Notes on the interesting species Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze

Authors

  • Sk. Md, Abu Imam Saadi Molecular Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700160, India.
  • Mehebub Sarwar Hossain Molecular Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700160, India.
  • Debasis Bhunia Department of Botany, Sree Chaitanya College, Habra, N-24 Parganas, West Bengal 743268, India.
  • Sk. Rasidul Islam Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.
  • Sayantan Tripathi Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.
  • Sanjit Sinha Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.
  • Amal Kumar Mondal Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8974.17.4.26879-26886

Keywords:

Conservation, distribution, Jhargram, medicinal importance, Paschim Medinipur, sacred groves

Abstract

Tacca leontopetaloides is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae. The species generally grows in forests and shady areas during rainy seasons. The populations of this species were previously reported to exist in eastern India (West Bengal), have been steadily declining at an increasing rate. Present investigation in four states of eastern India revealed that the species is now only present in the two districts of West Bengal, i.e., Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur. In order to facilitate easy identification and conservation, the article provides a detailed description of the species, including its distribution, conservation status, economic and medicinal importance, figures, and photographs, along with the LM and SEM images of pollen.

Author Biographies

Sk. Md, Abu Imam Saadi, Molecular Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700160, India.

.

Mehebub Sarwar Hossain, Molecular Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal 700160, India.

.

Debasis Bhunia, Department of Botany, Sree Chaitanya College, Habra, N-24 Parganas, West Bengal 743268, India.

.

Sk. Rasidul Islam, Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.

.

Sayantan Tripathi, Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.

.

Sanjit Sinha, Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.

.

Amal Kumar Mondal, Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India.

.

References

Abdallah, M.E., A. Aziz., K.R. Brain, G. Blunden, T. Crabb & A.K. Bashir (1990). Steroidal Sapogenins from Tacca leontopetaloides. Planta Medica 56(2): 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-960929

Ahemen, S.A. & A.O. Raji (2008). Development and performance evaluation of a motorized rasping machine for Tacca involucrata. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Technology 16(1): 52–63.

Amadi, C.O., C.N. Ebeniro, A.G. Ironkwe, C.C. Nwokocha & G. Amadi (2018). Description of some morphological attributes of Polynesian Arrowroot from Benue State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Botany 34(2): 289–298.

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II (2003). An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 141(4): 399–436. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x

Baruah, S., J. Sarma & S.K. Brothakur (2015). Tacca chantrieri André (Taccaceae): A beautiful ornamental flora recorded as a new for India. An International Journal of Environment and Biodiversity 6(1): 18–20.

Borokini, T.I., A.E. Ayodele & A.J. Akinloye (2014). Morphological and anatomical studies on Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze (Taccaceae) in Nigeria. Research in Plant Biology 4(5): 28–44.

Bosha, J.A., F.A. Gberinder & I.U. Asuzu (2013). Antihhyperglyceanic Effect of Tacca involucrata on Alloxan Induced Diebetic Rats. Ghana Biomedical Convention, Cape Coast 56.

Bosha, J.A, A.O. Anaga & I.U. Asuzu (2015). Chemical Composition of the Marc of a Wild Tropical Plant Tacca involucrata (Schumach and Thonn, 1827). Food and Nutrition Sciences 6(1): 135–140. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2015.61014

Caddick, L.R., P.J. Rudall, P. Wilkin, T.A.J. Hedderson & M.W. Chase (2002). Phylogenetics of Dioscoreales based on combined analyses of morphological and molecular data. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 138(2): 123–144. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.138002123.x

Chua, K.S., A. Borkent & S.Y. Wong (2020). Floral biology and pollination strategy of seven Tacca species (Taccaceae). Nordic Journal of Botany 38(2): NJB-02594. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.02594

Contu, S. (2013). Tacca leontopetaloides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e. T44392847A44503085. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20132.RLTS.T44392847A44503085.en. Accessed on 12 September 2024.

Dumortier, B.C.J. (1829). Analyse des familles des plantes, avec l’indication des principaux genres qui s’y rattachent Tournay: J. Casterman aine.

Erdtman, G. (1960). The acetolysis method – a revised description. Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 39: 561–564.

Kalita, N., K.K. Das, S. Mehmud, H. Roy & D. Sahariah (2022). Distribution of Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae) in Assam, India. Biological Spectrum. EBH Publishers, Panbazar, Guwahati, India, 19 pp.

Kay, D. (1987). Root Crops. 2nd edition. In: Gooding, E.G.B. (ed.). Tropical Development and Research Institute, United Kingdom, 380 pp.

Krauss, B.H. (1998). Native Plants are used as Medicine in Hawaii. Retrieved from: https://uhawaii-kauai.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9919255224605693&context=L&vid=01UHAWAII_KAUAI:KAUAI&lang=en&search_scope=DN_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Native%20Plants%20are%20used%20as%20Medicine%20in%20Hawaii&offset=0

Lakshminarasimhan, P. (1996). Monocotyledones. In: Karthikeyan, S. & N.P. Singh (eds.). Flora of Maharashtra State. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 794 pp.

Ling, P.P. (1985). Taccaceae. In: Chien, P. & T. Chih-Tsun (eds.). Flora of Reipublica Popularis Sinica 16: 42–54.

Meena, K. & B. Yadav (2010). Tacca leontopetaloides (Linn.) O. Kuntze (Taccaceae) – A new record to the flora of Rajasthan. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources 1(4): 512–514.

Misra, S. & M.K. Misra (2014). Original Article Ethno-botanical study of plants with edible underground parts of south Odisha, India. International Journal of Agricultural and Food Science 4(2): 51–58.

Ogbonna, A.I., S.O. Adepoju, C.I.C, Ogbonna, T. Yakubu, J.U. Itelima & V.Y. Dajin (2017). Root tuber of Tacca leontopetaloides L. (kunze) for food and nutritional security. Microbiology: Current Research 1(1): 7–13.

Olojede, A.O., A.O. Akinpelu, T.Y. Dalyop, D. Lenka, P. Iluebbey & A.G.O. Dixon (2009). Survey of Production, Utilization and Proximate Composition of Some Minor Root and Tuber Crops in Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 40(1): 125–131.

POWO (2024). Plant of the World online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names: 827910-1. Accessed on 12 September 2024.

Prain, D. (1903) (rep. ed. 1963). Bengal Plants. Vols.1–2. Botanical Survey of India. Calcutta, India 1314 pp.

Rao, A.S. & D.M. Verma (1976). Material towards a Monocot Flora of Assam-III (Taccaceae, Dioscoriaceae and Stemonaceae). Ibid 15: 189–203. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v15/1973/75162

Saadi, S.M.A.I., I. Mondal, S. Sarkar & A.K. Mondal (2020). Medicinal plants diversity modelling using remote sensing & GIS technology of Chilkigarh, West Bengal, India. Tropical Plant Research 7(2): 440–451. https://doi.org/10.22271/tpr.2020.v7.i2.052

Samvatsar, S. (1996). The Flora of Western tribal Madhya Pradesh. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur 441 pp.

Thaker, D.N., S.D. Sabnis & S.J. Bedi (1970). A contribution to the flora and vegetation of Kawat Range, Gujarat state, India. Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India 12(1–4): 113–127.

Tinley, T.L., D.A. Randall-Hlubek, R.M. Leal, E.M. Jackson, J.W. Cessac, J.C. Quada, S.L. Mooberry (2003). Taccalonolides E and A: Plant-derived Steroids with Microtubule stabilizing activity. Cancer Res 63(12): 3211–20.

Ukpabi, U.J., E. Ukenye & A.O. Olojede (2009). Raw- Material Potentials of Nigerian Wild Polynesian Arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) Tubers and Starch. Journal of Food Technology 7(4): 135–138.

USDA (2021). USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Belts Tangden ville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/ gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=70775.

Wardah, W. & D. Ariani (2020). Ethnobotany study of Jalawure (Tacca leontopetaloides) as a source of nutrition quality improvement on the South Coastal people in West Java. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 458(1): 012047. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/458/1/012047

Wardah, W. & D. Ariani (2014). Proceedings of the 5th ASIAHORCs International Symposium (Bali) (Jakarta, Indonesia: LIPI).

Wardah, W. & D. Ariani (2015). Prosiding Seminar Nasional Sinergi Pangan, Pakan dan Energi Terbarukan (Yogyakarta) (Jakarta, Indonesia: Balai Pengembangan Proses dan Teknologi Kimia-LIPI).

Yeng, W.S. & C.K. Shen (2019). Phylogeny of Tacca (Taccaceae) and traits in reproductive structures, with description of a new Bornean species. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 20(11): 3096–3118. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d201102

Zhang, L., J. Chen, D.Z. Li & Q.J. Li (2007). Reproductive Biology, Mating System, and Population Genetics of Devil Flower: An Autonomous Selfing Plant with Showy Floral Display. Reproductive Biology 1(2): 115–124.

Zhang, L. & Q.J. Li (2008). Tacca ampliplacenta (Taccaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China. Annales Botanici Fennici 45(4): 311–314. https://doi.org/10.5735/085.045.0412

Downloads

Published

26-04-2025

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Communications

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Sk. Md, Abu Imam Saadi, Mehebub Sarwar Hossain, Debasis Bhunia, Sk. Rasidul Islam, Sayantan Tripathi, Sanjit Sinha, Amal Kumar Mondal

Creative Commons License

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.