CC BY
19
Turczcminowia 23, 3: 92-98 (2020) 1Ö1ISSN 1560-7259 (print edition)
DOI: 10.14258/tiirczaninow ia. 23.3.9 ijl TURCZ ANINOWIA
http://turczanin0wia.asu.ru Ш^ыЯ ISSN 1560-7267 (online edition)
УДК 582.545.2(1-925.36)(235.243)(540) A new species of Calamus (Arecaceae) from Eastern Himalaya, India
S. Mondal1, S. K. Basu2, M. Chowdhury1*
1 Taxonomy of Angiosperm and Biosystematics Lab., Department of Botany, University of North Bengal. Rajarammohunpur, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734013, India. E-mails: mono_malda@yahoo.co.in*, mondasujit.bgc@gmail.com
2 The Agri Horticultural Society of India, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027, India, E-mail: shymalkbasu@gmil.com
*Corresponding author
Keywords: new taxa, rattans, riverine habitat.
Summary. Calamus mahanandensis S. Mondal, S. K. Basu et M. Chowdhury (Arecaceae), a new species that differs from the similar indigenous species C. leptospadix and South-East Asian species C. tetradactyloides (Vietnam, Hainan) by its height, pinnae numbers, dense unique tomentose bristly spines located at leaf sheath, ocrea and knee base only; straight, glabrous rachis spines; partial male and female inflorescence sizes, bracts sizes, rachillae characters; beaked fruits with reddish-brown scales in 20-21 vertical rows with prominent brown margin is described here with illustrations.
Новый вид Calamus (Arecaceae) из Восточных Гималаев, Индия
С. Мондал1, С. К. Басу2, М. Чоудхури1
1 Лаборатория таксономии покрытосеменных и биосистематики, отдел ботаники, Университет Северной Бенгалии, г. Раджараммохунпур, Дарджилинг, Западная Бенгалия, 734013, Индия
2 Сельскохозяйственное садоводческое общество Индии, г. Калькутта, Западная Бенгалия, 700027, Индия
Ключевые слова: новые таксоны, речные местообитания, ротанг.
Аннотация. В статье приведено иллюстрированное описание Calamus mahanandensis S. Mondal, S. K. Basu et M. Chowdhury (Arecaceae) - нового вида, отличающегося от похожих аборигенного C. leptospadix и юго-восточноазиатского C. tetradactyloides (Вьетнам, Хайнань) высотой, числом листочков, густыми уникальными войлочно-щетинистыми колючками, расположенными только в листовых влагалищах, по краю и в основании листьев; прямыми гладкими гребнями рахисов; размерами мужских (частично) и женских соцветий, размерами прицветников, характером черешков; клювовидными плодами с красновато-коричневыми чешуями в 20-21 вертикальных рядах с заметным коричневым краем.
Introduction
Calamus L. is the largest genus under the subfamily Calamoideae of Arecaceae, distributed mostly in India, South China through Malay Archipelago to Northern Australia, Fiji and Africa (Dransfield, 1979; Baker, Dransfield, 2014, 2016; Voronstova et al., 2016). Species of Calamus are
mostly spiny, climbers having scaly fruits and is taxonomically considered as complex group. Various tropical forests of South and South-East Asian countries (India, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines) are quite rich with different species of rattans (Evans et al., 2001; Peters et al., 2014; Barfod, Dransfield, 2013). Beccari and Hooker f (1894) initially
Поступило в редакцию 04.03.2020 Принято к публикации 26.08.2020
Submitted 04.03.2020 Accepted 26.08.2020
accounted 72 species of Calamus from undivided British India and presently, around 37 species and three varieties of Calamus were reported from various habitats of the Himalaya, Western Ghats and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands of India (Renuka, 1987; Basu, 1992; Mondal et al., 2019). The tropical forests of lower hills and foothills of Himalaya of West Bengal are also favourable habitats for 18 rattans that include 14 Calamus species (Mondal, Chowdhury, 2018).
Materials and methods
During the exploration of palm and cane flora of Eastern Himalaya, some interesting specimens of Calamus were collected from the Choklong forest (Darjeeling district) and Rongo Forest (Jalpaiguri district) at an altitude between 300-600 m. For reproductive structures all the locations were visited repeatedly in various seasons and plant parts were collected for the detailed study. The GPS (GERMIN) reading for latitudes, longitude and altitude of the population were recorded and sufficient photographs of habit and parts of species were also taken. The collected specimens were further processed through the conventional herbarium technique (Jain, Rao, 1977; Paul et al., 2020) and finally mounted on herbarium sheets to prepared type specimens that will be deposited at the herbaria of CAL (Central National Herbarium), CUH (Calcutta University Herbarium) and NBU (North Bengal University Herbarium) for further reference. The collected species have close affinity with Calamus leptospadix Griff. and Calamus tetradactyloides Burret that are growing in the almost same type of habitat but after extensive morphological examination, matching with various herbarium specimens of key herbaria (CNH, ASSAM, BSIH and NBU) and extensive literature search (Beccari, Hook. f., 1894; Renuka, 1987; Pei et al., 1991; Basu, 1992; Noltie, 1994; Baker, Dransfield, 2014; Voronstova et al., 2016), the specimen was found to a new species. Frequent surveys were conducted in similar types of habitats during the last few years (2016-2019) to understand the population size and also to measure the possible physical threats to the species. The new species is carefully described here accompanied by photographs and illustrations.
Calamus mahanandensis S. Mondal, S. K. Basu et M. Chowdhury, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)
Type: "INDIA. West Bengal: Darjeeling district, Choklong forest (Mahananda wildlife sanctuary)
at hill slopes along the Mahananda rivers near Shivkhola temple 26°51'48.25"N, 88°21'43.38"E, 308 m, 30 IV 2018. S. Mondal & M. Chowdhury 1046" (holo - CAL, iso - CUH).
Paratype: "West Bengal, Jalpaiguri district, near Nasksal khola bridge, Kumai, Rongo forest, 27°00'33.61"N, 88°52'04.80"E, 340 m. 10 IV 2019. S. Mondal & M. Chowdhury 1058" (NBU).
Stems clustered, climbing, 2-4 m long, stem 4-7 cm in diameter with sheath, internodes 12.5-20.6 cm long. Leaf sheaths tubular, greenish brown, rusty, 19-23 cm long; knee conspicuous, glabrous sometimes with few, scattered, minor, flat, subulate, brownish to blackish spines basally only; leaf sheath spines dense, tomentose ferruginously, rusty with flat conical green base, 2-3 cm long; ocrea conspicuous, scarcely developed, tightly sheathing, tomentose, 3-5 cm long, with spines and fine bristles at the opening, individual spines upto 1.8 cm long; flagella upto 2 m long, armed with claw. Leaves ecirrate, 1-1.5 m long; petiole 20-24 cm long, 1.2 cm wide at middle, glabrous, occasionally with few flat, subulate spines along the edges; rachis 1-1.3 m long with sparsely straight and black spines on both sides, 2.4-3 cm long; pinnae 61(55-64) per side of rachis, regular alternate arangement, spreading in the same plane, linear to ensiform, 10.4-30 cm long, 0.6-1.5 cm wide, middle pinnae 24.6-30 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide at middle, apical pinnae 10.2-11.5 cm long, 1.6-2.1 cm wide and terminal leaflets joined basally, leaflets 3 veined, bristles adaxialy, 0.1-0.2 mm long. Inflorescences flagelliform, upto 2 m long, slightly armed with claws, primary bracts tubular, empty, obliquely truncate; staminate inflorescences 1.2-1.95 m long, partial inflorescence 3-6, 17-22 cm long, branched upto 3 orders, basal bracts cylindrical, 27-29 cm long and 2-2.3 cm wide, open, subtended, green at first, later brown papery after drying, tomentose at the opening; second branch 18-20, 2.2-6 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, with 22-29 rachillae each, atlernate, 0.8-1.5 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm wide, recurved, basal bract rhombic, 1-1.5 cm long and 0.3-0.6 cm wide, rachillae with 15-24 staminate flowers; staminate flowers 0.2-0.3 cm long, calyx 0.1-1.5 mm long, sepals 3, stamens 6; pistillate inflorescence shorter than staminate inflorescence, 0.9-1.25 m long, partial inflorescence 2-3, 18-26 cm long, branched upto 2 order, bracts green at first, later brown papery after drying, not subtending, tubular, 2-7.5 cm long and 0.5-0.7 cm wide , open, each carrying 24-36 rachillae, individual rachillae 1.3-1.8 cm long,
Fig. 1. Calamus mahanandensis sp. nov.: A and B - Habit with leaves and inflorescence; C and D - Female flower; E - Male flower; F - Male inflorescence; G and J - Fruit; H - Primary bract; I - Basal rhombic bract; K - Scales; L - Leaflet margin.
0.5-0.6 cm wide, each with 9-20 pistillate flowers, bracts shortly cup-like, truncate, sinuous to dented marginally; pistillate flowers 4-5mm long, calyx 1.5-2.4 mm long, sepals 3, petals 3 lobed. Fruits globose, 0.8-0.9 * 0.9-1 cm in diameter, green,
beaked, 1-1.5 mm long, covered by triangular scales, inserted in 20-21 distinct rows, 1.5-1.6 mm * 2-2.2 mm, scales irregular, entire with brown margins. Seeds 0.6-0.7 * 0.7-0.8 cm diameter, with whitish sarcotesta, on one side flattened with
Fig. 2. Calamus mahanandensis sp. nov.: A and B - Habit; C - Ocrea with bristles; D and K - Fruits; E - Male flower; F - Female flower; G - Seed; H - Scale; I - Knee with tomentose spine; J - Leaflets margin.
deep germpore, the other side convex other side, endosperm ruminate, reddish-brown.
Flowering: December - April.
Fruiting: March - May.
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, India.
Habitat: Riverine forest (Mahananda river) on hilly terrain.
Distribution: India; West Bengal (Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district). Occurring in Sub-tropical forest in the hills of Eastern Himalaya (alt 300-600 m), associated with Wallichia caryotoides Roxb., Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis (Roxb. ex Hardw.) Mabb., Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston, Ficus squamosa Roxb., Syzygium formosum (Wall.) Masom., Pandanus nepalensis H. St. John, Lantana camara L.
Discussion
This species is reminiscent of Calamus leptospadix Griff. and Calamus tetradactyloides Burret but differs in a number of characters (Table) and known from three populations with an average of 100-150 individuals from the Choklong forest in the Shivkhola area of Mahananda wildlife sanctuary (Darjeeling) as well as one population with 20 individuals from Nasksalkhola bridge areas, Kumai in the Rongo forest were traced. The type locality is situated in the Himalayan hotspot (Myers et al., 2000) and it is exposed to severe human impact from rapid extension of tea gardens, road and house construction, logging and ecotourism. The known habitat should be considered for in situ conservation by the relevant forest authorities.
Table
Comparison of morphological characters among Calamus leptospadix, C. tetradactyloides and C. mahanandensis
Characters C. leptospadix Griff. C. tetradactyloides Burret C. mahanandensis sp. nov.
Habit 5-8 m long 4-10 m long 2-4 m long
Stem 2.5-3.8 cm in diameter with sheath 0.8-0.8 cm in diameter with sheath 4-7 cm in diameter with sheath
Leaf sheath green, scurfy outside, 9-16 cm long, spines flattened, 1.5-2 cm long, subulate, not-tomentose; ocrea 9.5 cm long greenish brown with brown bristles, spines dense, light reddish -brown, spines needlelike, 0.6-1.2 cm long, ocrea short and densely bristly greenish-brown, rusty, 19-23 cm long, spines dense, 2-3 cm long, straight, base flat, tomentose, bristly ocrea 3-5 cm long
Leaves 0.6-1.2 cm long, knee with dense spines at periphery only; petiole 9-14 cm long, spines straight and hooked; pinnae opposite (base) to alternate (upper), 35-38 on each side, 14-37 cm long and x1.2-1.8 cm wide, 2 terminal leaflets joined basally 0.3-0.5 m long, knee with spines; petiole 10-14 cm long, spines needlelike; pinnae alternate or irregular, 4-10 on each side, 15-22 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, 4 terminal leaflets in cluster 1.0-1.5 m long, knee with rarely minor spines basally; petiole 20-24 cm long, spines few, flat, subulate, rarely on edges; pinnae alternate, rarely opposite at middle, 55-64 on each side, 1030 cm long and 0.6-1.5 cm wide, 2 terminal leaflets joined basally
Inflorescence Length 2.30-2.90 m long 0.4-0.7 m long 0.9-1.95 m long
Male Inflorescence partial inflorescence 7-12, 15-35 cm long, branched 3 order (decompounds), basal bracts large, subtended, 2050 cm long and 0.6-2.6 cm wide, rachillae 10-18 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, flowers 9-12 per rachillae, basal bract absent partial inflorescence 2-5, 10-20 cm long, branched 2 order, bracts small, not subtended, tubular. rachillae 5-13 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, flowers 10-20 per rachillae, basal bract flat partial inflorescence 3-6, 17-22 cm long, branched 3 order, basal bract large, subtended, 2 flat, 7-29 cm long and 2-2.3 cm wide, rachillae 0.8-1.5 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm wide, flowers 15-24 per rachillae, basal bract rhombic
Table (end)
Characters C. leptospadix Griff. C. tetradactyloides Burret C. mahanandensis sp. nov.
Female Inflorescence partial inflorescence 7-12, 10-30 cm long, branched 2 order, basal bract subtended 20-40 cm long and 0.9-2.9 cm wide, flowers 5-12 per rachillae partial inflorescence 5-6, 10-20 cm long, branched 2 order, basal bract small, not subtended, tubular, flowers 10-22 per rachillae partial inflorescence 2-3, 18-26 cm long, branched 2 order, basal bract not subtended, tubular, 2-7.5 cm long and 0.5-0.7 cm wide, flowers 9-20 per rachillae
Fruits 0.4-0.8 x 0.5-1 cm, reddish brown, beak absent, scales on 17-18 vertical rows, 2.5 mm diameter, scales pale brown with dark brown intra-marginal stripes 1 * 1.5 cm, whitish, beak present, scales on 18-20 vertical 1.5-2 mm long, rows, grass-yellow with reddish-brown at edge 0.8-0.9 x 0.9-1 cm, greenish, beak present, 1-1.5 m long, scales on 20-21 vertical rows, 1.5-1.6 x 2-2.2 mm diameter, scales green with brown at edge
Seeds 0.5-0.6 x 0.6-0.8 cm diameter, brownish, sarcotesta greenish-grey 0.7-0.8 * 0.6-0.7 cm diameter, egg whitish, sarcotesta whitish 0.6-0.7 x 0.7-0.8 cm diameter, reddish-brown, sarcotesta whitish
Acknowledgements
Authors were grateful to authority of CNH, ASSAM, NBU, BSIS for access specimens, literatures and experts opinion. We are very much thankful to Dr. Kanchi N. Gandhi, Senior Nomenclatural Registrar, Harvard University Herbaria and Libraries for his nomenclatural
assistance. Authors also intend to express their gratitude to the Forest officials, Department of forest, Govt. of West Bengal, India who granted us all the necessary permits for conducting the field work. First author is particularly grateful to University Grant Commission, Govt. of India for the financial support.
REFERENCES / ЛИТЕРАТУРА
Baker W. J., Dransfield J. 2014. New rattans from New Guinea (Calamus, Arecaceae). Phytotaxa 163: 181-215.
Baker W. J., Dransfield J. 2016. Beyond Genera Palmarum: progress and prospects in palm systematic. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 182: 207-233.
Barfod A. S., Dransfield J. 2013. Arecaceae for Flora of Thailand. In: Flora of Thailand. Bind 11. Bangkok: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Pp. 323-498.
Basu S. K. 1992. Rattans (Canes) in India. A monographic revision. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Rattan Information Centre, Kepong. 141 pp.
Beccari O., Hooker J. D. 1894. Palmae. In: The Flora of British India. Vol. 6. Ed. J. D. Hooker. London: L. Reeve and Co. Pp. 402-483.
Dransfield J. 1979. A manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. In: Malayan Forest Records. № 29. Malaysia: Forest Department, Ministry of Primary Industries. 270 pp.
Evans T. D., Sengdala K., Viengkham O. V., Thammavong B. 2001. A field guide to the rattans of Lao PDR. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens. 96 pp.
Jain S. K., Rao, R. R. 1977. A handbook of field and herbarium methods. India: Today & Tomorrow's Printers and Publishers. 150 pp.
Mondal S., Basu S. K., Chowdhury M. 2019. Calamuspseudoerectus (Arecaceae), a new species from the eastern Himalaya, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11: 13605-13610. DOI: 10.11609/jott.4493.11.5.13605-13610
MondalS., Chowdhury M. 2018. Rattans diversity in West Bengal, India. Advances in Plant Sciences 31: 159-165.
Myers N., Mittermeier A. R., Mittermeier G. C., Fonseca A. G., Kent J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403: 853-858.
Noltie J. H. 1994. Arecaceae (Palmae). In: Flora of Bhutan. Edinburgh: Royal Botanic Garden. Pp. 408-431.
Paul P., Dhar S., Das D., Chowdhury M. 2020. Herbarium techniques: evolution from conventional to digitization. India: Orange Book Publication. 128 pp.
Pei S., Chen S., Tong S. 1991. Palmae. In: Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. Eds. P. Shengji, C. Sanyang. China, Beijing: Science Press. Pp. 1-172.
Peters C. M., Henderson A., Dung N. Q., Ledecq T. 2014. Systematics, ecology and management of rattans in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The Biological Bases of Sustainable Use. WWF/IKEA/NYBG: Agricultural Publishing House. 222 pp.
Renuka C. 1998. A new species of Calamus (Palmae) from India. Kew Bulletin 42: 433-435. Vorontsova M. S., Clark L. G., Dransfield J., Govaerts R., Wilkinson T., Bakar W. J. 2016. World checklist of bamboos and rattans. Kew: INBAR & the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens. 819 pp.
