single Himalayan species of Commelinaceae that did not fit within his

circumscriptions of Aneilema R. Brown or Dictyospermum Wight. Hong (1974)

added two new, closely related species from China to the genus. Rao (1980)

transferred his earlier described (Aneilema glanduliferum) second Indian species to

Tricarpelema .

Morton (1966) stated his Tricarplema is distinct from African Aneilema in

its trilocular capsule which has a numerous seeds arranged in two rows in each

locule. Moreover, he also added that Tricarplema resembles with Dichaespermum

Wight [= Murdannia Royle] in having 2 rows of seeds in each locule. Morton

listed and screened two specimens placed at Kew, one is Griffith 5491 (flowering

twigs) and other is Gamble Herb. Clarke 35962 (fruiting twig) of which we were

able to screen only Griffith 5491 while describing the genus with biseriate seeds

was possibly taken from Gamble Herb 35962. If Gamble Herb 35962, specimen is

with biseriate seeds [as Morton (1966) stated] then it must be a different from T.

giganteum, which possess uniseriate seeds. Nevertheless, it needs further study to

conclude its identity. The only species, which having biseriate seeds is

Tricarpelema philippense (Panigrahi) Faden, known to occur in Malaysia and

Indonesia.

The genus Tricarpelema is represented by eight species (Faden, 2000;

2007), mainly distributed in Tropical Asia. It is similar to Dictyospermum by habit

while similar to Floscopa in flowering characters, but easily distinguished by

unequal, free staminal filaments, trilocular capsule and one to nine seeded locules.

In present treatment, two species of Tricarpelema are illustrated. Karthikeyan et al.

(1989) have enumerated 3 species for India, but the T. thomsonii (C. B. Clarke) J.

K. Morton (1966) [=Aneilema thomsonii Clarke] are now considered to be

synonym of T. giganteum (Hassk.) Hara (1971), therefore it is omitted from the

present treatment.

220

The combinations Tricarpelema thomsonii (C. B. Clarke) J. K. Morton (J.

Linn. Soc., Bot. 59: 436. 1966) and Tricarpelema thomsonii (C. B. Clarke) R. S.

Rao (Third All India Bot. Conf. Abstracts. J. Ind. Bot. Soc. 59., Suppl., ii. 1980)

are invalid (Faden, 2007).

– Inflorescences glabrous or with eglandular hairs, rarely glandular hairy; stamens

with glabrous filaments; capsule c 2 cm long, locules 5–9

seeded………………………………………… ....…1. Tricarpelema giganteum

– Inflorescences with glandular hairs; stamens with bearded filaments; capsule c 1

cm long, locules two seeded…...……………....…….…….2. T. glanduliferum

1. Tricarpelema giganteum (Hasskarl) H. Hara, Fl. Eastern Himalaya 2: 160.

1971.

Dichoespermum giganteum Hasskarl, Commel. Ind., 42. 1870.

Aclisia ? thomsonii C. B. Clarke, Commel. et Cyrt. Beng., 46, Tab. 31. 1874,

replaced name for Dichoespermum giganteum Hasskarl, 1870. Aneilema?

thomsonii (C. B. Clarke) C. B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 15: 121. 1877.

Aneilema thomsonii (C. B. Clarke) C. B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 202.

1881. Lectotype– India, Sikkim, J. D. Hooker s. n. [Aneilema sp. 11 in Herb.

Hook. f. et Thomson] (holo–K; iso– B, K, P sh. no. P02088010, W, CAL) lectotype

designated by Faden, 2007. Fig. 63

Annual or perennial? herbs, 30–60 cm high; roots thick, fibrous; stems

erect, glabrous. Leaf sheaths c 2.5 cm long, glabrous or puberulous, ciliate at

mouth; leaf blade lanceolate, 5(–11)–15(–25) × 2–4(–7) cm, apex acuminate; base

cuneate to attenuate, terminal leaves gradually reduced, smaller and attenuate into

a petiole, basal leaves long, petiolate. Inflorescence terminal thyrses, sparsely

pubescent or glabrous; peduncle 4–8 cm long, cincinni 10–15, alternate to

suboposite, 5–8 cm long, horizontal, 8–12 flowered, bracteole minute, cauducous.

Flowers male or bisexual, blue, pedicelate 0.3–1 cm long, subglabrous or sparsely

pubescent, often with glandular hairs; sepals ovate-orbicular or oblong to elliptic, c

5 mm long, sparsely pubescent with glandular, multicellular hairs along veins,

posterior 2 petals ovate to elliptic, anterior one nearly obovoid, not clawed, c 6

221

mm, blue; stamens 3, fertile, filament c 5 mm, glabrous, anthers obovate; sterile

stamens (staminodes), with rudimentary antherodes or sometimes antherodes

absent, as long as fertile filaments; style c 6 mm, little longer than filament, bent

towards medial petal, stigma sinple, ovary narrowly elliptic. Capsule elongate,

narrowly oblong, acuminate and beaked, c 2 × 0.5 cm, brown, locules 5–6(9)

seeded; seeds uniseriate, terminal seeds obovoid– rectangular, 2 × 1 mm, testa

grey, reticulately pitted, with interrupted ridges, hilum raised, linear, brown,

embryotega semidorsal [seed dissected from s. loc., s. coll. 1304 (CAL)].

Distribution and ecology– India: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, West

Bengal (Map 15E); Bhutan; undergrowth of forests.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Fl. of NEFA, s. d., Rolla Rao

1248; Salari Forest, Kameng forest division, NEFA, 15th Sept. 1964, J. Joseph

39997 (ASSAM). Nagaland– Naga hills, for Fl. of Assam, June 1935?, N. L. Bor

21353; Kohima, Naga hills, for Fl. Assam, 29th Aug. 1937, N. L. Bor 15808

(ASSAM). Mizoram– Lushai hills (Mizo hills), s. d. Parry 19? (CAL). Locality

unknown– s. coll. 1304 (CAL). West Bengal–Darjeeling District, Darjeeling, 1980

m, 13 Aug. 1875, C. B. Clarke 26966 B, C (CAL); about a mile from Sinehal,

onwards Bagwada, Darjeeling, 14th July 1962, R. V. Kammathy 81246 (BSI).

Note– Tricarpelema giganteum (Hassk.) Panigarhi [Phytologia 29. 338. 1975] was

published after Hara’s combination so considering priority of publication this

name is invalid and treated here as a later homonym. Hooker (1894) reported

smooth seeds, dissected capsule of T. giganteum from s. loc. coll.1304 (CAL) was

having very similar description by him; except that the seeds are reticulately pitted

but smooth seeds were not observed.

2. Tricarpelema glanduliferum (J. Joseph and R. S. Rao) R. S. Rao, Third All

India Bot. Conf. Abstracts. J. Indian Bot. Soc. 59, Suppl., ii, iii. 1980.

Aneilema glanduliferum J. Joseph and R. S. Rao, J. Indian Bot. Soc. 47: 367, fig.

1–7. 1968. Type–India, NEFA [Arunachal Pradesh]. Kameng District: Tipi, N

Bhalukpong, on the way to Krishna, near the bank of river Bharali, 1250 m, 10th

Sep. 1964, J. Joseph 39707A (holo–CAL; iso– K 39707D and 39707F, ASSAM,

BSI). Plate 29; (30 C, E)

222

Slender, glabrescent, bushy, 60 cm high, perennial? or annual herb; roots

fibrous, internodes c 6 cm long, glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Leaf sheath c 0.5–

1 cm long, pubescent and ciliate at mouth, leaves sessile to sub-sessile, ovate, c 5–

10 x 5 cm, often terminally clustered, apex acuminate, base cuneate, sparsely

pubescent on the surfaces. Inflorescence in terminal thyrses, reduced as compare to

T. giganteum, pedunculate, peduncle c 4 cm long, glandular hairy, cincinii few,

erect not ascending or horizontal. Flowers few pedicilate, pedicel c 1 cm long,

densely glandular hairy with glandular hairs on floral parts; sepals ovate to elliptic,

concave c 5 mm long, upper half glandular hairy; petals three, unequal, blue,

medial one obovate, lateral two ovate, c 7 mm long; stamens 6, anterior three

fertile, posterior three sterile, filaments of fertile stamens finely hairy. Capsule

beaked, trilocular, third locules abortive, remaining locule single seeded; seeds

ovoid, testa reticulate, pitted, gray, hilum linear, embryotega dorsal to semidorsal.

Distribution and ecology– India: Arunachal Pradesh (Map 15F) and Vietnam

(Faden, 2007); occasionally occurs between 600 to 1200 m range of hills along the

forest margins of Arunachal Pradesh, Rolla Rao [10503 (ASSAM)] has stated, it’s

a common in Lohit forest division, especially at Dreyi.

Specimens examined– INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh– Shoeliang, Lohit forest

division, NEFA, 625 m, 13th Nov. 1957, Rolla Rao 10825; Dreyi, Lohit f. d.,

NEFA, 1200 m, 13th Nov. 1957, Rolla Rao 10503; Lansong forests, Tirap forest

division, NEFA, 26th June 1961, D. B. Deb 26161 (ASSAM).

Note– This is a very distinctive species with small leaves and small, densely

glandular-pubescent inflorescences; thyrses short with just a few cincinni and two

seeded locules. It is also only species of the genus that has bearded stamen

filaments.