Notes on Caralluma Adscendens (Roxb.) Has Been Usually Accepted to Haw
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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2014 | 6(9): 6282–6286 Note Caralluma R.Br. (sensulato) Notes on Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) has been usually accepted to Haw. var. attenuata (Wight) Grav. & include about 120 taxa, with a wide Mayur. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) ISSN African, Asian and southeastern Online 0974–7907 European distribution (Mabberley K.M. Prabhu Kumar 1, U.C. Murshida 2, Binu Thomas 3, Print 0974–7893 1993). It belongs to the subtribe Satheesh George 4, Indira Balachandran 5 & OPEN ACCESS Stapeliinae (tribe Ceropegiae, S. Karuppusamy 6 subfamily Asclepiadoideae and 1,2,5 family Apocynaceae), which has its centre of origin in Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, Malappuram, Kerala 676503, India East Africa (Meve & Liede 2004). The genus comprises 3 PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, xerophytic succulent herbs, represented by 13 species Kottayam, Kerala 686633, India 4 and eight varieties in India. Of these, eight species Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College Devagiri, Calicut, Kerala 673008, India and seven varieties are endemic to peninsular India 6 Department of Botany, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai, (Karuppusamy et al. 2013). The genus Caralluma Tamilnadu 625011, India 1 2 is closely allied to Boucerosia but differs by having [email protected] (corresponding author), umurshi@ gmail.com, 3 [email protected], 4 george.satheesh@gmail. flowers arising in the axils of rudimentary leaves all com, 5 [email protected], 6 [email protected] along the distal portion of the stem. The type species of the genus Caralluma is C. adscendens (Roxb.) Haw., a species originally described from peninsular India plant material has demonstrated intraspecific variability, (Meve & Liede 2002). Among them, 13 species and five where almost every population shows its own features varieties are presented in India (Jagtap & Singh 1999). (as the many illustrations published by Gravely & Recently, a few new taxa have been described from Mayuranathan (1931) show). Especially with regard to India including Caralluma moorei Aditya (Aditya 2011a), frequently occurring differences in corolla structure, size, C. bicolor Ramach. et al. (Ramachandran et al. 2011), C. ciliation, striation, color variation, corona structure and sarkariae var. longipedicellata Aditya (Aditya 2011b), C. position of insertion of pollinarium have already been stalagmifera var. intermedia Karuppusamy & Pullaiah established for taxonomic and systematic significance in and C. stalagmifera var. longipetala Karuppusamy & stapeliad species. However, several distinct tendencies Pullaiah (Karuppusamy & Pullaiah 2007). that support intraspecific differentiation have to be Caralluma adscendens is a first described Indian considered for delimitation of taxonomic ranks. Inner stapeliad that has found greater variations among the coloration of the corolla surface is predominantly purple, taxa which has attracted several taxonomists to work out but creamy yellow coloration is found in C. adscendens the complexities of this group (Karuppusamy et al. 2013). var. gracilis. Dense purple-red transverse stripes or Variability in the floral morphology of C. adscendens is streaks are found in all the six varieties ofC. adscendens higher than what is typically found in other widespread but each variety has different patterns and amount allied species and has, therefore, hampered a sound of striation (Karuppusamy & Pullaiah 2013). Many taxonomic treatment. The increasing availability of authors have already presented the variations among DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3523.6282-6 Editor: Ravi Prasad Rao, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, India. Date of publication: 26 August 2014 (online & print) Manuscript details: Ms # o3523 | Received 09 February 2013 | Final received 15 July 2014 | Finally accepted 07 August 2014 Citation: Kumar, K.M.P., U.C. Murshida, B. Thomas, S. George, I. Balachandran & S. Karuppusamy (2014). Notes on Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) Haw. var. at- tenuata (Wight) Grav. & Mayur. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(9): 6282–6286; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3523.6282-6 Copyright: © Kumar et al. 2014. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication. Funding: None. Competing Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the authorities of Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal. 6282 Caralluma adscendens var. attenuata Kumar et al. the succulent stapeliads of Caralluma groups in India Medicinal uses: Anti-hyperglycaemic herb used for (Plowes 1995; Aditya 2009; Plowes 2011; Karuppusamy the treatment of migraine, urinary trouble, chest pain et al. 2012). The present communication is aimed at and general weakness of the body. The stem is also revealing the floral variations among the Caralluma used for preparing chutney (Reddy et al. 2010). C. adscendens var. attenuata in Tamil Nadu State. attenuata extract prevents increase in blood glucose Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) R. Brown var. levels significantly after glucose administration (Kumar attenuata (Wight) Gravely & Mayuranathan in Bull. et al. 2011). The Paliyar tribe used C. adscendens as Madr. Govt. Mus. n.s. N.H. 4(1): 13. 1931; S.R. Srinivasan as a remedy for diabetes, lung diseases, indigestion, in A.N. Henry et al. Fl. Tamil Nadu Anal. 2: 81. 1987; kidney stone, epilepsy, skin diseases and so on. A Gilbert in Bradleya 8: 11. 1990; Plowes in Haseltonia paste prepared from 20g of the whole plant along with 3: 52. 1995; Jagtap & Singh in Fasc. Fl. India 24: 194. ghee and an equal quantity of black gram, coriander, 1999; Meve & Leide in Plant Syst. Evol. 234: 200. 2002. pepper and cumin seeds if taken orally once a week C. attenuata Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Orient. 4(1): 15. t. 1268. cures vomiting, indigestion and reduces body heat 1848. Type: tab. 1268 of protologue based on material (Maruthupandian & Mohan 2010). The methanol from India; Hooker f. Fl. Brit. India 4: 76.1883; Gamble extract of C. adscendens var. attenuatashows significant Fl. Pres. Madras 2: 861.1923. anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti- Common names: Kallimulaiyan, Mankulli, Iluvaan, microbial activities, which could be used as a potential Pulichampirandai (Tamil). source of pharmaceutical materials (Madhuri et al. Succulent herb: vegetative stem fleshy, 60–65 cm 2010). high and 6.8cm width, highly branched with tapering end Variation study: The detailed morphometric and at the tip. Branches are quadrangular, angle rounded, reproductive characters were observed from the field dark green in the base and paler purplish colored at and tabulated (Table 2). The morphological variations the tip, fertile apical portion very slender. Leaves among C. adscendens var. attenuata showed four caducous, reduced to conical teeth which are arranged different morphological classes which are sporadically in four ribs, 2cm at base and 2–2.5 cm apart from each distributed in different parts of Tamil Nadu (Table 1). other. Inflorescence is cyme. Flowers single or 2–3, Habitat is strongly attributed to its growth forms due axils on minute leaf axils, sides of stem; bracts minute, to the availability of nutrients and light that greatly lanceolate, 1 or 2, pedicillate 0.3mm in length and influence the growth habit of succulents. Caralluma 0.2mm in width and it is glabrous, pendulous, bisexual and complete. Calyx is divided to base 0.25x0.1 mm, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate at apex, fleshy, glabrous Table 1. Localities and morphological variants of Caralluma adscendens var. attenuata (Wight) Grav. & Mayur. in and brownish-green in colour. Corolla bud 1.0–1.4 cm Tamil Nadu. long, tubular, constriction in above the middle with Voucher Morpholo- Locality GPS location valvate aestivation. Corolla 0.9x0.3 mm in diameter, number(s) gical group glabrous at the base and pubescent at the tip, purple Madhukkarai, 10090.283’N CMPR 7145, 1 II in color, in the inner side of the lower portion a yellow Coimbatore District & 76097.102’E 7252, 7261 brown ornamentation is present. Corona biseriate, ca. Palnihiils, Dindigul 10024.425’N SK 2316, 2 0 IV 1mm in long, broad at the base; inner corona 0.2mm in District & 77 50.320’E 2326 Marudhamalai, 11005.420’N 3 SK 1752 II long, incumbent on anthers, basally united with outer Coimbatore District & 76025.534’E corona. Anther 0.5mm long, yellowish, basally united Kolli Hills, Namakkal 11002.376’N SK 2135, 4 III with inner surface of the middle corona, swollen. Pollen District & 78021.837’E 2144 Sirumalai, Dindigul 10024.226’N SK 1643, yellow, round, waxy attached by the reddish brown 5 I District & 780 12.930’E 1651, 1655 caudicle. Gynostegium 1mm long; stigma cap is star Thirumayam, 100 21.472’N SK 2254, 6 III pentagonal. Follicle cylindrical with tapering ends and Pudukottai District & 78075.052’E 2263, 2272 green color with black stripes present, 8.4cm in long and Tiruppatthur, 10011.066’N SK 2178, 7 II 2.3cm in width (Image 1). Sivaganga District & 780 49.210’E 2183 Oddanchatram, 10048.127’N SK 1592, Habitat: Dry deciduous forests and scrub jungles. 8 I Dindigul District & 77.75.039’E 1598 The materials for the present study were collected from Barigam, 11093.301’N & 9 SK 1720 IV various areas of Tamil Nadu state (Table 1). Dharmapuri District 77.98.528’E Flowering & Fruiting: Throughout the year. Kolli Hills, Namakkal 11024.852’N & SK 1542, 10 0 II Distribution: Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. District 78 33.870’E 1564 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2014 | 6(9): 6282–6286 6283 Caralluma adscendens var. attenuata Kumar et al. a b c d f h e g i j Image 1. Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) Haw. var. attenuata (Wight) Grav. & Mayur. A - habit; B - close up of flower; C - corona-surface view; D - corona-side view; E - calyx; F - calyx lobe; G - corolla lobe; H - outer corona; I - pollinium; J - follicle (© K.M.