Pleione 11(1): 40 - 43. 2017. ISSN: 0973-9467 © East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte

Rediscovery of Wightia speciosissima (D.Don) Merr. (Paulowniaceae), a rare native potential ornamental tree from , Meghalaya ()

Ashish V. Prabhugaonkar, M. Murugesan1 and A. A. Mao Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong 793003, Meghalaya, India 1 Corresponding Author, e-mail: [email protected] [Received 07.06.2017; Revised & accepted 12.06.2017; Published 30.06.2017]

Abstract Wightia speciosissima (D.Don) Merr. (Paulowniaceae), a rare tree was observed at forested area near Puriang Village in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya (India). This beautiful tree is reported after 100 years in Khasi hills of Meghalaya and more than 50 years for flora of India. The tree showed scattered population in this forest area and very less regeneration by seeds. Propagation of tree by cuttings was successfully attempted and tree is being prospected as native ornamental tree. Key words: Wightia speciosissima, Rediscovery, Meghalaya, Agroforestry

INTRODUCTION The genus Wightia Wall. of Paulowniaceae is distributed in subtropical regions of India, Nepal, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and Yunnan of China. It includes only two species W. speciosissima (D. Don) Merr. and W. borneensis Hook. f. (Zhou et al. 2014). During a recent exploration trip to East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, the authors came across an elegant tree species belonging to Paulowniaceae at a forested area near Puriang Village in Khasi Hills. Upon careful observation and consultation of regional floristic works (Balakrishnan 1981-1983; Haridasan 1985-1987; Joseph 1982; Kumar & Rao 1983; Pandey et al. 2005; Roy et al. 2014; Mao et al. 2016) and herbarium, the tree was identified as Wightia speciosissima (D. Don) Merr. Previous collection of this species was made by Upendra Kanjilal on 21.11.1917 from Wah tyndem area of East Khasi Hills that shows present collec- tion is more than 100 years from Khasi hills. Later, this species was reported in Sailsuk forests of Mizo Hills by D.B. Deb on 15.01.1963 that is more than 50 years before. Present collection showed scattered population and very less regeneration by seeds as no seedling was observed. Propagation of this tree by cuttings was successfully attempted and is being prospected as a potential native ornamental tree. It is realized that introduction of exotic trees as avenue trees has shown adverse effects on environment and biodiversity in recent years and native tree species should be promoted (Raghubanshi et al. 2005; Calder & Dye 2001). This tree can surely form an excellent native avenue tree for northeast region with an altitude of 800 – 1000 m above msl. Specimens of these collections are being deposited at herbarium of Botanical Survey of India, Shillong, India. Taxonomic treatment: Wightia speciosissima (D.Don) Merr. in J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 67. 1938 et 25: 316. 1944 (1. c.). Gmelina speciosissma D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal: 104. 1825. Wightia gigantea Wall. Numer. List. Ind. Mus. no. 2703. 1828 et Pl. Asiat. Rar. 1: 71. t. 81. 1830. [PLATE - I). Ashish V. Prabhugaonkar et al. 41

A B C D

E F G

H I J

4 cm 5 cm I

K L N O P

2 cm 4 cm M

PLATE-I: Wightia speciosissima : A-C. Tree habit; D. Twig with Flowers; E. Bark; F-G. Bunches of flowers; H-K. Flower and flower parts; L. T.S. of ovary; M. Stamens; N. Capsule, O. opened capsule, P. Propagation by cuttings. 42 Rediscovery of Wightia speciosissima from Meghalaya A medium sized deciduous tree up to 15 m high. Bark lenticellate, greyish white or brown. Main trunk much branched at 1 - 2 m; branchlets slender, pendulous, brown, lenticellate, stellate hairy when young. Leaves terminal, opposite, leathery; lamina oblong to elliptic, 15- 30 × 7-15 cm, entire, acute or shortly acuminate, cuneate to rounded at base, abaxially sparsely gray-yellow stellate-pilose, adaxially glabrous; petiole grooved, up to 2 cm long. Thyrses up to 30 cm long, narrow, sparsely rusty-stellate; cymes 3-many flowered; peduncle up to 1 cm long. Flowers ca. 5.5 cm across; pedicel up to 5 mm long. Bracteoles 2, small. Calyx campanulate, ca. 8 mm across, thick, stellate hairy outside, irregularly 3 or 4-lobed; lobes variable, orbicular to broadly ovate, acute. Corolla pinkish – reddish, up to 3.5 cm across; tube short, compressed or incurved, distally gradually enlarged, outside stellate hairy; limb 2-lipped; lower lip 3-lobed; upper lip 2-lobed; lobes broadly ovate or orbicular, reflexed. Stamens didynamous, inserted near tube base, exserted; filaments glabrous, 2.5 – 4.5 cm long. Ovary ovoid-globose, glabrous or hairy, obscurely 6-striate; style, up to 4.5 cm long; stigma obscure. Capsule oblong-ovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 4.2 cm long, 2-valved, septicidal. Seeds numerous, ca. 7 ×1.5 mm, linear with narrowly membranous winged. Ecology: Rare; grows on the rocky forest slopes in association with Quercus sp., Dalbergia sp., Mallotus sp., etc. Flowering: December – January. Fruiting: January – March. Specimens examined: INDIA. Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills, forest patch Near Puriang Village, on Jowai Road, Collection No. AVP & MM 135801, dated 12.12.2016, Lat. 25°33¹07.35º N, Long. 92°04¹25.10º E, Altitude 1280 m (ASSAM). Distribution: India (Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, between 1000 – 2500 m [, www.efloras.org]. Taxonomic notes: Two previous collection of this species were observed to be made by Upendra Kanjilal on 21.11.1917 from Wah Tyndem area in East Khasi hills (more than 100 years ago). Later, this species was reported in Sailsuk forests of Mizo hills by D.B. Deb on 15.01.1963 (more than 50 years ago). Hence, the present collection forms the rediscovery of this species in Khasi hills as well as reported after 50 years from entire India. Propagation and Prospecting as native avenue tree: It was observed in the field that very few seedlings were regenerated by seeds and seeds were difficult to collect as they are easily lost upon opening of pods as those are winged. We attempted propagation by cuttings and obtained a 50 % success. This can surely be further improved with standardization of techniques. The with beautiful canopy and flowers has the potential as road side or avenue tree and as garden . Its wood is reported to be used traditionally in wood crafts. Plant is reported to have trailing habit [Flora of China, www.efloras.org] which we assume will be beneficial character for using the plant for various garden arts such as topiary.

Acknowledgements Authors are thankful to The Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, for providing facilities.

LITERATURE CITED Balakrishnan, N.P. 1981-1983. Flora of Jowai, Vols. 1– 2. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India. Ashish V. Prabhugaonkar et al. 43 Calder, I.R. & Dye, P. 2001. Hydrological impacts of invasive alien plants. Land Use Water Resour. Rev. 1: 1 – 12. Haridasan, K. & Rao, R.R. 1985-1987. Forest Flora of Meghalaya, Vols. 1– 2. Bishen Singh Mahandra Pal Singh Publishers, Dehra Dun, India. Joseph, J. 1982. Flora of Nongpoh and its Vicinity. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India Kumar, Y. & Rao, R.R. 1983. Studies on the Flora of Balphakram Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya: Distribution remarks on certain Rare and interesting plants species. In: Jain, S.K. & Rao, R.R. (eds.), An Assessment of Threatened Plants of India. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India. Pp. 110 – 115. Mao, A.A.; Sinha, B.K.; Verma, D. & Sarma, N. 2016. Checklist of flora of Meghalaya. Meghalaya Biodiversity Board, Shillong, Meghalaya Pandey, H.N.; Upadhaya, K.; Jamir, A.; Law, P.S. & Tripathi, R.S. 2005. Floristic Diversity in the Sacred Groves of Meghalaya. In: Pandey, A.K.; Wen, J. & Dogra, J.V.V. (eds.), Plant Taxonomy: Advances and Relevance. CBS Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi. Pp. 83 - 99. Raghubanshi, A.S.; Rai, L.C.; Gaur, J.P. & Singh, J.S. 2005. Invasive alien species and biodiversity in India. Curr. Sci. 88 (4): 539 – 540 Roy, D.K.; Das, T.A.; Dutta, C.M. & Sinha, B.K. 2014. Diversity of angiosperm flora of Siju Wildlife Sanctuary, South district, of Meghalaya, India. Indian J. Pl. Sci. 3(3): 87 – 101 Zhou, Q.M.; Jensen, S.R.; Liu, G.L.; Wang, S. & Li, H.Q. 2014. Familial placement of Wightia (). Pl. Syst. Evol. 300: 2009 – 2017. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200021391