Climbing Plants of the Southern Western Ghats of Coimbatore in India and Their Economic Uses

American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (7): 1312-1322, 2015 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2015.15.7.12645 Climbing Plants of the Southern Western Ghats of Coimbatore in India and Their Economic Uses A. Sarvalingam and A. Rajendran Department of Botany, Bharathiar University Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract: The present paper focuses on diversity of climbers and their ethno-botanical uses of 156 species under 83 genera belonging to 26 families. Most number of species was recorded in the family Convolvulaceae (35-species) followed by Fabaceae (26) and Asclepiadiaceae (22). The ascending plants (incl. lianes) are segregated into five types based on their climbing modes. Incorporating the ecological strategies of the climbers to the changing environmental conditions, of the total species recorded, 79 (50%)-species twined around the host plants, 7(5%) plants used hooks, 27(17%) plants used tendrils, 38(24%) plants used Woody stems and only 6(4%) plants used Prostrate climbing the host plants. They are used for different ailments in the present study belong to 57 are medicinal (include ethnoveterinary), 29 Ornametal, Edible 14 and 7 multiple purposes as well as of economic utility. Key words: Diversity Climbers Economic use Southern Western Ghats Tamil Nadu INTRODUCTION Climbers are the most threatened group of plants because they are first to be decimated in a silviculturally managed ‘The ecology of lianas is virtually blank’. ‘They have forest. been no less neglected by plant collectors, quite probably The species diversity and abundance of lianas lianas are the most under collected of any major habit depend upon several key abiotic factors which include group of plants” [1]. They are in the wild and generally total precipitation, seasonality of rainfall, soil fertility and utilize the neighbouring plants as external supporting disturbance [6]. They occur in all woody ecosystem of structures to ascend [2] and also one of the most common world although high climbers play an important ecological and important plant life forms in tropical forest role in forest ecosystem dynamics and functioning. More ecosystems, an important constituent of the total recently, lianas have been included in systematic biodiversity. Their size, situation and relative abundance sampling programmes [7, 8, 9]. The early and somewhat contribute to the total character of several types of forests sound classification of climbers is that of who categorized [3]. them into scrambles, root climbers, twines and tendril Climbers are rooted in the ground but need support climbers [10]. for their weak stems [4]. They not only form an important Climbing or veining habit is a wonderful example of structural component but also play an important economy of nature. It allows a plant to attain maximum ecological role in the forest dynamics and nutrient exposure to sunlight, water and nutrients with minimum recycling within these ecosystems. However, in many expense in vegetation support. They contribute forest inventories during the last decades, lianas are sustainability to canopy closure after tree fall and help to ignored [5] in contrast to herb, shrubs and trees. The stabilize the microclimate underneath. Lianas in particular overall low attention to lianas is most probably due to add considerably to forest plant diversity and provide their low microeconomic importance. Also difficulties in valuable habitat and connections among tree canopies delimiting individuals overall lower minimum size limit in that enable arboreal animals to traverse the tree tops. enumerations and general lack of taxonomic studies Climbers also form an essential part of the diet of many resulted in the exclusion of lianas in many inventories. animals in times of scarcity of flowers and fruits. Corresponding Author: A. Sarvalingam, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 1312 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (7): 1312-1322, 2015 Fig. 1: Study Area In tropical forests, the lianas exhibit diverse Maruthamalai Hills: Consists of an environment of mixed patterns of pollination, dispersal and phenological dry deciduous type of forest at an altitude of 450 MSL, systems apart from providing several material 11.04’E of longitude and 76.93’N latitude (Fig. 1). The resources and playing a crucial role in the maintenance of area has a predominant red soil impregnated with organic biological diversity [11]. Besides, the climbers are part of matter and granite, bed rock is overlaid with shallow, life-form (biological) spectra of forest ecosystems. The sandy loam and glacial soils are moderate to well drained. ecological significance of lianas is an acknowledged Temperature begins increasing after March and April is fact due to the vital role they play through direct and the hottest month with a near daily maximum temperature indirect competition with trees in the functioning of the of 38.2°C and maximum of 25-6 °C [13]. forest ecosystem, being key components of whole forest transpiration, forest regeneration and carbon Velliangiri Hills: Are floristically rich and socio- sequestration [12]. religiously important range of southern Western Ghats situated 40km west of Coimbatore City, Tamil Nadu Study Area: Coimbatore district is situated in the state (Fig. 1b). The study area lies between 60 40’–70 10’E and of Tamil Nadu in Southern India (lies between 10-10' 100 55’–110 10’N between 520–1840 m. A famous temple and 12-00' of Northern latitude and 76 – 40' and of 8-00' of called ‘Velliangiri Aandavar’ temple also called Eastern longitude). It is bordered by the Nilgiris in the “Thenkailayam” (South Kailas) is situated at the peak of North. Erode district in East, Dindigul district in the the hills (1840m). The range of study area consists of south and Kerala in the west. The average rainfall seven hills with different altitudes and topography. received in Coimbatore district is 670- 699 mm for the past twenty years out of the total rainfall 25% is received Madukkarai Hills: The present study was conducted during South West monsoon 49% during Oct-Nov. in several areas of Madukkarai Hills (10°54° N 76°58° E The temperature begins increasing after March. April is and 10.9° N 76.9° E) of Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu, the hottest month with mean daily maximum temperature India (Fig. 1). An average elevation with 615 MSL. of 38.2°C and minimum of 25.6°C. The maximum The temperature varies in the range of 14.9°C to 37.8°C. temperature may go up to 41°C on some days. The The total rainfall in the area is about 574.2 mm. The maximum and minimum temperature is 41.5°C and 16°C average humidity of the area ranges from 29% to 81% respectively. [14,15]. 1313 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (7): 1312-1322, 2015 Anaikatty Hills: The study was undertaken in the species richness in the tropical forests attains 20%. foothills of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Conversely, the climbing habit has evolved independently Ghats (Fig. 1d). The study area is a Scrub Forest (SF) and in genetically unrelated angiosperm families. And, the the Mixed Dry Deciduous Forest (MDDF) in Anaikatty climbers are found in almost all vegetation types Hills, situated at an elevation of about 610-750m above besides the human-made agricultural and horticultural MSL (Fig. 1). The Anaikatty forest is located between landscapes. However, the climbers are found to be more Attapady and North east of Coimbatore. It is about 25km diverse and abundant in disturbed forest sites as they from Coimbatore. This is an undulating terrain comprising better utilize the gaps and the sunlight, perhaps the the foothills and hills, situated between 760 39’ and climate change. Total of 156 climbing species and 760 47’E and from 110 5’ to 110 31’N in Coimbatore infraspecific taxa with vernacular/s, mode of climbing, TamilNadu, Southern India. The Anaikatty hills comes medicinal and economical uses are documented for under the Southern Tropical mixed dry deciduous forest southern western Ghats Coimbatore in the survey type [16]. during 2011-2013 (Table 1; Fig. 5a & b). The Convolvulaceae are the most dominant family with 35 Kanuvai Hills: Is situated at a distance of 15 km away species, closely followed by Fabaceae (26), from Coimbatore. It consists of an environment of scrub Asclepiadiaceae (22), Cucurbitaceae (12), Vitaceae (10), jungles and dry deciduous type of forest at an altitude Oleaceae (9), Menispermaceae (7), Passifloraceae, of 300 - 450 m MSL, 11.04’ E of longitude and 76.93’ N Capparaceae and liliaceae 4 species each, followed by latitude (Fig. 1). The area predominant with red soil Aristolochaceae (3) and the rest of other families one or impregnated with organic matter and granite bedrock two species are present (Fig. 1). is overlaid with shallow, sandy loam and glacial soils are The ascending plants (incl. lianes) are segregated moderate to wet drained [17]. into five types based on their climbing modes largely after Schimper and with some modifications contemplated MATERIALS AND METHODS in the present study. They are: Woody climber; prostrate climbers; Twining climbers; Tendril climbers and Hook The present study is the outcome of intensive and climbers. This classification is still arbitrary and need extensive field survey undertaken from 2010-2013 in to be refined, incorporating the ecological strategies of Anaikkatti, Velliangiri, Madukkarai, Maruthamalai and the climbers to the changing environmental conditions, of Kanuvai Hills of Southern Western Ghats Coimbatore. the total species recorded, 79 (50%)-species twined During the surveys personal Interviewed were conducted around the host plants, 7(5%) plants used hooks, 27(17%) with the village dwellers, village herbalists, herbal plants used tendrils, 38(24%) plants used Woody stems practitioners, elder people and their traditional healers. and only 6(4%) plants used Prostrate climbing the host Each of the plant material was assigned field book number plants (Fig.

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