World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 10 (5): 204-209, 2014 ISSN 1817-3047 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjas.2014.10.5.1804

Wild Ornamental Climbing of Maruthamalai Hills in the Southern , Tamil Nadu,

Ariyan Sarvalingam and Arumugam Rajendran

Department of Botany Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India- 641046

Abstract: The present study highlights the wild ornamental climbing species collected from the Maruthamalai Hills of the Southern Western Ghats, Coimbatore, India. We have identified the different wild ornamental climbing plants from 40 species belonging to 25 genera under 12 families and studied their properties and the details are presented. The most the dominant families in terms of species Convolvulaceae and Fabaceae is richness were each 9 species followed by Oleaceae having 5 species, Asclepiadaceae 4 species, cucurbitaceae 3 species, Passifloraceae, and Liliaceae 2 species each, Acanthaceae, Aristolochiaceae, Menispermaceae and Sapindiaceae each 1 species. The present study suggested that this work will help the researchers and people who are interested in wild ornamental plants and there is thus considerable scope for looking at the meaning of domestic gardens and landscape practices in both urban and local people.

Key words: Wild Ornamental Climbers Vegetation Maruthamalai Hills Southern Western Ghats India

INTRODUCTION judgment of whether they have disappeared or not [6]. Nature has given a wealth of wild flower and ornamental Wild plants are a striking feature of the land surface. plants, unfortunately many of them have been destroyed They vary greatly in composition and density in marked to such an extent that several have become extinct and contrast with domesticated plants [1]. A variety of wild survival of many is endangered by over exploitation by plants are highly useful to the local people, while the human beings [7]. others are of significant commercial importance. Wild flora Ornamental climbing plants which have special is very important in view of aesthetic and recreational structures (Tendril, Thorns, flowers etc.) to climb, on a value for man. Most of the present day flowers have come support and they may be annual or perennial type. These from the wild progenitor a few of which still exist in natural add beauty to the garden due to attractive flowers of habitat [2]. The more attractive wild flowers have long foliage, which can create an atmosphere of elegant old been prized for the beauty and planted in the garden world class in any landscape. A good healthy climber is around mankinds dwelling places. a joy in the landscape but one poorly adopted, sick or Wild ornamental plants to be those which occur seared, should by all means be avoided. A large number naturally in the field and have highly ornamental features of ornamental climbers are available which can be used to such as ornamental flowers, foliage and fruits [3]. suit changing tastes, fashions and concepts of landscape They are plays an important role in environmental patterns, no matter how attractive and interesting the planning of urban and rural areas for abatement of climbers are if improperly placed in relation to the pollution, social and rural forestry, wasteland conformation of the land, reads and buildings [8]. development, aforestation and landscaping of outdoor There is still scope for some special type of plants and indoor spaces [4]. Ornamental plants are grown bearing attractive tiny flowers. Plants and flowers help to usually for the purpose of beauty for their fascinating improve the biosphere, by counteracting the effects of foliage, flowers and their pleasant smell [5]. pollution, they are also highly prized for their aesthetic Many plants that were once abundant were extremely appeal. There are several ornamental plants which grow in hard to find in their usual habitats during our research, nature in shade or partial shade and these may be since the bigger problem is that there is no official gainfully employed as house plants in suitable climatic

Corresponding Author: Arumugam Rajendran, Department of Botany Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India-641046. E-mail: [email protected]. 204 World J. Agric. Sci., 10 (5): 204-209, 2014 conditions. In view of the above facts, the present study poisoned pressed and herbarium specimens prepared has aimed to document the wild ornamental climbing according to the standard instructions and the collected plants in Coimbatore district, India. species were cross checked for correct identification at the Madras Herbarium (MH) of Botanical Survey of MATERIALS AND METHODS India (BSI), Southern Circle, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of The methodologies and approaches for these wild Department of Botany (BUH), Bharathiar University, ornamental plants enumeration was followed as Coimbatore, India. suggested by …………[9]. An intensive field work was undertaken in different session of the Maruthamali Hills, Study Area: The present study was conducted in the Tamil Nadu. With the objective to recognize native plants Maruthamalai Hills, a mountain range in southern India, suitable for landscaping and floral art. Sites of occurrence which is a southward extension of the Western Ghats were identified through field explorations, indications of (Fig 1). It is situated at a distance of 15 km from inhabitants and visits for the collection of herbaria. Coimbatore and the uppermost region (peak) have an Taxonomic identification, photographic documentation average elevation of 450 m MSL at an altitude of 11.04' E and ornamental characterization of each species with longitude and 76.93' N latitude. The overall climate in this potential for use on floral art (flowers or cut foliage) or region is dry and healthy and is monsoonal, marked with landscaping (for gardens or pots) were recorded. an average rainfall of 117.5 mm. The rainfall is received An extensive field survey was made to explore the from both the south-west and north-east monsoons. The diversity of potential ornamental climbing plants from dry season, defined as the number of continuous months Maruthamalai Hills of the Southern Western Ghats of with < 100 mm average rainfall was from December Coimbatore district, India during the year 2010 - 2011. through March. The months of April to June are hottest, During the field visits, the plant specimens were collected while November to February is relatively cooler. The at different reproductive stages to prepare herbarium average summer temperature normally stays around 18 - specimens and authenticate their correct identity with the 20°C and the relative humidity is quite high throughout help of available floras [10-13]. The plant species were the year of 70 - 75%.

Fig. 1: Wild Vegetation of Maruthamalai Hills

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1: Analysis of mode of climbing mechanisms in the study S. No Mechanisms' of climber No. of species The field expeditions of Maruthamalai Hills of wild 1. Twining climber 16 vegetations gave interesting results concerning floristic 2. Woody climber 13 diversity gave interesting results concerning floristic 3. Tendril climber 07 diversity and its contribution to the ornamental 4. Hook climber 02 utility for implementing domestic landscapes. The 5. Root climber 02 extensive and intensive field trips were conducted from Total 40 Sep. 2010 - Sep.2011. In the present study enlisted a total of 40 wild ornamental climbing plant species 25 genera belonging to 12 different families of ornamental climbing plants there are alphabetically arranged with botanical names (Table-2), (Fig: 4 - 5). In order to infer the dominant families of species Convolvulaceae and Fabaceae is richness were each 9 species followed by Oleaceae having 5 species, the other dominant families such as Asclepiadaceae 4 species, Cucurbitaceae 3 species, Passifloraceae, Capparaceae and Liliaceae 2 species each, Aristalochiaceae, Acanthaceae, Menispermaceae and Fig. 2: Dominant family from the study Sapindiaceae each 1 species (Fig. 2). Dominant genera from the study of Ipomoea 7 species, belongs to Jasminum is second large genera is 5 species, followed by Canavalia, , Mucuna and Passiflora each 2 species. Generally wild ornamental climbers encountered in the study area posses one of five major mechanisms namely, Woody, Twining, Tendril, Hook and Root climbers. The diversity of total species recorded Twining 16 species (Aristolochia indica L. Clitoria ternatea L. Dolichos trilobus L. Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. Ipomoea quamoclit L. Etc.) Woody climbers 13 species (Argyreia pomacea (Roxb.) Choisy, Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Capparis zeylanica L. Ipomoea staphylina Roem. Fig. 3: Flower colour analysis of ornamental climbing & Sch. Rivea hypocrateriformis Choisy, etc.) Tendril plants climber 07 species (Passiflora foetida L. Gloriosa suberpa L. Coccinia grandis (L.) Wight, Cardiospermum Jasminum auriculatum Vahl, etc.) followed by pink and canescens Wall. etc.) Hook (Abrus precatorius L. yellow each 5 species (Abrus precatorius L. Argyreia Asparagus racemosus Wild,) and Root climbers pomacea (Roxb.), Canavalia virosa (Roxb.), Dolichos (Ceropegia juncea Roxb. and Sarcostemma brunonianum trilobus L. Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. Tinospora Wight & Arn.) 02 species each (Table 1). cordifolia (Thunb.), Purple 4-species (Aristolochia indica The wild ornamental climbing plant species is mainly L. Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.), Mucuna based on their attractive flower colour, good looking habit monosperma DC.), Red and mixed colour 3 species each and various plant parts with their beautiful appearance. (Passiflora edulis Sims. Ipomoea qumoclit L. Capparis The present observation on ornamental potentiality of 40 zeylanica L. Ceropegia juncea Roxb. Gloriosa superba wild climbing plant species collected from various habitats L. Ipomoea staphylina Roem. & Sch.), blue and lilac each of Maruthamalai Hills was categorized based on their 1 species (Canavalia mollis Wallich, Clitoria ternatea L.) attractiveness of flower, habit with its various plant parts. (Fig. 3). One of the most interesting parts of gardening is Among the attractive flowers white colour is dominant propagation. It is a never failing source of wonder to the with 18 species (Asparagus racemosus L. Capparis thinking person what can be accomplished with a few sepiaria L, Cardiospermum canescens Wallich, seeds or cuttings from plants. The propagation is mainly Corallocarpus epigaeus Clarke. Ipomea pes-tigridis L, through seeds, cuttings, divisions etc.

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Fig. 4: Wild ornamental climbing plants A) Abrus precatorius L. B) Argyreia pomacea (Roxb.) Choisy C) Aristolochia indica L. D) Asparagus racemosus L. E) Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. F) Capparis sepiaria L. G) Cardiospermum canescens Wallich H) Coccinia grandis (L.) I) Ceropegia juncea Roxb. J) Clitoria ternatea L. K) Dolichos trilobus L. L) Gloriosa superba L.

Fig. 5: Wild ornamental climbing plants A) Ipomea pes- tigridis L. B) Ipomoea cairica Sweet C) Ipomea quinata R. Br. D) Ipomoea obscura (L.) K. Gawl. E) Ipomoea staphylina Roem. F) Ipomoea qumoclit L. G) Jasminum sessiliflorum Vahl. H) Mucuna pruriens Baker. I) Passiflora foetida L. J) Rivea hypocrateriformis Choisy. K) Sarcostemma brunonianum Wight & Arn. L) Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.

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Table 2: List of Wild ornamental climbing plants in the study S. No Botanical Name Family Habit Flower colour Flowering season 1. Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae HC Pink Throughout the year 2. Argyreia pomacea (Roxb.) Choisy. Convolvulaceae WC Pink June - Dec. 3. Aristolochia indica L. Aristolochiaceae TC Purple Dec. - Feb. 4. Asparagus racemosus L. Liliaceae HC White Oct. - Nov. 5. Canavalia mollis Wallich. Fabaceae WC Lilac Oct. - Jan. 6. Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae WC Pink July - Jan. 7. Capparis sepiaria L. Capparaceae WC White Apr. - Sep. 8. Capparis zeylanica L. Capparaceae WC Red Jan. - sep. 9. Cardiospermum canescens Wallich. Sapindaceae TlC White Nov. - Mar. 10. Ceropegia juncea Roxb. Asclepiadaceae RC Yellow with purple July - Mar. 11. Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae TC Blue May - Oct. 12. Coccinia grandis (L.) Wight Cucurbitaceae TlC White Apr. - Dec. 13. Corallocarpus epigaeus Clarke. Cucurbitaceae TlC Yellow Dec. - Mar. 14. Dolichos trilobus L. Fabaceae TC Pink Sep. - Jan. 15. Gloriosa superba L. Liliaceae TlC Red with yellow Oct. - Mar. 16. Glycine wightii Grah. Fabaceae TC White Oct. - Jan. 17. Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sch. Asclepiadaceae TC Yellow Aug. - Dec. 18. Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. Asclepiadaceae TC Yellow Nov. - Feb. 19. Ipomea pes- tigridis L. Convolvulaceae TC White Through the year 20. Ipomea quinata R. Br. Convolvulaceae TC White Jun - Sep. 21. Ipomoea cairica Sweet Convolvulaceae TC Pink Aug. - Nov. 22. Ipomoea obscura (L.) K. Gawl. Convolvulaceae TC White Through the year 23. Ipomoea qumoclit L. Convolvulaceae TC Red May - Dec. 24. Ipomoea staphylina Roem. & Sch. Convolvulaceae WC Purple with white Sep. - Feb. 25. Ipomoea wightii (Wallich) Choisy Convolvulaceae TC Blue Through the year 26. Jasminum auriculatum Vahl Oleaceae WC White Mar. - Aug. 27. Jasminum azoricum L. Oleaceae WC White Feb. - Jul. 28. Jasminum grandiflorum L. Oleaceae WC White Through the year 29. Jasminum malabaricum Wight Oleaceae WC White Mar. - May 30. Jasminum sessiliflorum Vahl. Oleaceae WC White Mar. - May 31. Macroptilium atropurpurea (DC.) Urb. Fabaceae TC Purple Dec. - Mar. 32. Mucuna monosperma DC. Fabaceae TC Purple Nev. - Mar. 33. Mucuna pruriens Baker. Fabaceae TC Purple Sep. - Jan. 34. Mukia maderaspatana (L.) Roem. Cucurbitaceae TlC Yellow June - Feb. 35. Passiflora edulis Sims. Passifloraceae TlC Red May - Dec. 36. Passiflora foetida L. Passifloraceae TlC White May - Dec. 37. Rivea hypocrateriformis Choisy. Convolvaceae WC White July - Sep. 38. Sarcostemma brunonianum Wight & Arn. Asclepidaceae RC White Jan. - .Mar 39. Thunbergia fragrans Roxb. Acanthaceae TC White Jan. - Dec. 40. Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers. Menispermaceae WC Yellow Throughout the year Note: TC - Twining Climber; WC - Woody Climber; PC - Prostrate Climber; HC - Hook Climber; TlC - Tendril Climber; RC - Root Climber.

CONCLUSION horticultural therapy, which is now a well established form of intervention based on the therapeutic effects of The present study suggested that this work gardening and of plant both in health and occupational will help the researchers and people who are interested settings. in wild ornamental plants and there is thus considerable scope for looking at the meaning of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS domestic gardens and landscape practices in both urban and local people. The safe conservation and We are thankful to the Head of the Botany sustainable uses of wild resources is essential for Department, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India for future generations. In addition to this there is a constant encouragement and providing necessary wealth of research and practices into the use of facilities.

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