Rheedea Vol. 21(1) 1-7 2011

Vigna indica, a new name for trilobata var. pusilla and a note on section Aconitifoliae in

T.M. Dixit, S.P. Sutar, S.R. Yadav*, K.V. Bhat1 and S.R. Rao2 Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur – 416 004, Maharashtra, India. 1National Research Centre on DNA Fingerprinting, National Bureau of Genetic Resources, Pusa, New Delhi – 110 012, India. 2Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Permanent Campus, Maykynroh, Umshing, Shillong – 793 022, Meghalaya, India. *E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract Vigna trilobata (L.) Verdc. var. pusilla Naik & Pokle is elevated to the rank of species and a new name, viz., V. indica T.M. Dixit, K.V. Bhat & S.R. Yadav is proposed based on critical fi eld and herbarium studies. An amplifi ed description of taxon is provided. A comparison of selected characters that distinguish closely related species belonging to section Aconitifoliae is given along with a taxonomic key for identifi cation of species. Keywords: Aconitifoliae, India, New Status, Vigna indica, Vigna trilobata var. pusilla

Introduction

Vigna Savi is a pantropical genus with c. 82 Vigna indica T.M. Dixit, K.V. Bhat & S.R. Yadav, species (Maréchal et al., 1978). India, with 24 nom. et stat. nov. species of Vigna (Sanjappa, 1992), partly rep- V. trilobata (L.) Verdc. var. pusilla Naik & Pokle, resents centre of species diversity for all the J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 7: 670. 1986. – Type: INDIA, three sections of subgenus Ceratotropis also Maharashtra, Beed, Sautada, 27.10.1983, Rothe known as Asian Vigna. As part of revisionary 6229a (Holotype, BAMU!), non V. pusilla A. Chev. study on subgenus Ceratotropis in India, the (1944). Fig. 1a – m; Fig. 2Ba – g; Fig. 3a, b authors have carried out extensive field and herbarium studies and also reviewed relevant Herb, trailing, perennial with a stout taproot. literature. Based on these, authors have con- Stem slender, 30 Ϫ 150 cm long, obscurely 4 Ϫ firmed that the ‘annual form’ or ‘agricultural 6-angled, sparsely to densely pubescent with 0.5 population’ (Babu et al., 1987) of V. trilobata Ϫ 1.5 mm long, more or less retrorse white hairs; (L.) Verdc. mentioned in various earlier litera- initial stem with short internodes and a rosette ture is V. stipulacea (Lam.) Kuntze as reported of at base; secondary internodes long. by Tomooka et al. in 2002. Moreover, study of Leaves 3-foliolate, 1 Ϫ 7.5 cm long (including herbarium specimens at BAMU revealed that ), sparsely to densely pubescent with 0.8 V. stipulacea was misidentified as V. trilobata. Ϫ 1.5 mm long white hairs; rachis 4 Ϫ 12 mm Probably, this led to reduction in number as long; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 3.3 Ϫ 8 ϫ 1.2 well as magnitude of differences between the Ϫ 1.8 mm, peltate, submedifi xed, prolonged two taxa from their point of view. Critical below the point of insertion, sparsely pubescent observation on morphology reveals that there and ciliate at margins with 0.5 Ϫ 1.2 mm long are considerable differences between V. trilo- white hairs, acute at apex, 4 Ϫ 6-nerved. Leafl ets bata var. trilobata and V. trilobata var. pusilla membranous, pubescent especially on nerves collected from various localities in Rajasthan, and at margins with 0.8 Ϫ 1.5 mm long white Maharashtra and Karnataka. Therefore, V. tri- hairs; terminal leafl et ovate to rhomboid with lobata var. pusilla is raised to the rank of spe- 3 Ϫ 5, deep to shallow spathulate lobes or nearly cies and an amplified description is provided entire, 1.5 Ϫ 4 ϫ 1.2 Ϫ 3.8 cm, obtuse or rounded accounting for all the variations. at base, acute or obtuse at apex; lateral leafl ets

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Fig. 1. Vigna indica T.M. Dixit, K.V. Bhat & S.R. Yadav, nom. et stat. nov.: a. Habit; b. Stipule; c. Infl orescence; d. Flower; e. Primary bract; f. Secondary bract; g. Bracteole; h. Standard ; i. Wing ; j. Keel petals; k. Pistil; l. Pods; m. Seed.

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Vigna trilobata (L.) Verdc. V. indica T.M. Dixit, K.V. V. aconitifolia (Jacq.) V. stipulacea (Lam.) Bhat & S.R. Yadav Maréchal Kuntze

Fig. 2. Vigna species of section Aconitifoliae. a. ; b. Stipule; c. Flower; d. Keel petals with pocket (top view); e. Upper portion of style with stigmatic surface and style beak; f. Seeds; f1. Seeds with persistent remains of perisperm; f2. Seeds with perisperm removed; g. First and second seedling foliage leaves (top view).

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Fig. 3. SEM images of seeds (a, c, e) and their surface ornamentation (b, d, f) of Vigna species of section Aconitifoliae: a, b. V. indica T.M. Dixit, K.V. Bhat & S.R. Yadav; c, d. V. aconitifolia (Jacq.) Maréchal; e, f. V. stipulacea (Lam.) Kuntze.

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somewhat oblique with 3 Ϫ 5 spathulate lobes or ends. It is allied to V. aridicola from which it dif- entire, 1.5 Ϫ 3.5 ϫ 1 Ϫ 3 cm; stipels lanceolate, fers in having smaller fl owers; buff to light brown 2 Ϫ 2.5 mm long. Infl orescence a pseudoraceme, pods; ovate, non-protruding hilum and petiolate axillary, 5 Ϫ 10-fl owered; peduncles slender, 5 seedling leaves. Vigna aridicola is endemic to Sri Ϫ 18 cm long, sparsely to densely covered with Lanka. Among the species of section Aconitifo- 0.8 Ϫ 1.5 mm long retrorse white hairs; rachis 0.3 liae reported from India, V. indica is more closely Ϫ 1.5 cm long. Primary bracts peltate, broadly related to V. aconitifolia from which it differs in ovate, 1 Ϫ 1.4 ϫ 0.6 Ϫ 0.8 mm, acute or obtuse having narrowly to broadly spathulate lobes of at apex; secondary bracts basifi xed, narrowly leafl ets and ovate hilum. Vigna indica is also sim- ovate to lanceolate, 1.9 Ϫ 2.3 ϫ 0.5 Ϫ 0.7 mm; ilar to V. trilobata and V. stipulacea from which it bracteoles lanceolate, 1.8 Ϫ 2.1 ϫ 0.4 Ϫ 0.6 mm; differs in having smaller, pale yellow fl owers with pedicels ascending, 0.3 Ϫ 0.6 mm long in fl ow- fl attened, deltoid keel pocket; obscure style beak; ers; 0.6 Ϫ 1.8 mm in fruits. Flowers pale yellow non-protruding hilum and obscure aril lacking a with purplish keel apex. Calyx campanulate, 1.6 rim. Vigna khandalensis, a robust species of higher Ϫ 2.1 mm long; tube 1 Ϫ 1.2 mm long; lobes 3 altitudes with an erect habit and large foliaceous Ϫ 5-nerved. Standard asymmetric, obliquely and stipules is very distinct from all other species of transversely broadly elliptic, 3.2 Ϫ 3.5 ϫ 5.8 Ϫ the section Aconitifoliae mentioned above. Hence, 6 mm, emarginate at apex; right wing petal con- a comparison of selected characters is made to dis- ceals the upper portion of the keel petals, clawed; tuinguish closely related species of section Aconiti- claw 0.6 Ϫ 0.9 mm long; lamina obliquely ovate, foliae excluding V. khandalensis (Table 1; Fig. 2). 3.3 Ϫ 3.6 ϫ 1.9 Ϫ 2.2 mm, auricled; auricle 0.6 Ϫ 0.8 mm long; left wing petal spreading, clawed; The of Rajasthan population are usually claw 0.7 Ϫ 0.9 mm long; lamina 3.3 Ϫ 3.7 ϫ 2.3 larger than those from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Ϫ 2.5 mm, auricled; auricle 0.5 Ϫ 0.7 mm long; Variations mostly in the size and lobation of leaf- keel petals spirally incurved through c. 240°, 5.5 lets, pubescence, length of pod and number of Ϫ 5.8 mm long; pocket on the left keel-petal del- seeds were observed in these geographical popula- toid, c. 1 mm long, fl attened. Pistil 6 Ϫ 6.8 mm tion which do not deserve any infraspecifi c status. long; ovary c. 2 mm long, clothed with 0.15 Ϫ Distribution of V. trilobata and V. indica does not 0.35 mm long white hairs; ovules 4 Ϫ 7, marginal; overlap to a greater extent. Most of the collections style fi liform, c. 4.5 mm long, very shortly beaked of V. trilobata are from southern and eastern India beyond stigma; beak 0.05 Ϫ 0.07 mm long. Pods while those of V. indica are from western, central linear, cylindric, 1.5 Ϫ 3.8 ϫ 0.2 Ϫ 0.3 cm, with and northern parts of India. upwardly pointing 0.15 Ϫ 0.3 mm long white Specimens examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Belgaum hairs, spreading when young, drooping and buff district, Belgaum, October 2009, N.V. Malpure 3942 to light brown at maturity; seeds 4 Ϫ 7, cylin- (SUK). Madhya Pradesh, Indore district, Man- drical to subtetragonous, 3 Ϫ 4 ϫ 1.8 Ϫ 2.1 mm; pur, 18.10.1962, A.S. Rao 83830 (BSI). Maharash- testa rough with persistent remains of perisperm, tra, Kolhapur district, Shivaji University Campus, brown to maroon; hilum ovate, c. 0.5 mm long, 31.12.2010, T.M. Dixit SUK104 (SUK); Nanded dis- non-protruding; aril not well developed, with trict, Ambadi, 30.9.1975, B.R. Zate 9; Nanded town, only cushion without a rim. Germination epi- 18.10.1983, Madhukar 5788; Osmanabad district, geal; the fi rst and second foliage leaves simple; Papnas, 5.8.1962, V.N. Naik 216; Papnas, 26.8.1962, lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, 1.2 Ϫ 1.8 ϫ 0.9 V.N. Naik 260 (BAMU); Pune district, Parvati hill, Ϫ 1.5 cm; petioles 5 Ϫ 10 mm long. 5.8.1960, K.N. Subramanian 64502; Shivneri fort, Flowering & Fruiting: July – October. 10.10.1962, Rolla Seshagiri Rao 83523 (BSI); Katraj, 22.10.2009, T.M. Dixit SUK40 (SUK); Sangli dis- Habitat: Grasslands of drier parts. trict, Dandoba hill, Miraj, 28.9.1989, A.N. Londhe 170037 (BSI); Satara district, Sarkhal, November, Distribution: India, widely distributed in western, 1992, M.P. Bachulkar 5499 (SUK); Solapur district, central and northern regions. Kugaon, 4.9.2000, S.K. Das Das 182012; Yavat- mal district, Durg tank, 21.9.1978, S. Karthikeyan Etymology: The species is named after India. 156502 (BSI). Rajasthan, Chittorgarh district, Note: Vigna indica can easily be distinguished from Bansi, 3.10.2009, T.M. Dixit SUK32; Udaipur dis- all other species of section Aconitifoliae by its trict, Airport road, Udaipur, 3.10.2009, T.M. Dixit cylindrical to subtetragonous seeds with truncate SUK34 (SUK).

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Table 1. Comparison of selected characters to distinguish closely related species of section Aconitifoliae

Character V. indica V. trilobata V. aconitifolia V. aridicola V. stipulacea Stipule Ovate or lanceolate, Ovate or Narrowly Narrowly Broadly ovate, 3 Ϫ 8 mm long oblong, 3 Ϫ 7 elliptic, 6 – 13 elliptic, 3.5 Ϫ 5 8 Ϫ 22 mm long mm long mm long mm long Stipel Lanceolate, 2 Ϫ 2.5 Narrowly Linear, 4 Ϫ 6 Narrowly Ovate, 1 Ϫ 3 mm long ovate, 1 Ϫ 2 mm long ovate, c. 2 mm mm long mm long long Bracteole Lanceolate, as long Narrowly Narrowly Narrowly Narrowly ovate, as calyx (1.8 Ϫ 2.1 ovate, longer elliptic, twice ovate, as long much longer mm long) than calyx as long as as or a little than calyx (3.4 (1.8 Ϫ 3.5 mm calyx (2.5 Ϫ 3 longer than Ϫ 4.5 mm long) long) mm long) calyx (2 Ϫ 2.5 mm long) Flower colour Pale yellow; keel Golden yellow Bright yellow Pale yellow; Shiny, clear yel- dull with purplish keel with low; keel with tinge at apex purplish tinge dull purplish at apex tinge Breadth of Stan- Ϫ dard petal (mm) c. 6 c. 11.1 c. 5.5 7.3 7.4 c. 12.3 Keel pocket c. 1 mm long c. 1.3 mm long c. 0.5 mm long c. 0.9 mm long c. 1.3 mm long Style beak length 0.05 Ϫ 0.07 c. 0.4 c. 0.1 c. 0.06 c. 0.2 (mm) length Ͻ 20 Ͻ 12 Ͻ 8 Ͻ 15 Ͻ 40 (cm) Mature Pod a) Colour Buff to light brown Brown Brown Blackish Blackish brown brown b) Length (cm) 1.5 Ϫ 4 1.5 Ϫ 34 Ϫ 5 1.5 Ϫ 2.8 4 Ϫ 5 c) Orientation Spreading to Spreading Spreading to Spreading Spreading pendulous pendulous d) Trichomes Short white hairs Glabrescent Glabrescent Brown bristle- Brown short to short white like hairs hairs hairs Seeds per pod 4 Ϫ 76 Ϫ 86 Ϫ 8 5 Ϫ 7 12 Ϫ 14 Seed a) Dimensions: Length ؋ breadth c. 3.5 ϫ 2 c. 2.3 ϫ 1.8 c. 4.1 ϫ 2.5 c. 2.6 ϫ 2.1 c. 2.7 ϫ 2 (mm) b) Shape Cylindrical to sub- Ellipsoidal Ellipsoidal Ellipsoidal Ellipsoidal tetragonous

c) Hilum Ovate, not protrud- Broadly ovate Linear, not Narrowly Oblong, pro- ing, c. 0.5 mm long or orbicular, protruding, 0.8 elliptic, pro- truding, 1.2 Ϫ protruding, 0.5 Ϫ 1 mm long truding, 1.1 Ϫ 1.6 mm long Ϫ 0.8 mm long 1.3 mm long d) Aril Not developed Well devel- Not developed Not developed Moderately (only cushion) oped (both (only cushion) (only cushion developed cushion protrudes) (cushion with and rim) little rim)

Germination Epigeal Epigeal Epigeal Epigeal Intermediate

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Table 1. contd.

Character V. indica V. trilobata V. aconitifolia V. aridicola V. stipulacea First and second Petiolate (petioles Petiolate (peti- Petiolate (peti- Sessile; lamina Petiolate leaves/seedling 5 Ϫ 10 mm long); oles c. 11 mm oles 10 mm narrowly (petiole c. 7 mm leaves lamina elliptic to long); lamina long); lamina ovate, c. 8 ϫ 6 long); lamina orbicular, 12 Ϫ orbicular, c. 12 narrowly ellip- mm broadly elliptic 18 ϫ 8 Ϫ 15 mm, mm, cordate at tic to lanceo- to ovate, c. 13 ϫ truncate to cordate base, rounded late, c. 28 ϫ 10 11 mm, cordate at base, obtuse to at apex mm, cordate at at base, retuse at rounded at apex base, attenuate apex at apex Distribution India India, India, Sri Lanka Madagascar, Sri Lanka Yemen, South and SE. Asia (Partly after Tomooka et al., 2002)

Key to the species of section Aconitifoliae Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi, Delhi and Dr. M. Sanjappa, ex-Director, Botanical Sur- Ϫ 1. Plants erect; stipules foliaceous, 1.5 4 cm long; vey of India, Kolkata, for their expert opinion and bracteoles large, boat-shaped, entirely enclosing suggestions in preparation of the manuscript. the calyx ……...…...... … V. khandalensis The authors acknowledge the fi nancial assis- 1. Plants trailing (except cultivars); stipules not folia- tance provided by Indian Council of Agricultural ceous, up to 1.5 cm long; bracteoles otherwise .... 2 Research (ICAR) through National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP). The authors are also 2. Bracteoles as long as calyx; fl owers pale yellow, thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, with fl attened, deltoid keel pocket; seeds cylin- Shivaji University, Kolhapur, for providing labo- drical with truncate ends ………….…. V. indica ratory facilities. 2. Bracteoles distinctly longer than calyx, if as long as calyx then fl owers golden yellow with Literature Cited horn-like keel pocket; seeds ellipsoidal with rounded ends …...... … 3 Babu, C.R., Sharma, S.K. & B.M. Johri 1987. Legu- 3. Lobes of leafl ets linear to lanceolate; seeds with- minosae – Papilionoideae: Tribe – Phaseoleae. out well developed aril having only cushion; Bull. Bot. Surv. India 27: 1 – 28. hilum not protruding ...... ……... V. aconitifolia Maréchal, R., Mascherpa, J.M. & F. Stainier 3. Lobes of leafl ets rounded to elliptic or spathu- 1978. Etude taxonomique d’un groupe com- late; seeds with well developed aril having both plexe d’espécies des genres Phaseolus et cushion and rim, if rim is inconspicuos then Vigna (Papilionaceae) sur la base de données hilum protruding …...... 4 morphologiques et polliniques, traitées par I’anayse informatique. Boissiera 28: 1 – 273. 4. Keel tip dull, with purplish tinge; opening at keel tip distinctly oblique and transversely Sanjappa, M. 1992. Legumes of India. Bishen Singh elliptic up to 1.5 mm long; hilum lanceolate to Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. linear ……...... V. stipulacea Tomooka, N., Vaughan, D.A., Moss, H. & N. Max- 4. Keel tip yellow, without purplish tinge; opening ted 2002. The Asian Vigna: Genus Vigna subgenus at keel tip scarcely oblique and rounded up to Ceratotropis genetic resources. Kluwar Academic 0.7 mm long; hilum orbicular …….. V. trilobata Publishers, London.

Acknowledgements The authors thank Dr. C.R. Babu, Professor, Centre Received: 4.4.2011 for Environmental Management of Degraded Revised and Accepted: 8.5.2011

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