RESEARCH PAPER Eulophia Pauciflora Guillaumin

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NeBIO An international journal of environment and biodiversity Vol. 8, No. 3, September 2017, 147-149 ISSN 2278-2281(Online Version) ☼ www.nebio.in

RESEARCH PAPER

Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin (Orchidaceae): an addition to the orchid flora of India

Maruthakkutti Murugesan, Laishram Ricky Meitei, Chaya Deori* and Ashiho Asosii Mao Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong-793003, Meghalaya, India

ABSTRACT

Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin (Orchidaceae) is reported here as a new addition to the orchid flora of India from Meghalaya. A detailed description and photographic illustrations are provided for easy and correct identification.

KEYWORDS: Eulophia pauciflora, orchid, new record, India Received 31 July 2017, Accepted 25 August 2017 I *Corresponding author: [email protected]

Introduction The genus Eulophia R. Brown comprises of about 200 species in racemose, 28–42 cm long. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate acute, tropical and subtropical regions, most diverse in Africa, but also 14–15 × 4–4.5 mm, 7-8 nerved, shorter than ovary. Flowers 21 mm widespread from Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands to C long from the tip of dorsal sepal till the tip of spur, 20 mm wide. and tropical Asia, the SW Pacific islands, and N and NW Australia Ovary with pedicel 17–18 mm long. Sepals greenish speckled with (Chen et. al., 2009). There are about 24 species in India (Misra, brown. Petals greenish white, lip whitish. Peduncle terete, about 2007). Rao & Singh, 2015 reported 5 species of Eulophia from the 28–42 cm long, erect, bearing about 4-5 membranous sterile state of Meghalaya. A botanical exploration tour was undertaken bracts. Sepals lanceolate-oblong acute, 5-nerved; dorsal sepals to Sumer forest area of Ri bhoi district, Meghalaya in July 2017, 15.5 × 3 mm, margin incurved, lateral sepals 16.2 × 2–2.5 mm. under annual action plan programme for ex -situ conservation of Petals 13 × 4.5–5 mm, narrowly elliptical, rounded, with a endemic, threatened and economically important plants of longitudinal line of papillae within, 5-nerved, laterals branched, northeast region. During the tour, the first two authors (MM & Lip 14.5 – 16 × 4.5 – 6.5 mm, obovate-spatula, no distinctly set-off LRM) collected a Eulophia species in flowering condition and sidelobes but usually upcurved edges of hypochile, rounded at the introduced in Botanic Garden, Barapani, Botanical Survey of India, apex, undulating on the edges, lateral lobes of lip small, Shillong. The species was critically examined and after embracing the column; mid-lobe broadly oblong, rounded, consultation with relevant literatures (Gagnepain, 1934; crenulate; disc with five nerves, nerves pink; spur short, 4.5 mm Seidenfaden, 1983) it was identified as Eulophia pauciflora long, cylindrical. Column 4.5–5 × 2 mm. Anther 1×1 mm. Pollinia 1 Guillaumin a hitherto unknown species in India (Misra, 2007; × 0.5 mm, ovoid with dimple. Fruit 29–30 mm long, ridged. Kataki 1986; Rao & Singh, 2015; Chowdhery, 2001, 2009; Rao, 2007). Eulophia pauciflora is allied to Eulophia siamense Rolfe ex Flowering & Fruiting: July-August Downie in habit but differs in the petals with a longitudinal line of papillae within. In this paper, Eulophia pauciflora is reported as an Distribution: INDIA (Meghalaya), China, Laos. addition to the Flora of India. A detailed description from the living specimen, photographic illustrations with other relevant Habitat: Terrestrial, open grassy slopes in moist tropical to information are provided here for easy identification. subtropical forest at an altitude of 900 –1000 m

Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin in Bull.Soc.Bot. France 77: 338.1930; Seidenf., Op. Specimen examined: INDIA: Meghalaya, Ri bhoi district, Sumer Bot. 72:40.Fig.23. 1973. Donacopsis laotica Gagnep., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., forest, 10.7.17, 25°41'41"N 91°53'27"E, M. Murugesan & L. R. sér. 2, 4: 593 1932. Meitei 137315(ASSAM!)

Plants with subterraneous tubers with fleshy roots, 25–40 cm tall. Provisional IUCN Conservation assessment: Data Deficient (DD). Roots thick, 2mm in dm. Pseudobulbs or tubers conical-ovoid, Eulophia pauciflora is so far known only from a single locality in medium-sized, 3.5–4 × 1–1.2 cm in diameter. Leaves 3, present at Rib hoi district in Meghalaya. More than 50 individuals were anthesis, linear, 19–31 × 10 mm, grass-like with one stout midrib, observed growing in the area in association with Arundinella spp., base sheathing the pseudobulb, apex acuminate. Inflorescence Habenaria acuifera, H. reniformis, Ceropegia macrantha,

RESEARCH PAPER Murugesan et al » Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin (Orchidaceae): an addition to the orchid flora of India » NeBIO 8(3): 147-149 ------

Figure 1. Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin A & B: Habit; C: Inflorescence; D: Floral bract; E & F: Flowers, front and side views; G: Floral perigone with lip; H: Sepals, dorsal and laterals; I: Petals, ventral and dorsal views; J: Petals, ventral views; K: Lip, side view with pedicel & ovary; L: Lip, front view with column and anther; M: Lip with spur; N: Column with anther, pedicel & ovary; O: Anther, dorsal and ventral views; P: Pollinia, ventral & dorsal view [photographic illustration C. Deori after M. Murugesan & L. R. Meitei 137315(ASSAM)]

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RESEARCH PAPER Murugesan et al » Eulophia pauciflora Guillaumin (Orchidaceae): an addition to the orchid flora of India » NeBIO 8(3): 147-149 ------

Crotalaria spp. The species might be more widespread in Chowdhery, H.J. 2009. Orchid diversity in the North-Eastern states Meghalaya than is currently known. Further exploration is of India. Journal of Orchid Society of India 23(1 - 2): 19 - 42 necessary before a threat status can be given. Gagnepain, F. 1934. Orchidaceae.- In: Lecomte, H.(ed.) Flore Generale de I;Indo-Chine 6. Paris. P. 403, Fig.36. Acknowledgements Kataki S.K. 1986. Orchids of Meghalaya, Forest Department, Authors are grateful to Dr. P. Singh, Director, BSI, Kolkata for Meghalaya, Shillong, India support and logistic. Misra, S. 2007. Orchids of India: A glimpse. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. References Rao, A.N. 2007. Orchid Flora of North East India- an up to date Chen, X. P.J. Cribb and S.W. Gale. 2009. Eulophia in: Wu, Z. Y., analysis. Bulletin of Arunachal forest Research 23(1&2): 6-38 P.H. Raven & D.Y. Hong, (eds.) Flora of China, Vol. 25. Science Rao, C.S. and S.K.Singh. 2015. Wild Orchids of Meghalaya, A Press, Beijing and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Pictorial Guide Meghalaya. Biodiversity Board, Government of USA, pp. 253–258. Meghalaya. Chowdhery, H.J. 2001. Orchid diversity in North-East India. Seidenfaden, G. 1973. Orchid Genera in Thailand XI Cymbidium Journal of Orchid Society of India 15(1&2): 1 - 17. Pfitz. Opera Botanica 72:40-46

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