Bioscience Discovery, 8(4): 720-725, October - 2017

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Research Article

Two invasive alien giant sensitive weeds - new additions to the flora of Tripura,

Amal Debnath, Chiranjit Paul and Bimal Debnath*

Plant Diversity and Forest Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Forestry and Biodiversity, TripuraUniversity, Suryamaninagar-799022, Tripura, Northeast India *Email: [email protected]

Article Info Abstract Received: 17-06-2017, The Present study reported the new distribution record of two serious weeds, Revised: 05-08-2017, diplotricha var. diplotricha and var. inermis, from Accepted: 06-09-2017 the forest floor of Tripura. The were collected, identified with the help of various flora and available database. These plants were highlighted with brief Keywords: description, proper citation and their ecological and phenological observations. Mimosa diplotricha, Alien invasive, Distribution, Tripura, NE India

INTRODUCTION in increased production costs, reduced crop yield, Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle, threats to biodiversity, soil degradation and reduced (Mimosaceae) a native of , in tropical land value (APFISN, 2007). Furthermore, the , is a serious weed of tropical and tangled and thorny growth of M. diplotricha hinders subtropical crops and pastures (Holm et al., 1977; entry of livestock or humans, hampers the movement Vitelli et al., 2001). The plant has invaded , of wild animals and consequently it becomes a many Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Southeast strong barrier to access food and other resources in Asia and many African countries (Waterhouse and the invaded area (Alabi et al., 2001; Vitelli et al., Norris, 1987; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992). M. 2001). Sharp and recurved thorns of this weed make diplotricha was imported into India by tea gardeners animals reluctant to graze on it and they usually for soil fertility improvement in their tea garden. avoid the spiny clumps. Even trapping in a large (Gurega, 2003). The plant can tolerate a wide range thicket of M. diplotricha is fatal to wild animal of soil conditions. However, it grows best in tropical (Waterhouse and Norris, 1987). All parts of M. regions in wastelands, pastures, disturbed forests, diplotricha produce mimosin, a non-protein amino plantations, agricultural systems, along roadsides acid, which is toxic to herbivores if ingested, as it can and railway tracks at an altitude of 0 to 2,000 m cause vascular endothelial damage, necrosis of the above sea level (APFISN, 2007). Extensive growth heart and liver and anemia in cattle (APFISN, 2007). of M. diplotricha hinders the regeneration, Therefore, M. diplotricha is an important invasive reproduction and growth of native species in all alien weed as it is highly competitive, produces infested areas and consequently results in gradual enormous seeds which can survive up to 50 years in loss of biodiversity (APFISN, 2007). Crops infested dormant stage, difficult to control by hand and also with this weed difficult to harvest because of its acts as an alternative host for nematodes (Galinato et thorns (Alabi et al., 2001; Chauhan and Johnson, al., 1999; Chauhan and Johnson, 2008). 2008). Hence, invasion by M. diplotricha can result

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Amal Debnath et al., During extensive field survey throughout the state and 91º09́ E to 92º20́ E with an area of about and consultation of the relevant literature it was 10,491.69 Km2. Approximately 60% of total area of observed that so far two varieties of Mimosa the State is under the forest cover comprising of diplotricha have not been reported from Tripura. tropical forest trees species like rubber, bamboo and Therefore, the present study clearly indicates the palm oil trees). Due to its tropical geographical new addition of these two varieties of Mimosa to the position and favorable environmental condition it is flora of Tripura. too rich in terms of its floral and faunal diversity (Debnath et al., 2016). Temperature ranges of the MATERIALS AND METHODS state are between 6 to 37ºC and the annual rain fall Study area is 1700 to 2200 mm. Tripura, the North-Eastern state of India, geographically located in between 22º56Ń to 24º32Ń

Figure 1: Map showing the herbarium collection place of Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha and Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis

An extensive field visit was made RESULTS AND DISCUSSION throughout the state for floristic survey. Fresh The present study discovered two Mimosa species specimens were collected, identified by using which were not reported by previous workers. This available literature [e-Flora of China, paper may be the first-time report on distributional database, and published papers (Begum & Borthakur record of the species in Tripura and considered as a 2013)]. The collected specimens were made into new addition to the flora of Tripura. These plants are herbarium sheets following Jain & Rao (1977) and computed below with , Common name, maintained in the Department of Forestry and family, brief taxonomic description, habitat, Biodiversity, Tripura University for the preparation flowering, locality and medicinal use. of medicinal plant database under a CSIR project.

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Bioscience Discovery, 8(4): 720-725, October - 2017

Plate 1:Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha, a-Habitat; b & c – Leaf; d-Flowering twig; e -Stem along with re-curved prickles; f- ; g- Single ; h- Petal; i- Stamen; j- Gynoecium.

Taxonomic Treatment: 30 pairs per pinna; lamina shape linear- oblong, Mimosa diplotricha C. Wight ex Sanvalle var. lamina length about 3-5 mm, bredth about 1-2 mm, diplotricha: lamina margin entire, apex of lamina acute, vanation Common name: Lajjabati reticulate unicostate, less sensitive than Mimosa Terrestrial sub-shurbs, perennial, stem scandent or pudica, sensitive responses within 7-10 seconds. prostrate, 4 or 5 angular, with prickles, prickles Inflorescence cymose (capitulum); headsterminal or present along with ridge, branched. Leaves 10-18 axillary as well as extra axillary. Flower bisexual, cm, petiolate, petiole about 5-8 cm, petiole and bractate, peduncle present, peduncle length about rachis with 4 rows of recurved prickles; bipinnately 0.5-1.0 cm, pink hypogynous. Sepal 4, compounds, pinna 3- 10 pairs, leaf lets number 20- inconspicuous, gamosepalous, valvate.

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Amal Debnath et al., Corolla narrowly funnel shaped, Petal 4 or 5, regular, Habitat: The plants are found growing on the mostly length about 2 mm, gamopetalous, outer side slightly degraded forests and also in the road side area. hairy, pink, valvate. Stamen 8, extrose, filaments Distribution: This species is native to , long, purple anther dorsifixed. Ovary superior, , and tropical South stigma minute, extrose. Legumes in clusters, slightly America and naturalized in a part of tropical , curved, oblong, with prickly bristles. Seeds hard , southern Asia (Sri Lanka, Laos, , coated, yellowish brown in colour. , Taiwan, and ) and India Flowering and fruiting time: September –January. (Kerala& Assam) Medicinal uses: No medicinal uses were recorded by local people.

Plate 2: Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis, a-Habitat; b - Leaf c-Flowering twig; d -Stem with flower; e- Single flower; f- Petal; g- Calyx; h- Stamen; i- Gynoecium; j-Fruit.

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Bioscience Discovery, 8(4): 720-725, October - 2017 Locality: Sehkerkot (23˚44′23.52″N; 91016′47.89″E) In the last one decade there are so many invasive Unokoti (24˚18′54.74″ N; 92˚4′2.96″E) and species were invaded in our state by improper Kumarghat (24˚12′15.96″N; 91˚58′39.24″E). industrial and agricultural activities which Status: Newly introduced and established a imbalanced our local ecosystem and become a threat successful invasive to the road side as well as forest to our native flora. These kinds of human impacts ecosystem. highly declining our native biodiversity (Sukumaran Collection No. -CS-37 and Parthiban, 2014). These two varieties of Accession No. -CSIR-0032 Mimosa diplotricha with their high reproductive Mimosa diplotricha var. inermis (Adelb.) M.K. capacity and environmental adaptability they are Alam& M. Yusof forcefully spreading in the road sides, in the grazing Common name: Lajjabati lands and forest fringes. Due to their thorny and Taxonomic description: Terrestrial sub-shrubs, dense creeping nature they become hazardous weeds perennial, stem prostrate, 4 or 5 angular, without to the livestock grazing. prickles, hairy, branched. Leaves 10-18 cm, petiolate, petiole about 5-8 cm, petiole and rachis ACKNOWLEDGEMENT with hairy; bipinnately compounds, pinna 3- 10 The Corresponding author is gratitude to CSIR for pairs, leaf lets number 20-30 pairs per pinna; lamina providing a grant [Sanction letter No. 38 shape linear- oblong, lamina length about 3-5 mm, (1371)/13/EMR-II] which helped us to carry out this bredth about 1-2 mm, lamina margin entire, apex of work. lamina acute, vanation reticulate unicostate, less sensitive than , sensitive responses REFERENCES within 7-10 seconds. Inflorescence cymose Alabi BS, Ayeni AO, Agboola AA and Majek BA, (capitulum); heads terminal or axillary as well as 2001. Giant sensitive plant interference in cassava. extra axillary. Flower bisexual, bractate, peduncle Weed Science, 49: 171-176. present, peduncle length about 0.5-1.0 cm, pink Alabi BS, Ayeni AO, Agboola AA andMajek BA, hypogynous. Sepal 4, inconspicuous, gamosepalous, 2004. Manual control of thorny mimosa (Mimosa valvate. Corolla narrowly funnel shaped, Petal 4, invisa) in cassava (Manihotesculenta). Weed regular, length about 2 mm, gamopetalous, outer side Technology, 18: 77-82. slightly hairy, pink, valvate. Stamen 8, extrose, Asia - Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network. filaments long, purple anther dorsifixed. Ovary 2007. Vol. 12. http://www.fao.org/forestry/13377-1- superior, stigma minute, extrose. Legumes in 0.pdf (accessed on 14/05/2010 at 9:00) clusters, slightly curved, oblong, without prickle, Begum A and Borthakur SK, 2013. Comparative hairy bristles. Seeds hard coated, yellowish brown in micromorphological studies on leaf epidermis in colour. three species Mimosa Linnaeus (Mimosaceae) from Flowering and Fruit time: September –January. Assam, India. Pleione, 7(1): 1-7. Habitat: The plants are found growing in the Chauhan BS and Johnson DE, 2008. Seed degraded forests and also in the road side area. germination and seedling emergence of giant Distribution: South and South-East Asia, the Pacific sensitive plant (). Weed Science, 56: Islands, northern Australia, South and Central 244-248. America, the Hawaiian Islands, parts of Africa, Debnath B, Sarma D, Paul C and Debnath A. Nigeria and France and India (Kerala and Assam). 2016. New distributional records for the flora of Medicinal uses: No medicinal uses were recorded Tripura, India and their ethno-medicinal uses. by the local people. Bioscience Discovery, 7(2):116-120. Locality: Kumarghat (24˚12′15.96″N; eFlora of China. Vol. 10 p-53. Available at 91˚58′39.24″E), and Kanchanpur (24˚31′40.20″N; http://www.efloras.org 92˚9′27.52″E). Galinato MI, Moody K and Piggin CM, 1999. Status: Newly introduced and established as an Upland rice weeds of south and . invasive species to the road side, grass land in the Makati City, : International Rice forest ecosystem Research Institute, p. 156. Collection No. -CS-38 Gurega N, Pers. Comm., 2003. Invasive alien Accession No. -CSIR- 0033 species pathway management resources. Ecological impact http://www.pathway- http://jbsd.in 724 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print)

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How to cite this article Amal Debnath, Chiranjit Paul and Bimal Debnath, 2017. Two invasive alien giant sensitive weeds-new additions to the flora of Tripura, India. Bioscience Discovery, 8(4): 720-725.

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