Comparative morphological and ethnobotanical assessment of certain taxa of genus Glochidion (Phyllanthaceae) from Assam, India
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The genus Glochidion, a member of the family Phyllanthaceae, primarily comprises shrub or tree species. It stands out from other genera due to distinctive reproductive features, including prolonged styles in flowers and fruits, apiculate anthers, and lobed and unlobed capsules. This study aimed to compare the morphological characteristics of nine taxa in Assam to facilitate identification and assess ethnobotanical knowledge. Ethnobotanical information was gathered by interviewing the local community, and a taxonomic key was provided for accurate identification. Morphological data underwent principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis using PAST for validation. The comparison revealed distinct characteristics in both vegetative and reproductive traits among Glochidion members. Reproductive features, such as inflorescence, style, ovary, and capsules, were key factors for differentiation and identification. PCA and cluster analysis demonstrated correlation and variation among the taxa, contributing significantly to their demarcation. Ethnobotanical studies indicated the genus’s potential medicinal properties, supported by both primary and secondary information.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
References
Asati, B.S. & D.S. Yadav (2004). Diversity of horticultural crops in north eastern region. ENVIS Bulletin: Himalayan Ecology 12: 1–11.
Azam, A.T.M.Z., A.H. Abdullah, G.U. Mohammad, M.M. Mohammad & M.H. Choudhury (2012). Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Glochidion multiloculare (Roxb. Ex Willd.) Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae). Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 11(2): 117–120. http://doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v11i2.14560 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v11i2.14560
Babu, P.S.P. (1995). Euphorbiaceae of Andhra Pradesh, India. Ph.D. Thesis. Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Bajpai, O., A. Kumar, A.K. Srivastava, A.K. Kuhwaha, J. Pandey & L.B. Chaudhary (2015). Tree species of Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India: a checklist. Checklist 11(4): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.15560/11.4.1718 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/11.4.1718
Balakrishnan, N.P. & T. Chakrabarty (2007). The Family Euphorbiaceae in India: A synopsis of its Profile, Taxonomy and Bibliography. M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India, 342 pp.
Balakrishnan, N.P., T. Chakrabarty, M. Sanjappa, P. Lakshminarsimhan & P. Singh (eds.) (2012). Flora of India. Vol. 23. Botanical Survey of India, New Delhi, India, 414 pp.
Bentham, G. & J.D. Hooker (1862–1883). Genera Plantarum. Vol. 3. L. Reeve & Co., 6 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, England, 279 pp.
Bhattacharya, P., R. Muzumder & G. Sarmah (1991). Rare medicinal plants of Assam. Ancient Science of Life 10(4): 234–8.
Bhattacharyya, R., K.K. Medhi, S.K. Borthakur & S. Borkataki (2020). An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used against jaundice by tea tribes of Morigaon District, Assam (India). Journal of Natural Remedies 20(1): 16–28. https://doi.org/10.18311/jnr/2020/23879 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/jnr/2020/23879
Borthakur, S.K., A. Bawri, D. Baro & A. Boro (2018). Flora of BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, Assam). Vol. 3. EBH publishers, India, 74 pp.
Brahma, B.K., B. Patere & H. Basumatary (2002). Boroni Muli Biphang Laiphang. Bodo Publication Board, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Kokrajhar, Guwahati, Assam, 93 pp.
Brahma, P. & S. Baruah (2023). Extended distribution of an endemic variety Glochidion zeylanicum var. paucicarpum Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. (Phyllanthaceae) from Assam, India. Vegetos. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00650-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-023-00650-0
Chakrabarty, T. & N.P. Balakrishnan (2018). Indo-Burmese Phyllanthaceae: A Taxonomic Revision. M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India, 194 pp.
Chanda, R., J. Mohanty, N.R. Bhuyan, P.K. Kar & L.K. Nath (2007). Medicinal plants used against gastrointestinal tract disorders by the traditional healers of Sikkim Himalayas. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 6(4): 606–610.
Chase, M.W., M.J.M. Christenhusz, M.F. Fay, J.W. Byng, W.S. Judd, D.E. Soltis, D.J. Mabberley, A.N. Sennikov, P.S. Soltis & P.F. Stevens (2016). An update of the angiosperm phylogeny group classifications for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society 181(1): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385
Clark, S.H. (1986). Preservation of Herbarium Specimens: An Archive Conservator’s Approach. Taxon 35(4): 675–682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1221610
Das, A.K., N. Stalin, C. Muthuperumal & P.S. Swamy (2013). Wild plants used by Muthuvan and Kattunaikkan tribal communities of Palakkayam settlement in Nilambur of Malappuram district, Kerala. Medicinal Plants - International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries 5(2): 82–89. http://doi.org/10.5958/j.0975-6892.5.2.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/j.0975-6892.5.2.013
Dutta, B.K. & P.K. Dutta (2005). Potential of ethnobotanical studies in North East India: An overview. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 4(1): 7–14.
eFloras (2008). Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. http://www.efloras.org. Electronic version accessed 18 May 2021.
Elanchezhian, R., R.S. Kumar, S. Beena & M.A. Suryanarayana (2007). Ethnobotany of Shompens - a primitive tribe of Great Nicobar Island. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 6(2): 342–345.
GBIF (2021). GBIF- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. https://www.gbif.org Electronic version accessed 24 May 2021.
Hammer, O., D. Harper & P. Ryan (2001). PAST: Paleontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4: 1–9.
Hoffmann, P., H. Kathriarachchi & K.J. Wurdack (2006). A phylogenetic classification of Phyllanthaceae (Malpighiales; Euphorbiaceae sensu lato). Kew Bulletin 61: 37–53. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443245
Hooker, J.D. (1890). The Flora of British India. Vol. 5. L. Reeve & Co., Henrietta street, Covent Garden, London, 456 pp.
Hutchinson, J. (1973). The Families of Flowering Plants. 3rd Edition. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 519 pp.
IPNI (2023). International Plant Name Index. Published on the Internet http://www.ipni.org. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Herbarium. Electronic version accessed 25 July 2023.
IUCN (2022). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-3. https://www.iucnredlist.org Electronic version accessed 8 May 2022.
Jain, S.K. & R.R. Rao (1977). A Handbook of Field & Herbarium Methods. Today & Tomorrow Printers & Publishers, New Delhi, India, 22 pp.
Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal, R.N. Dey & A. Das (1940). Flora of Assam. Vol. 4. Prabasi Press, Upper Circular Road, Calcutta, 179 pp.
Kato, M., A. Takimura & A. Kawakita (2003). An obligate pollination mutualism and reciprocal diversification in the tree genus Glochidion (Euphorbiaceae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100(9): 5264–5267. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0837153100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0837153100
Kumar, J.U.S., M.J.K. Chaitanya, A.J. Semotiuk & V. Krishna (2019). Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by ethnic communities of South India. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 18: 1–112. https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/1291 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32859/era.18.4.1-112
Lai, X.Z., Y.B. Yang & X.L. Shan (2004). The investigation of Euphorbiaceous medicinal plants in Southern China. Economic Botany 58: S307–S320. https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)58[S307:TIOEMP]2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)58[S307:TIOEMP]2.0.CO;2
Lalfakzuala, R., H. Lalramnghinglova & H. Kayang (2007). Ethnobotanical usage of plants in western Mizoram. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 6(3): 486–493.
Lalrinkimi & R.K. Lallianthanga (2019). Documentation of tree species within Mizoram Science Centre, Berawtlang, Aizawl, India with notes on their ethnomedicinal values. Science Vision 19(3): 63–78. https://doi.org/10.33493/scivis.19.03.01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33493/scivis.19.03.01
Maikhuri, R.K. & A.K. Gangwar (1993). Ethnobiological notes on the Khasi and Garo tribes of Meghalaya, Northeast India. Economic Botany 47: 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907348 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907348
Mao, A.A. & D.K. Roy (2004). Ethnobotanical studies in northeast India: a review, ) pp. 99–112. In: Jain, A.K. (ed.). Indian Ethnobotany: Emerging Trends. Scientific Publisher, India.
Myers, N., R.A. Mittermeier, C.G. Mittermeier, G.A.B. da Fonseca & J. Kent (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403(6772): 853–858. https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
POWO (2023). Plants of the Word Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Electronic version accessed 1 August 2023.
Prakash, J.W., R.D.A. Raja, N.A. Anderson, C. Williams, G.S. Regini, K. Bensar, R. Rajeev, S. Kiruba, S. Jeeva & S.M. Das (2008). Ethnomedicinal plants used by Kani tribes of Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 7(3): 410–413.
Rajkumari, R., P.K. Singh, A.K. Das & B.K. Dutta (2013). Ethnobotanical investigation of wild edible and medicinal plants used by the Chiru Tribe of Manipur, India. Pleione7(1): 167–174.
Rathod, V. & N.S. Rajurkar (2017). Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Glochidion ellipticum. Journal of Applicable Chemistry 6(2): 219–226.
Reddy, S.R., K.N. Reddy, C. Pattanaik, V.S. Raju & J. Autonagar (2006). Ethnobotanical observations on some endemic plants of Eastern Ghats, India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 82–91.
Saikia, A.P., V.K. Ryakala, P. Sharma, P. Goswami & U. Bora (2006). Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by Assamese people for various skin ailments and cosmetics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 106(2): 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.033
The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. http://www.theplantlist.org/. Accessed on 20 April 2021.
The World’s Herbaria (2018). A Summary Report Based on Data from Index Herbariorum Issue 3.0, published January 10, 2019, Barbara M. Thiers Editor, Index Herbariorum.
WFO (2023). World Flora Online. http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed on 22 June 2023.
Xiao, H.T., H.P. He, J. Peng, Y.H. Wang, X.W. Yang, X.J. Hu, X.Y. Hao & X.J. Hao (2008). Two new norbisabolane sesquiterpinoid glycosides from Glochidion coccineum. Journal of Asian Natural Product Research 10(1-2): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020701189393 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020701189393