Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical ...

May 2014 – July 2014, Vol. 4, No. 3; 3257-3261.

E- ISSN: 2249 –1929

Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences Available online atwww.jcbsc.org

Section B: Biological Sciences CODEN ( USA): JCBPAT

Research Article

Extending Geographic Distribution of Byttneria herbacea Roxb. In Maharashtra State, India Subhash R. Somkuwar*, Rahul B. Kamble 1 and Alka Chaturvedi1 *Dept. of Botany, Dr. Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur-440010. 1

P.G.Department of Botany, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur-440033.

Received: 03 July 2014; Revised: 22 July 2014; Accepted: 30 July 2014

Abstract: During the course of extensive botanical exploration, in the Maharashtra State with special reference to the geographic distribution of Byttneria herbacea Roxb. of family Byttneriaceae, some addition to the habitat extension of this taxa were observed and documented. It is pan-tropical and subtropical, widely distributed in Africa, Latin America with 8 genera and about 280 species. About half the genera are restricted to Australasia. With this record, the known geographical distribution of B. herbacea has now extended in Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur and Sindudurg district. This species is an addition to the flora for these districts. Keywords: Byttneriaceae, Byttneria herbacea Roxb, Extending Distribution, Maharashtra

INTRODUCTION The genus Byttneria of the Byttneriaceae family is of interest to botanists and herbalist alike. Byttneria, named after David Sigismund Augustus Byttner (1724-1768), a renowned botanist at the University of Gottingen. The genus Byttneria was first described by Hooker1 and brought to light the information and a critical look in the Indian subcontinent. There are 9 species of Byttneria reported in Indian subcontinent.Byttneria herbacea occurring in Western Peninsula; not common in the Karnataka, Orissa and Konkan while Byttneria crenulata and B. aspera reported in Nepal, B. jackiana 3257

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from Penang, B. elliptica, B. uncinata, B. maingayi from Malaka, B. andamanensis from Andaman Islands and B. pilosa from eastern Bengal including Burma and Chittagong in Bangladesh1 . In India the genus is represented by 4 species viz. B. pilosa, B. aspera, B. herbacea, and B. andamanensis1 . CSIR publication Wealth of India2 and Sharma and Sanjappa3,4 gave the distribution of B.herbacea in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal states of India. Malick5 in its Flora of India project did not mention Maharashtra state in the distribution. It has been reported by Moghe6 and Almeida7 in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.Of the 4 species of Byttneria genus in India,only B. herbacea have been reported from Maharashtra state. B. herbacea potentially occur in over nine states of India, but with a substantial number of occurrences consisting of small numbers of individuals. Even after repeated explorations we could locate only 10 patches population of this species in the Maharashtra state and has very less total area of occurrence. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun8 has recognized Byttneria herbacea is an endemic to the Indian peninsular region and placed on the IUCN threatened category. MATERIALS AND METHODS During a floristic exploration of Chandrapurdistrict, we collected an interesting procumbent spreading herb specimen with flowers, purple in axillary or terminal umbellate cymes belonging to the genus Byttneria Roxb.After a critical study in various flora books7, 12-14 , and matching with available herbarium specimens, it was identified as Byttneria herbacea Roxb. (Figure 1-3). Then the species were searched in other districts of Maharashtra.

Fig.1: Flowering twig of B. herbacea

Fig.2: Habitat of B. herbacea in Satnavari Forest

As far as we are aware, none of the published literature available on extended distribution of this species in Maharashtra state reported earlier. Therefore, it is documented here with details such as range extension, short descriptions, phenological data and biotic association along with their updated nomenclature, habitat and ecological notes to aid the taxonomists. The voucher specimen is deposited in the Herbarium of P.G. Department of Botany; RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur (MS), India. 3258


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Fig.3: Habitat of B. herbacea in Shankarpur Forest

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS Taxonomic Update: Byttneria herbacea Roxb was earlier placed in Sterculiaceae, then a separate family Byttneriaceae. As per Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG)11, 12 the genus Byttneria is now treated in family Malvaceae. Byttneria herbacea Roxb.Pl. Cor. 1:t.29. 1795; Mast.In Hook.f. Fl. Brit. India 1:376. 1874; Malick in Sharma et al. Fl. India 3:412, f. 115. 1993. A branched (sometimes unbranched) procumbent spreading herb with a perennial,4 -10 cm long woody root-stocks. Leaves distant, oblong, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, irregularly dentate, sparsely hairy, more so along margins, glabrous below.Petiole 4-6 mm long. Stipules linear, equal the petiole. Flowers bisexual, small, purple in axillary or terminal umbellate cymes. Sepals linear-lanceolate, reflexed.Petals with long, slender tips and 2 fid appendages. Staminal tube with 5 stamens all with 5 staminoides, fertile filaments very short, staminodes ovate. Ovary 5-celled, ovule1. Capsules c 0.8cm across, globose, shortly spiny, septicidally 5-valved. Seeds 5, 0.5cm long, ovoid, angular, muricate. Flowering and Fruiting: August- December Extended Distribution of Byttneria herbacea Roxb.in Maharashtra State: Comparing to the earliest records of the distribution of Byttneria herbacea, there is a continuous extension of habitat observed during the last few decades. It was not reported so far from Maharashtra State for more than a decade. Earlier Moghe6 and Almeida7 reported for the first time in Vidarbha region of 3259


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Chandrapurand Gadchiroli district respectively. During this study, it is reported for the first time from Shankarpur forest of Chandrapur District. While Kamble et al.11 reported from Pench and Satnavari forest of Nagpur District. This species is an addition to the flora for these districts. While, Malick5 did not mention the distribution of B. herbacea in Maharashtra state working on the Flora India project. Taxa cited on Location in Maharashtra State: Deep deciduous Forest of Shankarpur and Pombhurna of Chandrapur district, Permalbhatti, Binagonda, Bhamragarh, Sironcha Forest of Gadchiroli district, Satnavari and Pench Forest of Nagpur district, Pratapgarh Forest of Gondia district and Ramghat Forest (Dodamarg) of Sindudurg district. (Figure.4)

Figure 4: Maharashtra State Showing Byttneria herbacea distribution HABITAT/ECOLOGY It is usually found in acidic, iron rich, coarse, sandy, gravelly and moist soils. The species tends to occur on foothills or hillocks. It grows in clusters mostly in shrubby or mixed deciduous forests. Appropriate light, adequate moisture, soil temperature, and shade relationships are likely to be especially critical to the persistence of the species. There are some typically co-occurring species growing immediately adjacent to the plants includes Canscora decussata, Hybanthus enneaspermus, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Justicia procumbens, Hemidesmus indicus, Pavonia zeylanica, Vernonia cenerea, Waltheria indica, Ixora arborea, Chloroxylon swietenia, Phoenix sylvestris, Buchanania lanzan, Diospyros melanoxylon, Madhuca indica etc. Threats analysis to the taxon: Alteration of physical and biological aspects of the habitat, changes in canopy composition; herbivory; collection and stochastic events affecting small populations of B. herbacea are the most serious threats.Additionally, while adverse impacts of a number of threats have been suggested, lack of biological information about the taxon and lack of experimental data make it difficult to confirm the severity and prevalence of several of these threats. An evaluation of the importance of each of the threats would require both an understanding of how severe an impact the 3260


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threat would have and how likely it is that the threat will occur. Further investigations are going to aim to identify the factors responsible for the restricted distribution of this species so that appropriate conservation measures can be taken. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to express our sincere thanks to the P. Lakshminarasimhan, CNH, BSI & Scientist incharge, ENVIS Centre, BSI for supplying literature regarding taxa. The authors are also thankful authorities of Forest Department, GoM State for permission and facilities during field survey. REFERENCES 1. J. D. Hooker. The Flora of British India, 1872, Vol. 1: London: 376. 2. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. The wealth of India: A dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials (revised edition). New Delhi,1985–1992. 3. B. D. Sharma and M. Sanjappa. Sterculiaceae, Flora of India, 1993, 3: 426. 4. K. C. Malick. Sterculiaceae, In: Sharma, B.D. and Sanjappa, M. (eds), Flora of India, 1993, Vol. 3, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. 5. K. C. Malick, Flora of India, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 1993, 3: 412. 6. R. P . Moghe. Dicot flora of Chandrapur forest division of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State. Ph.D. Thesis. Nagpur Univ., Nagpur, 1993: 88. 7. M. R. Almeida. Flora of Maharashtra, 1996, Vol. 1-5, Orient Press, Mumbai: 133. 8. Envis Bulletin, Special habitats and threatened plants of India: Wildlife and Protected Areas, 2008, 11(1). Printed by Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun. 9. APG (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) II, An update of the angiosperm phylogeny group classiﬁcation for the orders and families of ﬂowering plants: APG II. Botanical J. of the Linnean Society, 2003, 141: 399–436. 10. APG III, An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Classification for the Orders and Families of Flowering Plants: APG III. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 2009, 161: 105121. 11. R. B. Kamble, S. Hate and Alka Chaturvedi. Some new plant reports to the Flora of Nagpur District, Maharashtra - III. Sci. Res. Rept., 2013, 3(2): 124-128. 12. J. S. Gamble and E.S. Fisher. Flora of Madras Presidency, 1915-1936, Vol. 1 and 2. London, Reprinted Ed., BSI Calcutta. 13. K. M. Matthew. An Excursion Flora of Central Tamilnadu, India 1991, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. 14. N. P. Singh and S. Karthikeyan. Flora of Maharashtra State, 2000, Vol. 1, BSI: 348-349

Corresponding author:

Subhash R. Somkuwar,

*Dept. of Botany, Dr. Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur-440010.

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