Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26
March 2020 | 12(4): 15522–15529
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4802.12.4.15522-15529
#4802 | Received 08 January 2019 | Final received 20 December
2019 | Finally accepted 25 February 2020
Additions of woody climbers (Lianas) to the flora of Manipur, India
Longjam Malemnganbee
Chanu 1 &
Debjyoti Bhattacharyya 2
1,2 Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics Laboratory,
Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar,
Assam 788011, India.
1 malemlong@gmail.com, 2 dbhattacharyya_aus@yahoo.in
(corresponding author)
Editor: K. Ravikumar, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local
Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru, India. Date
of publication: 26 March 2020 (online & print)
Citation: Chanu, L.M. & D. Bhattacharyya (2020). Additions of
woody climbers (Lianas) to the flora of Manipur, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(4): 15522–15529. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4802.12.4.15522-15529
Copyright: © Chanu & Bhattacharyya 2020. Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the head, Department of
Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar
for providing necessary facilities. The authors are also grateful to the
head(s) of the herbaria ASSAM and CAL, Botanical Survey of India for giving
permission to consult the herbarium and library. The first author is thankful
to the principal chief conservator of forest, Forest Department, Government of
Manipur for giving permission to explore the reserve forest areas of Manipur.
Manipur, one of the northeastern
states of India, is a predominantly hilly and forest dominated state with an
area of 22,327km2. Out of the
total geographical area, 17,477km2 is under forest cover which
constitutes about 78% of the total area of the state. The state shares an international boundary
with Myanmar (Anonymous 2009). Due to
diverse phytogeography and varied climatic conditions, the state has provided
suitable habitats for the growth of luxuriant floral elements. The total floral richness and abundance are
also evidenced by the diversity of lianas in the state.
To explore the liana diversity of the state, a study
has been carried out since 2013. During
field explorations, the first author collected many woody climbers (lianas)
from the study area of which five were found uncommon ones. After critical morpho-taxonomic examination
of all the specimens, scrutiny of relevant literature (Hooker 1875–83; Kanjilal et al. 1934–39; Fang & Staples 1995; Chang et
al. 1996; Chen & Turland 2007; Chen et al. 2007;
Quang et al. 2013; eFlora 2017) and matching of
specimens housed in herbaria of Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Eastern
Regional Centre, Shillong (ASSAM) and Central
National Herbarium (CNH), Howrah (CAL), the species were identified as Ampelopsis rubifolia (Wall.) Planch. (Vitaceae),
Argyreia wallichii Choisy (Convolvulaceae), Combretum sundaicum Miq. (Combretaceae), Jasminum lanceolaria
Roxb. (Oleaceae), and Tetrastigma obovatum
Gagnep. (Vitaceae). The identities of all the five species were
further confirmed consulting the digitized images of type specimens at Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, London (K) (www.apps.kew.org).
The perusal of relevant literature
(Deb 1957, 1961; Chaudhuri & Naithani 1985; Singh
et al. 2000) revealed that these species were not so far known from Manipur;
hence, this report constitutes five new distribution records and additions of
woody climbers to the state of Manipur.
The specimens
were preserved following standard herbarium methods (Jain & Rao 1977) and
deposited in ASSAM and the Herbarium of Department of Life Science &
Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar. Detailed taxonomic description, illustration,
and photographs are provided for easy identification of the species. In the treatment, families are arranged
alphabetically and again species are arranged alphabetically within a family
where the family contains more than one species.
Family: Combretaceae
1. Combretum sundaicum Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind., Eerste Bijv. 2: 327. 1861; C.B. Clarke in Hook.f.,
Fl. Brit. India 2: 458–459. 1878; Kanjilal et al.,
Fl. Assam 2: 256. 1938; Jie &Turland
in Wu et al., Fl. China 13: 316–320. 2007. (Fig. 1; Image 1).
Large woody climber. Stems terete, glabrous;
young branchlets short brown pubescent. Leaves simple, opposite; petioles
0.1–0.7 cm long, glabrous. Leaf blades broadly
elliptic-ovate, 7–17 × 4–12 cm, obtuse-subacute at base, acute-acuminate at
apex, entire at margins, thinly coriaceous, densely scaly at both surfaces;
scales minute, yellow at abaxial surface, white at adaxial surface; lateral
veins 7–8 pairs. Inflorescences apical to axillary, compound dichasium, c. 5–13
cm long, usually grouped at apex of branchlets forming a panicle, densely
villous at axes, inconspicuously scaly; hemispheric capitula composed of
apically condensed flower-bearing spikes, c. 0.8–1.3 cm long; bracts linear,
caducous; buds ovate, acute at apex. Calyx tube infundibuliform, c. 0.7–1.2 cm
long, glabrous at abaxial surface, yellow scaly, ring
of densely coarse hairs at adaxial surface, 4-lobed; lobes broadly
triangular-deltoid, c. 2 mm long, shortly acute-acuminate at apex. Petals 4,
white, obovate-oblong, c. 0.2 × 0.1 cm, obtuse-rounded at apex. Stamens 8, exserted, c. 6 mm long; anthers ellipsoid, c. 1 mm
long. Ovary superior, c. 3 mm long;
styles terete, c. 8 mm long. Fruit not found.
Flowering: June–July.
Habitat: The species grows in shady areas along
roadsides and hilly slopes between 1,000–1,126 m.
Specimen examined: #94641, 4.vii.2014, India, Manipur,
Noney District, Charoi Chakotlong II, 24.7520N & 93.6160E,
c. 1,126.90m, coll. L.M. Chanu 25359, ASSAM (Image 6).
Distribution: India (Assam, Manipur, Sikkim), Borneo,
Java, peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam
(http://www.catalogueoflife.org), (https://www.indiabiodiversity.org).
Family: Convolvulaceae
2. Argyreia wallichii Choisy, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6:
422. 1833; C.B. Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4:
187. 1883; Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 3: 342. 1939; Rhui-cheng & Staples in Wu et al., Fl. China 16: 316.
1995. (Fig. 2; Image 2).
Woody climber, extensively large. Stems terete, pale
greenish; young branchlets short white tomentose.
Leaves compound, opposite; petioles 5–13 cm long. Leaf blades broadly
ovate-cordate, 11–24 × 8–19 cm, cordate at the base, acute at apex, entire at
margins, pale greenish, densely white tomentose at abaxial surface, glabrous
at adaxial surface with sparsely strigose hairs along midrib; lateral
veins 10–17 pairs, prominent at base
adaxially. Inflorescences terminal-axillary, capitate cymes, many flowered;
peduncles up to 2cm long, pubescent. Outer bracts persistent, ovate-elliptic,
3–3.5 × 2–2.5 cm, greyish pubescent at abaxial surface, glabrous
and nerved at adaxial surface, entire at margins. Inner bracts persistent,
ovate-elliptic, 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm, pubescent at abaxial surface, glabrous at adaxial surface and nerved. Corolla and
androecium not seen. Ovary globose to ovate-elliptic, glabrous,
obtuse at apex; styles c. 1 cm long. Fruits not seen.
Flowering: October–November.
Habitat: The species was found in a deforested area at
an elevation of c. 1,000m and climbing on Pinus sp.
Specimen examined: #94637, 3.xi.2013, India, Manipur, Chandel District, Chakpi karong Sub-division, Gohok
Village, 24.2070N & 93.9000E, coll. L.M. Chanu 25324, ASSAM (Image 7).
Distribution: India (Sikkim, Manipur, West Bengal
(Darjeeling)), Bhutan, China, Myanmar, northern Thailand (http://www.catalogueoflife.org).
Family: Oleaceae
3. Jasminum lanceolaria
Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 98. 1820; C.B. Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 601. 1882. Mei-Chen et al.
in Wu et al., Fl. China 15: 314. 1996. Quang et al., J. Biol. 35(4):
431. 2013; Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 3: 232. 1939. Jasminum lanceolaria var. puberulum Hemsl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 26: 78. 1889.
(Fig. 3; Image 3).
Woody climber. Stems terete; young branchlets smooth,
greenish. Leaves opposite, 3-foliolate, sometimes reduced to single at the base
of inflorescences; petioles 1–3 cm long, glabrous; petiolules 2–4.5 cm long, glabrous.
Leaflets elliptic-ovate, coriaceous, cuneate-rounded at base, acute-acuminate
at apex, entire at margins; nerve obscure, 5–8 pairs of lateral nerves;
terminal leaflets larger than lateral leaflets, 6–12 × 3–4 cm; lateral leaflets
6–10 × 2.5–3.5 cm. Inflorescences compound, terminal-axillary, pedunculate trichotomous cymes, many flowered, 7–12 cm long. Bracts
linear, 1–5 × 1–2 mm; bracteoles linear, c. 1 × 0.5 mm long, serrate at
margins. Flowers fragrant, white, pentamerous; pedicels 0–1.2 cm long, glabrous. Calyx tubular, glabrous,
2–5 × 2 mm wide; lobes minutely dentate, c. 0.5 mm long. Corolla white, hypocrateriform; tubes 2–3 × 0.2–0.3 cm wide; 5-lobed,
lobes oblong-lanceolate, 1–1.3 × 0.4–0.5 cm. Stamens 2; filament short,
attached to throat; anthers c. 0.6 cm. Ovary c. 0.1 cm long, styles terete, c.
0.5 cm long; stigma c. 0.3 cm long. Fruits not seen.
Habitat: Grows in moist forests at an altitude of c.
782m.
Flowering: April–May.
Specimen examined: #94638, 7.iv.2014, India, Manipur, Chandel District, Chakpi karong Sub-division, Khubung Khunou, 24.1980N & 93.9080E,
coll. L.M. Chanu 25337, ASSAM (Image 8).
Distribution: India (Andaman Island, Assam, eastern
Himalaya, Manipur), Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaya, Myanmar, Taiwan,
Thailand, Vietnam (http://www.catalogueoflife.org).
Family: Vitaceae
4. Ampelopsis rubifolia (Wall.) Planch., Monogr.
Phan. 5: 463. 1887; Chen in Wu et al., Fl. China 12: 183. 2007. Vitis rubifolia Wall.,
Fl. Ind., ed. 1820 2: 480 1824. M.A. Lawson in Hook.f.,
Fl. Brit. India 1: 663. 1875; Kanjilal et al., Fl.
Assam 1(1): 302. 1934. (Fig. 4; Image 4).
Large woody climber. Stems angular, glabrous; young branchlets slender, surface covered with
densely rusty ferruginous pilose hairs; tendrils anti-folius,
bifurcate. Leaves compound, bipinnate,
rarely 3-foliolate, c. 22 cm long; petioles 5–11 cm long, densely curly
pilose; terminal leaflets petiolules c. 2–3 cm long;
lateral leaflets petiolules c. 0.2–0.5 cm long,
densely curly pilose. Leaflets ovate-elliptic, 4–11 × 2.5–6.5 cm, sub-truncate
at base, acute-acuminate at apex, serrate at margins, pubescent at abaxial
surface, glabrous at adaxial surface; 5–7 pairs of
lateral nerves. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, umbellate cymes, c. 11cm long,
pseudo-terminal, densely curly ferruginous pilose; peduncles 5–8 cm long,
densely rusty ferruginous pilose. Flowers pale greenish, c. 0.3cm long;
pedicels 1–0.2 cm long, densely rusty ferruginous pilose; buds ovoid, c. 0.3 cm
long, rounded at apex, rusty ferruginous pilose abaxially. Calyx cupular, 0.2–0.3 × 0.1–0.2 cm, rusty pilose at abaxial
surface; 5-lobed, lobes apex slightly sub-truncate, densely rusty ferruginous
pilose abaxially. Petals c. 0.2cm long, 5-lobed, elliptic-ovate, pubescent at
abaxial surface. Stamens 5, c. 1.5mm long; anthers ovate, c. 0.5mm long, dorsifixed. Disc cupular. Ovary
adnate to disc; styles short, conical; stigmas capitate. Fruits not seen.
Habitat: The species grows along roadsides and hill
slopes at an elevation of c. 880m. It
forms a large canopy on tree species viz. Acacia sp. and Pinus
sp. Associated other species recorded was Millettia
pachycarpa Benth.
(Leguminosae: Papilionoideae).
Flowering: Mid April–June.
Specimen examined: #94639, 29.vi.2016, India, Manipur,
Chandel District, Beru Anthi, 24.3310N & 94.9750E, coll.
L.M. Chanu 25441, ASSAM (Image 9).
Distribution: India (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram), Bangladesh, China (http://efloraindia.nic.in, http://www.catalogueoflife.org).
5. Tetrastigma obovatum (M.A. Lawson) Gagnep., Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1(9): 266–267. 1910; Teng in Wu et
al., Fl. China 12: 202. 2007; Vitis obovata M.A. Lawson in Hook.f. Fl. Brit. India 1(3): 658–659. 1875; Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 1(1): 298. 1934; Deb, Fl.
Tripura 1: 415. 1981. (Fig. 5; Image 5).
Large woody climber. Stems flattened; young branchlets
terete, densely hirsute; tendrils anti-folius,
unbranched. Leaves palmately 5-foliolate; petioles 10–15 cm long, densely
hirsute; petiolules 1–2 cm long, densely hirsute.
Leaflets ovate, obovate-elliptic, hirsute at abaxial surface, adaxially glabrous with sparsely pilose hairs at veins, membranous,
serrate at margins; lateral nerves 6–8 pairs, distinct; terminal leaflets
obovate-elliptic, 15–20 × 7–9 cm, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, serrate
at margins; lateral leaflets elliptic-ovate, 11–18 × 4.5–8.5 cm, asymmetric at
base, acuminate at apex, serrate at margins. Flowers not seen. Infructescences axillary, umbelliform, dichasium. Fruits
berry, globose, smooth, 1.8–2 cm, 2–4 seeded. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 1cm long,
plano-convex, rostrate at base, retuse at apex with
transverse line on both surfaces, ventrally furrowed, up to apex.
Habitat: Grows in moist and shady areas at an
elevation of 790–1,340 m.
Fruiting: June–July.
Specimens examined: #94640, 15.vi.2014, India,
Manipur, Imphal West District, Orchid Preservation
Centre, Khonghampat, 24.8920N & 93.8980E,
c. 793 m, coll. L.M. Chanu 25348, ASSAM; #94642,
04.vii.2014, India, Manipur, Churachandpur District, Ngariyan Hill, 24.6110N & 93.6880E,
c. 1,340m, coll. L.M. Chanu 25363, ASSAM (Image 10).
Distribution: India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim), Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam (http://www.catalogueoflife.org).
Notes: As per
IUCN (2019), threat status of these five species has not been assessed. No ecological studies were also conducted for
enumeration of their abundance in the study area in this present study,
however, field observations made in the entire state during the last six years
showed that Ampelopsis rubifolia, Argyreia wallichii,
Combretum sundaicum, and Jasminum lanceolaria were rare in the state and were recorded
only from hill regions of Manipur. The
first author could recognize only one population of each of these four species
in the field. In contrast, Tetrastigma obovatum was found common throughout and
seen growing abundantly in different localities in the state, both in hilly and
valley districts. Deforestation of
timber-yielding plants might have had a devastating impact on the overall
population status of lianas in the state as this curious growth form is fully
dependent upon their supporting trees for their climbing mechanisms. Therefore, to preserve these lianas, in situ
conservation of overall habitat should be prioritized.
For
figures and images - - click here
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