American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (2): 203-205, 2009 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2009

Stapelia gigantea N.E. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) - A New Angiospermic Record for Pakistan

12Sarfaraz Khan Marwat and Mir Ajab Khan

1University Wensam College, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan 2Department of Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract: The present study is based on the results of taxonomic research work conducted in Dera Ismail Khan District, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, during 2006–2007. gigantea N. E. Br of family Asclepiadaceae was reported for the first time from Pakistan. An updated nomenclature, important synonym, illustrated description; flowering time, specimen citation and geographical distribution have been provided.

Key words: Asclepiadaceae New Angiospermic record Pakistan

INTRODUCTION A detailed taxonomic description of the plant has been prepared with the help of fresh specimen, now Pakistan (87.98 Million hectares; 23° to 37° N and maintained at the Garden of Quaid-i-Azam University 61° to 76° E) is a developing country of South Asia and Islamabad (ISL.). has diverse conditions from an ecological and geological point of view [1]. It is gifted with a variety of herbs, RESULTS medicinal and aromatic plant resources due to its varied ecological conditions [2]. Stapelia gigantea of family Asclepiadaceae was Dera Ismail Khan District (area 7,326 sq km; 31°15’ to reported for the first time from Pakistan. It was not 32°32’N and 70°11’ to 71°20’ E) is located in the extreme recorded earlier from the territory of Pakistan in the south of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), relevant literature of this region, viz. Jafri, [8], Stewart Pakistan. The area is gifted with diverse and unique flora, [5, 6] and Nasir and Ali [7]. Taxonomic account consists as it is adjacent to the South Waziristan Agency and of botanical name, synonym name, description, flowering Sulaiman Range in the West, Koh Sheikh Buddin in the period, ecological condition, specimen citation, origin north and Indus River in the east [3]. and geographical distribution. The photographs were Stapelia L. is a genus of the family Asclepiadaceae presented in Plates 1 and 2. and is represented by about 44 species, which are Stapelia gigantea N.E. Br., Gard. Chron. London. distributed in tropical region and South Africa [4]. The t. 684. f. 112. (1877); Stapelia nobilis N.E.Br. ex Hook.f., family Asclepiadaceae is so far represented by 23 genera Bot. Mag. London 127: t. 7771.(1901). in Pakistan [5-7]. The genus Stapelia was not reported Perennial herb. Stems erect or decumbent, 10-20 cm before from Pakistan in the relevant literature of this long, softly pubescent, clustering succulent, cylindrical, region, viz. Jafri [8], Stewart [5, 6], Nasir and Ali [7]. vertically deeply four-ridged (4-angled), bearing tubercles on the margins, distance between two tubercles 5-20 mm, MATERIALS AND METHODS number of tubercles per ridge (angle) 6-12. Each tubercle bears a small leaf rudiment which may be up to 2 mm long, The study was conducted during 2006-2007 in short lived and leaves a round scar on the tubercle. The different parts of D.I.Khan District. A specimen of floral 'buds' are very distinctive, large and inflated like a Stapelia was collected from Dera Ismail Khan in the bladder, with the petals all joined together and extended month of November, 2007. After critical study the plant forward into a lengthened, spirally twisted tip. 1-2 in was identified as Stapelia gigantea N. E. Br. following the clusters near the base or middle of young branches, description and illustration given by Bester [9] and Edited pedicels 4-5 cm long with gigantic flowers to 25 cm or Guide Entry [10]. more across. The flower is starfish-shaped, background

Corresponding Author: Sarfaraz Khan Marwat, University Wensam College, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan 203 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (2): 203-205, 2009

Plate 1: Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br. (vegetative part bearing no flower)

Plate 2: Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br. (vegetative part bearing star shaped flower) colour of the flower ranges from pale yellowish to cream. and density towards the centre of the flower. Corona Calyx deeply 5 or 6-lobed, much smaller than the corolla, purplish brown. The corona holds the -packs of the fused at the base, 8-10 × 2-3 mm, pointed. Corolla with five flower, as well as the ovaries where the seeds develop. petals, divided about halfway into five lobes, 11-12 cm Fruit a pair of follicles 10-20 cm long, containing numerous long, the lower surfaces of the petals are greenish, with silky-tufted seeds. longitudinal ridges stretching along their backs towards the tips, lobes 6-10 veined, margins of the lobes densely Flowering period: October-November. hairy, hairs 5-8 mm long, much longer than the central Ecological condition: Cultivated in Gardens. hairs. The upper surface of the flower is pale yellow with Specimen studied: Dera Ismail Khan: WENSAM College, crimson transverse lines and purple hairs, foul smelling. 08.09.2007, The hairs are reddish to purplish and increase in length Sarfaraz Khan Marwat, 415, (ISL).

204 Am-Euras. J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (2): 203-205, 2009

Distribution in world: Originated in South Africa, the REFERENCES Giant is one of the most widely distributed carrion flower species. It is scattered 1. Ahmad, M., M. Zafar, M.A. Khan, Z. Ahmad, M. Lisa throughout Zimbabwe and Mozambique and also Eastern and M. Fayyaz, 2007. The diversity of asclepiads on Botswana. It has also been recorded in Zambia and the potwar plateau of Pakistan.The J. Int. Ascl. Soc., Malawi [10]. For Pakistan it is a new record and found in UK. pp: 5. Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Islamabad. 2. Anwar, R. and S. Masood, 2001. Status of Herbs and other Economic in Pakistan. In: Medicinal DISCUSSION Plants of Pakistan, pp: 49. 3. Anonymous, 1998. District Census Report of Dera This species was named and described by NE Brown Ismail Khan. Census Publication No. 50. Population in 1877. The genus name Stapelia was created by the Census organization Statistic division Government of great Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné in or Linnaeus in Pakistan Islamabad, pp: 1-2. 1737, after the Dutchman Johannes Bodaeus À Stapel, 4. Hyde, M.A. and Wursten, 2008. Flora of Zimbabwe: who had found related species in the old Cape Colony. Genus page: Stapelia. http://www. zimbabweflora. co. The species name, gigantea, simply means 'gigantic' and zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=1158. refers to the big size of flowers rather than the plant itself. Accessed December 19, 2008. The giant carrion flower is only one of a large variety of 5. Stewart, R.R., 1972a. An Annotated Catalogue of the carrion flower species, or Stapeliads. It grows in Southern Vascular Plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir In: Africa. It has the largest flowers in the group which makes E.Nasir and S.I.Ali, Flora of West Pakistan, Karachi. it the largest-flowered species in the pp: 566 - 571. world [11]. Carrion flowers make interesting novelty plants 6. Stewart, R.R., 1972b. The Flora of Rawalpindi District, amongst the subtropical succulents or rock garden or on Garden College Rawalpindi, Pakistan, pp: 82-84. a sunny window sill in cooler climates. It is very typical of 7. Nasir, E. and S.I. Ali, 1983. Flora of Pakistan the group because of its flowers which emit a foul odour (Asclepiadaceae), Karachi, 150: 1-165. reminiscent of rotting meat and thereby attract and 8. Jafri, SMH., 1966. The Flora of Karachi, pp: 248-257. bluebottles which collect pollen and transport it to the 9. Bester, S.P., 2006. PlantzAfrica. South African next plant, thereby ensuring the successful pollination of National Biodiversity Institute. Available at: this species [10]. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/stapelia.htm. Accessed December 19, 2008. 10. BBC, 2007. Stapelia gigantea. Edited Guide Entry. Available at: http://www. bbc. co. uk/ dna/ h2g2/ A23934404. Accessed November 24, 2007. 11. Desert Tropicals, 2005. DT Home page. Available at: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/index.html. Accessed November 22, 2007.

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