Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceaet

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceaet Cytologia 50: 473-482, 1985 Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian AcanthaceaeT . Govindarajan and D. Subramanian CytogeneticsLaboratory, Botany Department, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar608 002, Tamil nadu, India Accepted July 24, 1984 The South Indian Acanthaceae consist of 38 genera and 209 species (Gamble 1957). In South India, the species occur much wide spread in the plains as well as in the hills. Even where the chromosome numbers have been determined (Fedorov 1974), the knowledge concerning the details of karyotype pertaining to chromo some measurements which are vital to the understanding of karyological affinities, is still meagre. It was therefore, felt that detailed and critical karyological work in this family was desirable. Already there are a few published reports of karyo types of the members of this family (Rangaswamy 1941, Kaur and Nizam 1970, Krishnaswami and Madhava Menon 1974 and Vasudevan 1976). The present paper, in addition to the author's previous communication (Govindarajan and Subramanian 1983), deals with the details of chromosome measurements of 23 taxa of Acanthaceae from South India. Materials and methods The materials used in this present investigation were collected from different localities of South Indian plains and hills, the voucher specimens of which have been deposited in the hortus siccus of the Botany Department, Annamalai Uni versity. The identification of plants was verified with the help of the Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore. Healthy root tips were pretreated in 0.002M hy droxyquinoline kept at 4•Ž for 3 hours. After thorough washing, the root tips were fixed in 1:3 acetic alcohol for a period of 24 hours. Then, they were squashed following Marimuthu and Subramaniam's (1960) iron alum haematoxylin squash method. Important plates were drawn with Abbe's camera lucida and photo graphed. The measurements of chromosome were made from the drawn figures with the help of ocular micrometer, under oil immersion lens with a magnification of •~1125. Long arm, short arm, satellites were measured separately and the re sults tabulated. Observations The chromosomes of Acanthaceae are generally rather small. It is of par ticular interest to note that the very short chromosomes measured less than a mi cron, while the long chromosome measured more than 5.0 microns. Based on the length, the chromosomes have been grouped into very short, short, medium and long chromosomes. Under each of these groups, the following categories of chro 474 T. Govindarajan and D. Subramanian Cytologia 50 mosomes have been recognized: Long (more than 5.0ƒÊm) Type A Chromosomes with submedian centromere and satellites on the short arm or long arm Type B Chromosomes with median centromere and satellites Type C Chromosomes with submedian centromere Type D Chromosomes with median centromere Type E Chromosomes with subterminal centromere Medium (3.0-5.0ƒÊm) Type F Chromosomes with submedian centromere and satellites on the short arm or long arm. Type G Chromosomes with median centromere and satellites Type H Chromosomes with submedian centromere Type I Chromosomes with median centromere Type J Chromosomes with subterminal centromere Short (1.0-3.0ƒÊm) Type K Chromosomes with submedian centromere and satellites on the short arm or long arm Type L Chromosomes with median centromere and satellites Type M Chromosomes with submedian centromere Type N Chromosomes with median centromere Type O Chromosomes with subterminal centromere Very short (less than 1.0ƒÊm) Type P Chromosomes with submedian centromere Type Q Chromosomes with median centromere Type R Chromosomes with subterminal centromere In the following tables (Tables 1 and 2) the details of chromosome measure ments are given. Table 1. 1985 Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceae 475 Table 1. (cont.) 476 T, Govindarajan and D. Subramanian Cytologia 50 Table 1. (cont.) 1985 Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceae 477 Table 1. (cont.) 478 T. Govindarajan and D. Subramanian Cytologia 50 Table 1. (cont.) Discussion The chromosome number of 23 species belonging to 16 genera determined in the present study are listed in Table 3. They range from 2n=18 to 2n=80. Among the 23 species studied, first record of chromosome numbers has been made in 17 species, namely Acanthus mollis, Adhatoda zeylanica, Andrographis lobelioides, Andrographis neesiana, Asystasia crispata, Barleria involucrata, Barleria longiflora, Beloperone plumbaginifolia, Dyschoriste depressa, Eranthemum nervo sum, Hemigraphis colorata, Hygrophila quadrivalvis, Pseuderanthemum malabaricum, Strobilanthes barbatus, Strobilanthes lawsoni, Sotrobilanthes zenkerianus and Ste nosiphoniumparviflorum. In Fittonia argyoneura, Justicia quinqueangularis, Ruellia rosea and Stro bilanthes isophyllus the present report of chromsome number confirms the earlier reports (Fedorov 1974). 1985 Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceae 479 In Justicia glauca Ellis (1962) has reported 2n=26 chromosomes, Kaur (1965) 2n=24 chromosomes and Krishnappa and Ranganath (1982) 2n=36 chromo somes. The present study shows 2n=26 chromosomes in this species. As reveal ed by the present study, there are 2n=18 chromosomes in Justicia procumbens, but according to Grant (1955), the diploid chromosome number is 2n=18 and Kri shnappa and Ranganath (1982) 2n=36. In Andrographis lobelioides, the somatic chromosome number is 2n=48 and in A. neesiana 2n=24 chromosomes. The basic number may be 12 represented by Andrographis neesiana whereas A. lobelioides represents an euploid series. Table 2. According to earlier observations in Barleria noctifiora and B. cuspidata, there are 2n=24 and 2n=40 chromosomes respectively (Govindarajan and Subramanian 1983) and in B. prionotis 2n=30 chromosomes (Narayanan 1951) and 2n=40 chro mosomes (Raman and Kesavan 1964). There are 2n=40 chromosomes in Barleria involucrata and B. longiflora as evidenced by the present investigation. It may be considered that these species should have evolved from two different ancestral stocks, one having 12 haploid mumber and the other 20 haploid numbers, as evi denced by the present investigation. In Justicia betonica, the earlier report of somatic chromosome number is 2n= 28 (Narayanan 1951) and 2n=34 (Ellis 1962, Govindarajan and Subramanian 480 T. Govindarajan and D. Subramanian Cytologia 50 1983). In Justicia gendarussa the earlier report of somatic chromosme number is 2n=28 (Basak 1959), 2n=30 (Joseph 1964) and 2n=32 (Narayanan 1951). In the present study 2n=18 chromosomes in Justicia procumbens and J. quinqueang ularis and 2n=26 in J. glauca were observed. It may be considered that these species should have evolved from different ancestral stocks with 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 as haploid chromosomes. Table 3. Summarized karyomorphological features of the taxa investigated here 1. Chromosome number (2n) 2. Size range in millimicrons 3. Number of chromosomes with satellite 4. Number of chromosomes with submedian centromere 5. Number of chromosomes with median centromere 6. Number of chromosomes with subterminal centromere 7. Absolute chromosome length 8. Average chromosome length 9. TF %: [Total length of short chromosomes/(Total length of long chr. + total . length of short chr.)] •~100 According to earlier observations in Strobilanthes isophyllus and S. dyerianus, there are 2n=20 (Grant 1955, Takizawa 1957) and 2n=30 chromosomes (Grant 1955) respectively and in S. luridus and S. papillosus 2n=32 chromosomes (Ellis 1962, Raman and Kesavan 1963). There are 2n=20 chromosomes in Strobilanthes isophyllus, 2n=30 chromosomes in S. lawsoni and 2n=32 chromosomes in S. bar batus and S. zenkerianus as evidenced by the present investigation. It may be possible to consider that the haploid chromosome number in this genus may be 10 1985 Karyomorphological Studies in South Indian Acanthaceae 481 and Strobilanthes isophyllus (2n=20) may be a diploid species , S. dyerianus (2n=30) and S. lawsoni (2n=30) may be considered as euploids and S . luridus, S. papillosus, S. barbatus and S. zenkerianus (2n=32) are aneuploids . Therefore both euploidy and aneuploidy plays an important role in the origin and evolution of the species of Strobilanthes. The Acanthanceae show a wide range of basic numbers from 8 to 34 (Govin darajan and Subramanian 1983), but in the present study it is 9 to 40 . The basic number 9 has been observed in Justicia procumbens and J . quinqueangularis. The commonest basic number in the family is x=16, x=8 is assumed to be the original basic number of the family and that x=16 is derived by polyploidy . Evolution of an aneuploid series (x=10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 , 18, 20, 21, 24 and 40) from the original number x=8, followed by polyploidy might well have given rise to the wide range of basic numbers now observed in the family. The formation of an aneuploid series prior to polyploidy is indicated by Andrographis neesiana (2n=24), Asystasia crispata (2n=26), Beloperone plumbaginifolia (2n=28), Hemigraphis colorata (2n= 28), Adhatoda zeylanica (2n=30), Dyschoriste depressa (2n=30) , Strobilanthes lawsoni (2n=30), Stenosiphonium parviflorum (2n=30) , Hygrophila quadrivalvis (2n= 32), Strobilanthes barbatus (2n=32), S. zenkerianus (2n=32), Ruellia rosea (2n=34) and Fittonia argyoneura (2n=36). There are two distinct lines of evolution among the species studied, one represented by 2n=30 and 32 chromosomes and the other by 40 and 42 chromosomes, as these numbers are occurring in maximum number of species. This is evidenced by the study of frequency
Recommended publications
  • ORNAMENTAL GARDEN PLANTS of the GUIANAS: an Historical Perspective of Selected Garden Plants from Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana
    f ORNAMENTAL GARDEN PLANTS OF THE GUIANAS: An Historical Perspective of Selected Garden Plants from Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana Vf•-L - - •• -> 3H. .. h’ - — - ' - - V ' " " - 1« 7-. .. -JZ = IS^ X : TST~ .isf *“**2-rt * * , ' . / * 1 f f r m f l r l. Robert A. DeFilipps D e p a r t m e n t o f B o t a n y Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. \ 1 9 9 2 ORNAMENTAL GARDEN PLANTS OF THE GUIANAS Table of Contents I. Map of the Guianas II. Introduction 1 III. Basic Bibliography 14 IV. Acknowledgements 17 V. Maps of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana VI. Ornamental Garden Plants of the Guianas Gymnosperms 19 Dicotyledons 24 Monocotyledons 205 VII. Title Page, Maps and Plates Credits 319 VIII. Illustration Credits 321 IX. Common Names Index 345 X. Scientific Names Index 353 XI. Endpiece ORNAMENTAL GARDEN PLANTS OF THE GUIANAS Introduction I. Historical Setting of the Guianan Plant Heritage The Guianas are embedded high in the green shoulder of northern South America, an area once known as the "Wild Coast". They are the only non-Latin American countries in South America, and are situated just north of the Equator in a configuration with the Amazon River of Brazil to the south and the Orinoco River of Venezuela to the west. The three Guianas comprise, from west to east, the countries of Guyana (area: 83,000 square miles; capital: Georgetown), Surinam (area: 63, 037 square miles; capital: Paramaribo) and French Guiana (area: 34, 740 square miles; capital: Cayenne). Perhaps the earliest physical contact between Europeans and the present-day Guianas occurred in 1500 when the Spanish navigator Vincente Yanez Pinzon, after discovering the Amazon River, sailed northwest and entered the Oyapock River, which is now the eastern boundary of French Guiana.
    [Show full text]
  • Specialty Annuals: Persian Shield
    SPECIALTY ANNUALS byAllanArmitage, University og Georgia, Athens, GA Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) Growing-on: Provide as much sunlight as possible. Clean bays where plants are to be grown. Supplemental lighting is useful to Strobilanthes (strobe-I-lan' thes) Persian Shield Acanthaceae enhance branching, but not necessary in most areas of the country. Purple/silvering leaves Burma 3-573' Plant growth will be delayed at temperatures below 55°F,but cool temperatures may be useful to slow down crop if necessary. Plant Introduction growth will be delayed but not damaged if temperatures dip below 50°. Day temperatures of 70-75°F day temperatures are recom In the quest for color in the landscape and the retail shop, some of mended, nighttemperatures of 70-75°Farerecommended. Asingle the brighter landscapers and retailers realized a number of years pinch enhances branching and is recommended, a double pinch ago that not only do colorful flowers sell, so does colorful foliage. fills them out even more and maintains a useful height, regardless Some market people feel that color is color and as long as the of container size. They can be grown in a 4" container, but not container catches the eye of the shopper and the gardener, then recommended. If 4" is the container of choice, double pinch so arguing about the source of the color is an futile exercise. Others short plants can be maintained. Plants will finish in 6-10 weeks, feel that the only useful color is flower color. Such short-sighted depending on the container size. people are still in the "marigold mold" of color, and are not keep ing up with trends in the real world.
    [Show full text]
  • Kew Science Publications for the Academic Year 2017–18
    KEW SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2017–18 FOR THE ACADEMIC Kew Science Publications kew.org For the academic year 2017–18 ¥ Z i 9E ' ' . -,i,c-"'.'f'l] Foreword Kew’s mission is to be a global resource in We present these publications under the four plant and fungal knowledge. Kew currently has key questions set out in Kew’s Science Strategy over 300 scientists undertaking collection- 2015–2020: based research and collaborating with more than 400 organisations in over 100 countries What plants and fungi occur to deliver this mission. The knowledge obtained 1 on Earth and how is this from this research is disseminated in a number diversity distributed? p2 of different ways from annual reports (e.g. stateoftheworldsplants.org) and web-based What drivers and processes portals (e.g. plantsoftheworldonline.org) to 2 underpin global plant and academic papers. fungal diversity? p32 In the academic year 2017-2018, Kew scientists, in collaboration with numerous What plant and fungal diversity is national and international research partners, 3 under threat and what needs to be published 358 papers in international peer conserved to provide resilience reviewed journals and books. Here we bring to global change? p54 together the abstracts of some of these papers. Due to space constraints we have Which plants and fungi contribute to included only those which are led by a Kew 4 important ecosystem services, scientist; a full list of publications, however, can sustainable livelihoods and natural be found at kew.org/publications capital and how do we manage them? p72 * Indicates Kew staff or research associate authors.
    [Show full text]
  • 7. STROBILANTHES Blume, Bijdr. 781, 796. 1826
    Fl. China 19: 381–429. 2011. 7. STROBILANTHES Blume, Bijdr. 781, 796. 1826. 马蓝属 ma lan shu Hu Jiaqi (胡嘉琪 Hu Chia-chi), Deng Yunfei (邓云飞); John R. I. Wood Adenacanthus Nees; Aechmanthera Nees; Apolepsis (Blume) Haasskarl; Baphicacanthus Bremekamp; Championella Breme- kamp; Diflugossa Bremekamp; Goldfussia Nees; Gutzlaffia Hance; Hemigraphis Nees; Hymenochlaena Bremekamp; Lepidagathis sect. Apolepsis Blume; Parachampionella Bremekamp; Paragutzlaffia H. P. Tsui; Perilepta Bremekamp; Pseudaechmanthera Bremekamp; Pseudostenosiphonium Lindau; Pseudostonium Kuntze; Pteracanthus (Nees) Bremekamp; Pteroptychia Bremekamp; Pyrrothrix Bremekamp; Semnostachya Bremekamp; Sericocalyx Bremekamp; Strobilanthes subg. Pteracanthus Nees; S. subg. Sympagis Nees; Sympagis (Nees) Bremekamp; Tarphochlamys Bremekamp; Tetraglochidium Bremekamp; Tetragoga Bremekamp. Herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, [or small trees], isophyllous or weakly to strongly anisophyllous, woody species commonly pliestesial (living for several years then dying after flowering and fruiting). Stems and branches usually 4-angled, often sulcate, basally becoming woody and hollow with age. Leaves opposite, petiolate or sessile; leaf blade adaxially usually with prominent linear cysto- liths and sometimes also abaxially, margin variously dentate, serrate, crenate, undulate, or entire. Inflorescences axillary and/or termi- nal, bracteate heads, headlike clusters, spikes (sometimes distinctly secund), or less commonly of pedicellate flowers forming an open panicle; sterile bracts usually resembling reduced
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties of Strobilanthes Kunthiana Nees T, Anderson Ex, Benth Leaves Organic Solvent Extracts
    International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research ISSN: 2456-0421; Impact Factor: RJIF 5.32 Received: 25-05-2020; Accepted: 10-06-2020; Published: 26-06-2020 www.allscientificjournal.com Volume 5; Issue 3; 2020; Page No. 27-33 Evaluation of antioxidant properties of Strobilanthes Kunthiana Nees t, Anderson ex, benth leaves organic solvent extracts Everlyne Moraa Isoe1*, Samba S Nelson2 1 Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya 2 Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract Plants are natural sources of antioxidants and recent research focuses on them for they are regarded as safe. Free radicals are causes of serious diseases because of the oxidative stress they cause on the body cells which leads to a series of conditions and diseases. There is a serious need of finding natural scavengers against the free radicals to combat the problem of free radicals. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of various extracts of Strobilanthes kunthiana leaves. Superoxide radical scavenging activity, Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, Fe2+ chelating activity, ABTS radical decolorization assays were carried out. Ascorbic acid was used as standard. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values were determined in all the assays and was found to be lower in the ethanol extract; ABTS radical decolorization (60.05±0.04 + µg/mL), Fe2 chelating (62.36±0.15 µg/mL), superoxide radical scavenging (IC50 = 62.24±0.26 µg/mL), and nitric oxide radical scavenging (66.27±0.52 µg/mL).Compared to all other extracts, ABTS radical decolorization assay showed better antioxidant activity as compared to other assays.
    [Show full text]
  • Lamiales – Synoptical Classification Vers
    Lamiales – Synoptical classification vers. 2.6.2 (in prog.) Updated: 12 April, 2016 A Synoptical Classification of the Lamiales Version 2.6.2 (This is a working document) Compiled by Richard Olmstead With the help of: D. Albach, P. Beardsley, D. Bedigian, B. Bremer, P. Cantino, J. Chau, J. L. Clark, B. Drew, P. Garnock- Jones, S. Grose (Heydler), R. Harley, H.-D. Ihlenfeldt, B. Li, L. Lohmann, S. Mathews, L. McDade, K. Müller, E. Norman, N. O’Leary, B. Oxelman, J. Reveal, R. Scotland, J. Smith, D. Tank, E. Tripp, S. Wagstaff, E. Wallander, A. Weber, A. Wolfe, A. Wortley, N. Young, M. Zjhra, and many others [estimated 25 families, 1041 genera, and ca. 21,878 species in Lamiales] The goal of this project is to produce a working infraordinal classification of the Lamiales to genus with information on distribution and species richness. All recognized taxa will be clades; adherence to Linnaean ranks is optional. Synonymy is very incomplete (comprehensive synonymy is not a goal of the project, but could be incorporated). Although I anticipate producing a publishable version of this classification at a future date, my near- term goal is to produce a web-accessible version, which will be available to the public and which will be updated regularly through input from systematists familiar with taxa within the Lamiales. For further information on the project and to provide information for future versions, please contact R. Olmstead via email at [email protected], or by regular mail at: Department of Biology, Box 355325, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Nees) Bremek (Acanthaceae
    Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of different parts of Pleocaulus sessilis (Nees) Bremek (Acanthaceae) H. L. Raghavendra1, T. R. Prashith Kekuda2, S. Akarsh2, M. C. Ranjitha2 H. S. Ashwini3 1Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia, 2Department of Microbiology, S.R.N.M.N College of Applied Sciences, N.E.S Campus, Shivamogha, Karnataka, India, 3Department of PG Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Jnana Sahyadri, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, India ORIGINAL ARTICLE ORIGINAL Abstract Aim: This study aims to investigate antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of leaf, stem, and inflorescence of Pleocaulus sessilis (Nees) Bremek belonging to Acanthaceae. Materials and Methods: The leaves, inflorescences, and stems were separated, dried under shade, powdered, and extracted using methanol by maceration process. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out by standard phytochemical tests. Antibacterial and antifungal activity was carried out by agar well diffusion and poisoned food technique, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical scavenging and ferric reducing assays. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method was employed to estimate the total phenolic content of extracts. Results and Discussion: Flavonoids, saponins, steroids, and phenols were present in all three extracts. Extracts were inhibitory to all test bacteria with maximum activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Overall, inflorescence extract exhibited high inhibition of test bacteria when compared to other extracts. Extracts were effective in reducing mycelial growth of test fungi. Leaf extract was more effective against test fungi followed by inflorescence and stem extracts. All extracts exhibited dose-dependent radical scavenging and ferric reducing activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Towards a Floristic Inventory of Bat Xat Nature Reserve, Vietnam
    Wulfenia 27 (2020): 233 –250 Mitteilungen des Kärntner Botanikzentrums Klagenfurt Towards a floristic inventory of Bat Xat Nature Reserve, Vietnam: Thirteen new national records of vascular plants Bui Hong Quang, Tran The Bach, Sangmi Eum, Do Van Hai, Nguyen Sinh Khang, Le Ngoc Han, Tran Duc Binh, Nguyen Thu Thuy, Vu Anh Thuong, Ngo Kien Trung, Ya-Ping Chen, Peter W. Fritsch, Chi-Ming Hu, Lu Thi Ngan, John A. N. Parnell, Alexander N. Sennikov, John R. I. Wood, Yi Yang, Andrey N. Kuznetsov, Svetlana P. Kuznetsova & Maxim S. Nuraliev Summary: The present study reports newly recorded species of vascular plants for the flora of Vietnam found in the recently established Bat Xat Nature Reserve in Lao Cai province, close to the border with Yunnan province of China. Thirteen species belonging to eleven families are reported: Acanthaceae (Strobilanthes helicta), Actinidiaceae (Actinidia melliana), Amaryllidaceae (Allium wallichii), Aquifoliaceae (Ilex fragilis), Asteraceae (Melanoseris leiolepis), Begoniaceae (Begonia yuii ), Lamiaceae (Callicarpa giraldii, Clerodendrum peii, Scutellaria macrosiphon), Lentibulariaceae (Utricularia spinomarginata), Primulaceae (Lysimachia septemfida), Pteridaceae (Aleuritopteris chrysophylla) and Symplocaceae (Symplocos glandulifera). Some of these species are additionally reported from the neighbouring Hoang Lien National Park. For each species, information on its habitat, phenology, distribution and studied specimens is provided along with the photographs of the reported findings. Keywords: Hoang Lien National Park, Indochinese Peninsula, Lao Cai province, Southeast Asia, Vietnam-China border area, Y Ty area Bat Xat Nature Reserve is located in Bat Xat district of Lao Cai province, northwestern Vietnam. It was established in 2016 by the Decision No.1954/QD-UBND of the President of Lao Cai province “On the establishment of Bat Xat Nature Reserve” (DARD 2016) in order to conserve primeval forest ecosystems in the highlands, and in particular, the rare and endangered species of flora and fauna typical of Hoang Lien Son mountain region.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating the Drought Endurance of Landscaping Ground Cover Plants in a Roof Top Model
    horticulturae Article Evaluating the Drought Endurance of Landscaping Ground Cover Plants in a Roof Top Model Nath Pichakum 1 and Aussanee Pichakum 2,* 1 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; [email protected] 2 Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Vegetative ground covers are commonly used in urban, tropical roadside gardens. Such landscaping ground covers usually encounter extreme water-deficits and high temperatures from vehicles and urban infrastructures. However, information about the plant species that are appropriate for low maintenance gardens is not available, especially in tropical areas. This study aimed to investigate potential indicators for evaluating plant tolerance to water-deficit situations. A non- irrigated rooftop model was used to test 25 commercial ground cover species in a greenhouse at Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Each of these 25 species was potted and subjected to one of two conditions: with or without irrigation for 7 days. Physiological responses relevant to plant endurance during water-deficits were monitored, including changes in leaf relative water content (RWC), percent stomatal opening, leaf surface temperature, leaf total chlorophyll content, leaf greenness, maximum quantum yield, and light quantum yield. Moreover, an additional indicator of landscape utility was evaluated, where each species was judged by trained panelists for their esthetic appeal. Diverse responses were observed based on the type of physiological parameter measured, plant species, and duration of drought conditions. Water withdrawal for three days was Citation: Pichakum, N.; Pichakum, deemed an appropriate time to determine plant tolerance to water-deficit conditions, as signs of stress A.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Species of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) from Western Thailand
    NAT. HIST. BULL. SIAM SOC. 62 (1): 29–34, 2017 A NEW SPECIES OF STROBILANTHES (ACANTHACEAE) FROM WESTERN THAILAND J. R. I. Wood 1* and R. W. Scotland 2 ABSTRACT A new species from Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand, Strobilanthes phyllocephala J. R. I.Wood & R.W. Scotland, is described and illustrated. The role of important collectors like J. F. Maxwell and Kai Larsen in findingStrobilanthes species is highlighted and attention is drawn to the importance of good field observation to enable understanding of the unusual plietesial flowering pattern characteristic of many species in this genus. Keywords: endemic species, flowering patterns, J. F. Maxwell, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kai Larsen INTRODUCTION There are approximately 60 species of Strobilanthes Blume recorded from Thailand, mak- ing it the largest genus of Acanthaceae in the Thai flora. As elsewhere,Strobilanthes species are characteristic of forest areas with a seasonal monsoon pattern of rainfall. They are largely absent from the plains and are noticeably rarer in areas of true rainforest. Consequently they are most diverse in the hill areas of northern and western Thailand, particularly along the main mountain chain separating Thailand from Myanmar. They are present but less diverse in the forests of peninsular Thailand. By our estimation there are now eleven species endemic to Thailand all from the western part of the country with a marked concentration in the Chiang Mai area. To this number could be added several near endemics restricted to the mountains separating Myanmar from Thailand but present in both countries. It was fortunate for our studies that J.
    [Show full text]
  • (Acanthaceae), a New Species from Hunan, China
    Strobilanthes biocullata (Acanthaceae), a New Species from Hunan, China Deng Yunfei Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People’s Republic of China. [email protected] John R. I. Wood Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, United Kingdom. [email protected] Fu Ying Administrative Office of Jiemuxi National Natural Reserve, Yuanling Xian, Hunan Province, 419600, People’s Republic of China. [email protected] ABSTRACT . A new species of Acanthaceae, Strobi- Haec species quoad flores in spicas axillares efoliatas lanthes biocullata Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, from dispositos, corollam flexam glabram et grana pollinis prolata China, is described and illustrated. The species is pseudocolpata ordinatione scalariformi ornata Strobilanthis compactae D. Fang & H. S. Lo et omnium specierum ad found in Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces, Semnostachyam Bremek. ascriptorum manifeste affinis, sed where it grows on rocks along streams. It clearly ab eis sicut congeneris omnibus bracteis tumoribus duobus belongs to the group of species placed by Bremekamp elevatis dorsaliter instructis valde distincta. in Semnostachya Bremek., but differs from all these by Gregarious anisophyllous undershrub, 0.8–2 m tall. two swollen bulges on the dorsal surface of the long- Stems subterete, bisulcate, glabrous. Leaves unequal acuminate bracts. Strobilanthes biocullata is the first in each pair, the smaller about half the size of the Chinese species of Strobilanthes Blume reported to larger; petioles 1–5 cm, glabrous, sulcate; blades have a plietesial life history. oblong-elliptic to elliptic, the larger 13–26 3 4–8 cm, Key words: Acanthaceae, China, plietesial, Stro- the smaller 6–12 3 2–4 cm, glabrous, densely covered bilanthes.
    [Show full text]
  • A Comprehensive Study on an Endemic Indian Genus - Strobilanthes
    Available online on www.ijppr.com International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2014; 6(3): 459-466 ISSN: 0975-4873 Review Article A Comprehensive Study on an Endemic Indian Genus - Strobilanthes Preethi F1, *Suseem SR2 1Nirmala College of pharmacy, Muvattupuzha 2 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, SAS, VIT University, Vellore Available Online: 1st September 2014 ABSTRACT Plants are used in different traditional systems of Indian medicine. Strobilanthes is the second largest genus in the family Acanthaceae with 350 species restricted to the hills in tropical Asia of which 150 species are distributed in the Indian subcontinent with 44 are endemic to the Western Ghats. Most are frost-tender and require protection in frost-prone areas. The present study reveals certain salient features of a few plants endemic to India. INTRODUCTION for their 2-lipped, hooded flowers in shades of blue, pink, Plants are used in different traditional systems of Indian white and purple. Most are frost-tender and require medicine. In India, the different traditional medicine protection in frost-prone areas. Most of these species show systems make use of a number of plants in the treatment of an unusual flowering behaviour, varying from annual to a number of ailments. Herbal medicines represent probably 16-year blooming cycles1,2. the first and certainly the oldest system of human Scientific Classification healthcare. Practices of traditional medicine are based on Kingdom : Plantae hundreds of years of belief and observations, which Subkingdom : Phanerogamia predate the development of modern medicine. Plants had Division : Angiospermia been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded Class : Eudicots history.
    [Show full text]