Phenology of Naregamia alata (Meliaceae) from western Maharashtra

2 Pages·1998·1.6 MB·

by  Anuradha S Upadhye

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
During our revisionary studies on ferns on moist tree tranks just above ground level.
(Hymenophyllaceae) in South India, we came Specimen examined: Thommankuthu forest,
across an interesting specimen from the Idukki dist., Kerala; 27.xii.1996, Abdul Hameed
evergreen forests of Thommankuthu in Idukki CU 34802 (CALI).
dist, on the foothills of the Western Ghats of Note: This taxon differs from Microgonium
Kerala. It was found on tree tranks just above henzaianum (Parish ex. Hook.) which has dark
ground level, covering the bark oftrees near the green fronds, broadest near the apex, and
Thommankuthu waterfall. The plant has slender, involucres as wide as long. It lacks conti-
creeping, irregularly branched, blackish nuous submargina! false vein, which is the
rhizomes, with pale green fronds. On comparing identifying character of Microgonium
with literature, we identified it as Microgonium bimarginatum. According to Holttum (1954) and
suhlimbatum (C. Mull.) v.d.B. In India it is Copeland (1933), M. suhlimbatum is larger than
reported only from Khasia hills, Eastern M. bimarginatum But our specimen is almost
.
Himalayas (Iwatsuki 1985). The specimens have the same size as that of M. bimarginatum
been deposited in the Calicut University collected from different parts ofKerala.
'Herbarium (CALI).
ABDUL HAMEED
Distribution: Himalaya (Khasia Hills), January 9, 1998 C.
MADHUSOODANAN
Burma (=Myanmaar), Thailand, Indochina, P.V.
Malesia. Department ofBotany,
Ecology: An extremely rare species growing University ofCalicut, 673 635 Kerala.
References
Copeland, E.B. (1933): Hvmenophyllum and Genera ofMalaya. Singapore, Govt. Printingoffice, 2: 72-
Hymenophyllaceamm. Philip. Journ. Sci. 51: 167- 109.
168. Iwatsuki,K. (1985): HymenophyllaceaeofAsia, excluding
Holttum, R.E. (1954): A RevisedFloraofMalaya: Ferns Malesia.J. Fac. Sci. Univ. TokyoIII, 13: 541-542.
PHENOLOGY OF NAREGAMIA ALATA (MELIACEAE)
33.
FROM WESTERN MAHARASHTRA
(With oneplate
)
Naregamia alata W. & A. (Meliaceae) is to Vengurla. From the literature, we found that
an endemic herb species in western the species is endemic and confined to selected
We
Maharashtra. observed it in the field and areas on the west coast ofIndia. In India it occurs
attempted its acclimatization in a nursery. The only in the Western ghats from Konkan
plant is under observation for the last three years. southwards (Dalzell and Gibson 1861, Hooker
A change in the flowering character was 1875, Cooke 1901, Gamble 1910, Almeida
recorded, which is presented in this 1990). It is also recorded as a medicinal plant
communication. (Chopra et al. 1958).
During a botanical excursion to the coastal Young plants of Naregamia alata were
areas of Maharashtra, (Vengurla to Goa border collected andkeptforacclimatization in anursery
area) we collected live specimens ofNaregamia at the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. The
&
alata W. A. (Meliaceae) onthe way fromAkeri plants have thrived well. The recorded length of
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 95(3), DEC. 1998 535
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Table
1
Observations Habit Leaves Flowers Fruits Seed
Literature Herb/Undershrub Cuneate,obovate Solitary 3-5cmlong Brown,truncate
Field Woodyherb Cuneate,trifoliate Notseen 3 valved 1-1.2 cm Brown,truncate
petiolewinged in diameter
Herbarium Woodyherb Cuneate,trifoliate Solitary 2-3 cmlong 3-valved0.8-1 cm Brown truncate
petiolewinged indiameter
Nursery Woodyherb Cuneate,trifoliate 2-3 axillaryyellowish- Tri-cornered Brown 0-4-0.6cm
20-30cmhigh petiolewinged white,0.5-0.6cm 0-8-1 cmin length long,truncate at
leafletsobtusely long,anthersorange, bothends
lobed,terminal formingtube,stigma
leafletslongerthan greenishwhite
lateral
Floweringfruiting: Octoberto December
Naregamia alata flowers is 3-5 cm. But the were noted and are given in the table above.
flower size in the nursery specimens differs from
ANURADHA UPADHYE
this appreciably. Materials from herbaria at the Dec. 23, 1997 S.
KUMBHOJKAR
Botanical Survey ofIndia Western Circle, Pune, M.S.
Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, and National A cirkar Research Institute,
Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow were G.G. Agarkar Road,
studied. Observations on exomorphic characters Pune-411 004.
References
Almeida, S.M. (1990): J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Add. Ser. no. 8 DalzellN.A. & J. Gibson (1861): The Bombay Flora or
Flora of Savantwadi, Maharashtra, India, short descriptions of all indigenous plants: 36.
88 Education Society Press, Byculla, Bombay.
1 : .
Chopra, R.N., S.L. Nayar&I.C. Chopra(1958): Glossary Gamble, J.S. (1910): Flora ofPresidency ofMadras: 125.
ofIndian Medicinal plants, CSIR,New Delhi. BSI, Calcutta (Reprinted).
Cooice, T. (1901): (Repr. 1958). Flora ofthe Presidency Hooker, J.D. (1875): FloraofBritish India. Vol. 1: 542, L.
&
ofBombay Vol. 1:217. BSI, Calcutta. Reeve Co. London.
.
DESMODIUMDESV. (FABOIDEAE) IN EASTERN GHATS, INDIA:
34.
A SYSTEMATIC SURVEY
(With two text-figures)
The botany of the Eastern Ghats has not Brahmam (1994), Ellis (1987), Subba Rao
been adequately studied and no detailed Flora is (1977), Pullaiah andChennaiah (1997), Matthew
available so far. The flora of Eastern Ghats of (1993) and others have contributed to our
Orissa is covered by the work ofHaines (1921), knowledge ofthe flora in some selected regions
while Gamble andFischer (1915-1935) reported of the Eastern Ghats. Mani (1974), Nayar et al.
on Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in his flora (1984) and Raju et al. (1987) reported on the
of presidency of madras. Recently Saxena and vegetation andphytogeography, endemic andrare
536 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 95(3) DEC 1998