A taxonomic account of Amischotolype (Commelinaceae) and notes on the occurrence of Porandra in India
Mayur D. Nandikar 1 & Rajaram V. Gurav 2
1 Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa
403206, India
2 Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur,
Maharashtra 416004, India
1 mnandikar@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 rvg_botany@unishivaji.ac.in
Abstract: An annotated enumeration of Amischotolype (Commelinaceae)
in India including one endemic species is given with description, illustrations
and key. In addition, notes on the occurrence of genus Porandra in India is provided.
Keywords: Amischotolype,Commelinaceae, India, Porandra,taxonomy.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3500.5774-80
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date
of publication: 26 May 2014 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms #
o3500 | Received 27 January 2013 | Final received 17 April 2014 | Finally
accepted 27 April 2014
Citation: Nandikar, M.D. & R.V. Gurav (2014).A taxonomic account
of Amischotolype (Commelinaceae)
and notes on the occurrence of Porandra in
India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(5): 5774–5780; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3500. 5774-80
Copyright: © Nandikar & Gurav 2014. Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTTallows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and
distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of
publication.
Funding: Self funded.
Competing Interest: The
authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Helena Duistermaat, NCB Naturalis,
National Herbarium Netherlands, Leiden for reviewing the manuscript, Prof. S.R. Yadav, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Prof.M.K. Janarthanam, Goa University, Goa for providing
laboratory facilities, the authorities and curators of the herbaria at the
Central National Herbarium, Howrah (CAL), at the Madras Herbarium, Coimbatore
(MH) and Eastern Circle Herbarium, BSI, Shillong(ASSAM) who have kindly allowed us to examine the specimens and literature.
For figures, images -- click here
While working on a revision of Commelinaceaein India the genus Amischotolype Hassk. wasstudied. The genus is paleotropic and comprises c. 26 species distributed mainly
in South, East and Southeast Asia (excluding Sri Lanka) of which four species
are strictly found in tropical Africa. In India, the genus is represented by three species (modified after Karthikeyan et al. 1989). Hooker (1894) in his treatment of Flora
of British India reported five species, viz., Forrestia mollis Hassk. (=Amischotolype mollissima(Blume) Hassk.), F. griffithii Clarke (=A.griffithii (C.B. Clarke) I.M. Turner), F. marginata Hassk. (=A. marginata (Blume) Hassk.), F. hookeri Hassk. (=A. hookeri(Hassk.) H. Hara) and F. glabrata Hassk. (=A.glabrata Hassk.), of
which the first three are known to occur in Java and Malaysia, and are excluded
from the present treatment. Recently, Duistermaat (2012) revised the genusAmischotolype for Asia and provided a
detailed taxonomic account of the genus. She has described eight new species and one of it (A. dolichandra Duist.) is
from India. In the present
treatment the detailed description and widened distribution of Amischotolype for India are given.
African Amischotolype tenuis (C.B. Clarke) R.S. Raoas enumerated by Karthikeyan et al. (1989) in India
is mistaken. The species is
strictly restricted to tropical Africa. In addition, the authors studied Indian specimens in various herbaria
that had been identified as A. mollisima. However, A. mollissima (Blume) Hassk., is limited in its distribution to Java and Sumatra. In Java it is not known above 600m elevation, whereas in Sumatra it occurs up to 1420m (Duistermaat 2012). The majority of Indian specimens turned out to be either A. hookeri or A. glabrata, while
a few were identified as a recently described species Amischotolype dolichandra Duist.
Amischotolype dolichandra is
closely related to Amischotolype glabrata, and can easily be recognized by short pseudopetioles, glabrous stamen
filaments and narrowed, long anthers. In addition, within India, A. dolichandra is
restricted to the northeasternparts whereas A. glabrata is much more
widespread from the northeastern to the peninsular
region. However, herbarium
specimens, in which the diagnostic floral characters
were lacking, were not readily distinguishable from A. glabrata. The specimens labeled with A. mollisima and A. glabrata were screened to determine the distribution of A. dolichandra in India, since unfortunately
many of which were without flowers or fruits, certain identification could not
be made. A mere handful of
collections from Sikkim Himalaya and the northeasternstates of India turned out to be A. dolichandra.
In addition to Amischotolype tenuis, Rao (1971) made two
new combinations, namely, A. mollissima var. marginata and A. mollissima var. glabrata. But, Raoneither gives descriptions, nor does he cite material for his varieties. Therefore, his new combinations were nomina confusa (for detailed
notes please see Duistermaat 2012: 125). We have treated one of his combinations A.mollissima var. glabrataas a valid one and a synonym of A. glabrata,
because Rao (1971: 53) 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). A screening of the herbarium specimens placed at MH turned out to be
only A. glabrata.
Hong described the genus Porandra 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 is different and separated from Amischotolype by its climbing habit and anther cells
opening by apical pores (Thitimetharoch et al.
2003). Duistermaat(2012) stated that 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 Porandra in India. The specimen was cited
by Clarke (1881: 237) and Hooker (1894: 384) in their treatment of the
family Commelinaceae as Forrestia marginata var. rostrata.
We have seen only two specimens [A.S. Rao 48050 and
J. Joseph 48538 (ASSAM)] from Arunachal Pradesh whichallowed us to confirm the climbing habit character (Fig. 3, Image 2). However, it was difficult to examine the
opening of the anther from pressed flowers. The straggling or trailing branched
habit resembles Porandra ramosa, but more flowering specimens need to be studied
to draw any conclusion.
Material and Methods
Herbarium specimens of all species have been studied from the collections
situated at Central National Herbarium, Kolkata (CAL), Madras Herbarium,
Coimbatore (MH), and Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Circle, Shillong (ASSAM). The photographs of herbarium sheets (types and other herbarium
specimens) were examined digitally through JSTOR Global Plants
(http://plants.jstor.org/) and herbaria webpages of K, L and P.
Species descriptions were drawn up using a variety of materials,
including herbarium specimens, living plants, preserved flowers and
inflorescence and separately collected capsules and seeds. Nomenclature was followed as per the
Melbourne Code (McNeill et al. 2012).
Key to the genus (modified after Faden 1998
and Duistermaat 2012)
- Plants
with various habits, rarely scrambling; anther dehiscent usually longitudinal …….…...........…….. Amischotolype
- Plants
scrambling, climbing or trailing; anther dehiscent
poricidal ……................................................……...….… Porandra
Taxonomic Treatment:
Amischotolype 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 & 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. Javae1:7.1827; Kunth, Enum.pl. 4:109.1843, pro
parte; Hasskarl in Miquel,
Pl. Jungh.154.1852; non L.C.M. Rich. 1808. (after Faden 1998; Duistermaat2012).
Perennial, small to gigantic herbs; roots fibrous,
rather succulent. Stem solid, nodes very short and usually thickened. Leaf sheath tubular, closed, tightly
covering the internode, the lower withering and deciduous as the plant matures,
generally green, longitudinally veined, glabrous or
variously hirsute; leaves distichous, oblong to linear-lanceolate,
surface glabrous or variously pubescent, base
attenuate, apex acuminate to caudate, submarginalhairs present or absent. Inflorescence very compact and globose or more lax, composed of two to several cincinni. Flowers sessile to subsessileor shortly pedicellate; sepals subequal,
succulent; petals free, equal, not clawed; stamens six, equal or subequal, filaments bearded or partially glabrous, anthers dehiscing longitudinally. Capsule dehiscent, white, pink, red,
lilac, brown-purple or green, trilocular, valves
apically free to fused up to 4/5 of length, ciliate or glabrous. Seeds (1-)2 perlocule, embedded in a red, fleshy aril, reniform, surface coarsely rugose,
hilum linear. x = 9 (Morton 1967).
Distribution and ecology: Paleotropic, c. 26 species, mainly in South,
East and Southeast Asia (excluding Sri Lanka), four 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).
Three species of the genus Amischotolype present in India have been illustrated in the present treatment. The
following key will facilitate identification of these species.
1. Capsule
exceeded from sepals ..................... A. hookeri
1. Capsule
not exceeded from sepals .............................2
2. Stamen
filament bearded, capsule valves free [eastern Pakistan, through India and
China to southern Japan] .........................................................................................A. glabrata
2. Stamen
filament glabrous, capsule valves fused [apparently
endemic to India] ........................ A. dolichandra
1. Amischotolype dolichandra
Duist. In Gard. Bull. Singapore 64(1): 66. 2012. Type: India,
Manipur, Karong, 1050m elevation,
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 of Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 23.1989, pro parte (non Hassk. 1863).
Perennial, erect, 1–1.5 m high herb; roots
fibrous; basal part of stem ascending and bearing long roots at node;
internodes 3–9 cm long, glabrous or hairy. Leaf sheath glabrous or with a line of brown hairs on one side, mouth
densely to sparsely ciliate; leaf blades shortly petiolate,oblanceolate, 6–15(–20)×3–6
cm, apex acuminate, base attenuate, lower surface glabrousor pubescent, upper surface glabrous. Inflorescence few-many
flowered, densely globose, piercing the sheath. Flowers sessile;
sepals pink or red, sparsely ciliate along the margins or glabrousand fleshy; petals as long as sepals, elliptic, white, glabrous;
stamen filaments c. 8mm 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 foveateto foveolate-scorbiculate, black to metallic black,
aril orange [T.M. Hynniewta 84705 (ASSAM)].
Specimens examined: India: 14463 (ASSAM), 19.viii.1958, TirapForest Division (NEFA), Changlang District, Arunachal
Pradesh, coll. R.S. Rao; 112531 (ASSAM), 5.xiii.2006,Dzuko Valley and SurramHills, Kujeree Forest, Manipur, coll. A.A. Mao and R.Gogoi; 31104 (ASSAM), 21.i.1963, North Varnlaphai, Mizo Hills, Mizora, coll. D.B. Deb; 286 (K), vi.1927, Tengawl, Lushai Hills, N.E.
Parry; 84705 (ASSAM), 9.xii.1983, Hakchang, Tuensang District, Nagaland, coll. T.M. Hynniewta;
27233 (ASSAM), 28.i.1962, Sabual, North Tripura, Tripura,
coll. D.B. Deb.
Flowering and fruiting: Throughout the year.
Distribution and ecology: Apparently endemic to northeastern India; undergrowth of evergreen forest, along stream, in gorge,
along roadside, on alluvial fertile soil. For the distribution and conservation status need further detailed
documentation.
Note: The
species closely resembles A. glabrata,
which has much wider distribution, longer sepals, stamens with hairy filaments,
much shorter anthers, and capsules with basally fused valves (Duistermaat 2012).
2. Amischotolype glabrata
Hassk., Flora 46: 392. 1863; Duist., Gard. Bull. Singapore 64(1): 66. 2012.
(Fig. 1).
Campelia glabrata auct., sensu Hasskarlin 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; 33, 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), Gedeet Tangkubanprau (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 C.B.Clarke in DC., Mono. Phan.
3:236.1881. pro parte.
Amischotolype hispida auct., sensu Hong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12:4. 461.1974; McKean, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard.
Edinburgh 45:1.153.1988.
Amischotolype mollissima of Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.
23.1989. pro parte (non Hassk.
1863).
Scrambling, rhizomatous, 2–2.5 m high, perennial herb with erect
to ascending stem; roots fibrous, numerous on basal, ascending nodes;
internodes moderately long and glabrous or puberulous. Leaf sheaths glabrous,
mouth usually ciliate, rarely glabrous; blades shortly
pseudo-petiolate, oblanceolate,
10–20×3–6.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate,
upper surface glabrous while lower sparsely
pubescent. Inflorescence dense, 5–15 flowered; flowers shortly pedicellate; sepals green to white or pink, fleshy, persistent,
tip hooded; petals 6×3 mm, as long as sepals, elliptic; stamens with
filaments c. 11mm long, exerted, sparsely bearded with white hairs, anthers
deltoid, white or off-white. Capsule 6×5 mm, obovoid,
not exerted from sepals, red to pink in colour, 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.
Specimens examined: INDIA: A011 (SUK), 9.xii.2011, Hulichal Ghat, Karwar, Karnataka, coll. M.D. Nandikar; 82049, 82050 14.x.1972, Palamagudi,Visakhapatanam District, Andhra Pradesh, coll.
G.V. Subba Rao; 73648, 73649 (MH), 23.xii.1967, Minumuluru, Paderu Mandal, Visakhapatanam District, Andhra
Pradesh, coll. G.V. Subba Rao. 27879, 14.ii.1962, KiminRiver bank, Assam, coll. G. Panigrahi; 97691 (ASSAM)
25.ix.2011, eastern bank of Mehao Lake, Assam, coll.
D.K. Singh & Party; 812 (SUK) 11.x.2012, Shillong, Meghalaya, coll.
M.D. Nandikar; 22429, 12.xii.1969, Tura top, West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya, coll. Panigrahi;
63973 (ASSAM), 7.xii.1975, on the way to Garo Hills
(Tura Peak), Meghalaya, coll. M.K.V. Rao; 19048
(CAL), x.1872, Khasia, Shillong,
Meghalaya, coll. C.B. Clarke; 44390B (CAL), xii.1886, Shillong,
Meghalaya, coll. C.B. Clarke; 1941 (NEHU Herbarium), Tura Peak, s.d., coll. Myrthong; 2174 (CAL),
29.xii.1975, district unknown, Sikkim 1,370m, coll. King; 429 (CAL),
28.ix.1908, Humsong, Sikkim, coll. W.G. Craib; 613(CAL), 11.xii.1908, Siton,
Sikkim, coll. W.G. Craib.; 35539(CAL), 26.x.1884,
153m, Garidoora, Darjeeling, West Bengal, coll. C.B.
Clarke.
Flowering and fruiting: Throughout the year.
Distribution and ecology: India (Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Karnataka, Meghalaya and West Bengal) and other East Asian countries.
Note: Amischotolype glabrata is
the most widespread and one of the common species, chiefly occurring in the northeastern parts of India. Also known to occur from eastern
Pakistan through China to southern Japan (RuykyuIslands), south to Nusa Tenggara (Lombok), excluding the Philippines and
Sulawesi; primary or disturbed (mountain, oak-laurel) evergreen, mixed or
deciduous (monsoon) forest, often near stream, on dry to moist sandy or loamy
soil (Duistermaat 2012). Occasionally occurs in the hilly areas,
undergrowth of forests of Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh [Subba Rao 73648 (MH); Subba Rao & Kumari 1970]. M.D. Nandikar A011, is a new distributional record for Karnataka
State of Western Ghats.
3. Amischotolype hookeri (Fig. 2, Image 1)
(Hassk.) H. Hara, Fl. E. Himalaya 1: 399. 1966; Karthik.et al., Fl. India. Enum.
Monocot. 23.1989; Duist. Gard. Bull. Singapore 64(1): 84. 2012.
Fig. 1; 5 A–B.
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 photo (sh. no. B 10 0296341)).
Rhizomatous, perennial herbs, rhizome prostrate, stem stout and grows up
to 100–400 cm high; internodes moderately 3–4 cm long; nodes
swollen, sparsely hairy. Leaf sheath 2–3 cm long, mouth densely ciliate,
margin hairy; leaves crowded at the top, leaf blade oblanceolate,
30–40×10 cm, margin somewhat undulate and sparsely hairy, apex
caudate, base gradually to rather abruptly narrowed into indistinct
pseudo-petiole with dense hairs along the margin, veins on lower surface hairy,
upper surface glabrous. Inflorescence on erect stem,
crowded at nodes, sessile, c. 3×2 cm, dense with branches obscure,
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
at margin, tip hooded; petals c. 8×3.5 mm, as long as sepals, white to
pale pink, glabrous, fleshy or succulent; stamens
filaments c. 1mm long; anthers, yellow, opening by a longitudinal slit. Capsule 1–1.5×0.5–0.7
cm, ovoid, much exerted (3–5 mm) from sepals, pink or purple, sparsely
hairy, hairs long; valves free to fused in basal half, apex acute, lobes
absent; seeds two per locule, 5×3 mm, testa variously reticulate, grey, hilum linear, embryotega not distinguished but lateral, embedded in
scarlet coloured fleshy aril.
Specimens examined: INDIA: 47747(CAL), 9.ix.1969, Kharem to Wakro Road, Lohit District, Arunachal
Pradesh, NEFA, coll. A.S. Rao; 55242, 23.i.1974, Daldali Reserve Forest, MikirHills, Karbi AnglongDistrict, Assam, coll. R.S. Rao; 19608 (ASSAM),
16.v.1940, Sibsagar, Hollongpar,Sivasagar District, Assam, coll. R.N. De; 38835
(CAL), 14.xi.1964, Sahargaon, KamrupDistrict, Assam, coll. A.S. Rao; 102 (CAL), s.date, district unknown, coll. Jenkins; 3689 (MH),
xii.1907, below Nasum Vagaleneli,
for Fl. Manipur, coll. A. Meebold; 12427, 23.ix.1935,Umsaw forest, Khasi and Jainta Hills District, Meghalaya, coll. ShriRam Sarma; 43797 (ASSAM), 12.iii.1966, Umling, Nongph District, coll. J.
Joseph; 1239 (SUK), 11.x.2012, Experimental Botanical Garden, Umiyam, Shillong, coll. M.D. Nandikar; 36264 (MH), 5.viii.1884, 305m, Mongtow, Sikkim, coll. C.B. Clarke; 2286(x2), 19.xii.1875,
61m, district unknown, Sikkim, coll. G. King; Bishop, 18.ii.1867, Anderson s.n. (sh. no. 488559); 35716 (CAL), 21.xi.1911, Abor. Expd. Makhum, coll. J.H. Burkill.
Flowering and fruiting: Throughout the year.
Distribution and
ecology: India and Bangladesh; in northeastern parts of India, in evergreen forests, on
slopes, in forest undergrowths.
Note: One
of the tall (c. 4m) and robust species of Amischotolype,
with large (c. 40x10 cm) oblanceolate, undulate leaf
blades and large pink coloured (c. 1.5cm) dehiscent capsules, occasionally
found in the undergrowth of forests of the northeasternstates of India.
Porandra D.Y. Hong in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12(4): 462. 1974; Faden, Fam. Gen. Vas. Pl. 4: 120. 1998. Type: Porandra ramosaD.Y. Hong.
Perennial, rhizomatous, scrambling, climbing or trailing herbs;
inflorescence a very compact, globose, subsessile head; flowers bisexual, subsessile;
sepals equal, petaloid; petals free, equal, not
clawed; stamens six, free, equal, all fertile; filaments bearded; anthers
dehiscing by apical pores; capsules trilocular, trivalved; seeds two per locule, arillate.
Three species mainly in China and Thailand, one in
India (Arunachal Pradesh).
Porandra ramosa
D.Y. Hong in Acta Phytotax.
Sin. 12(4): 462. 1974; D.Y. Hong and De Filippsin Fl. China 24: 24. 2000. Type: China, Yunnan, FengQing, T.T. Yü 16255 (holo-PE). Fig. 3 & Image 2
Climbing or trailing, branched herb, possibly perennial; stem with long
internodes, glabrous; leaf sheath 2–4 cm long, glabrous, mouth ciliate; leaves crowded terminally; leaf
blade elliptic to lanceolate or oblanceolate,
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; stamens six, anthers drip-shaped (Thitimetharochet al. 2003)]; capsule trilocular, ovoid, 10×7
mm, sparsely ciliate; seeds ellipsoid, with bright red aril.
Specimens examined: INDIA: 48050 (ASSAM, CAL), 23.ix.1969,
Dalai bridge, Hayuliang, LohitDistrict, Arunachal Pradesh, coll. A.S. Rao; 48530
(ASSAM, CAL), 9.xii.1969, around Glow village, LohitDistrict, NEFA, xoll. coll.
J. Joseph.
Flowering and fruiting: August to October.
Distribution:China, Thailand and eastern India (incompletely known)
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. However, we are unable to
find dense pubescence on leaf sheaths, petioles and leaves in the referred
specimens, only capsules are sparsely ciliate, which was illustrated by Thitimetharoch et al. (2003) in the original description.
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