Diversity and Distribution of Wild Figs (Ficus L.) of Andhra Pradesh, India
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Bioscience Discovery, 11(4):223-235, Oct - 2020 © RUT Printer and Publisher Print & Online available on https://jbsd.in ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print); ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Research Article Diversity and Distribution of Wild Figs (Ficus L.) of Andhra Pradesh, India N. Chandra Mohan Reddy1, P. Anjaneyulu, S.M. Nagesh, J. V. Sudhakar2, B. Ravi Prasad Rao Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananthapuramu 515003, Andhra Pradesh 1Andhra Pradesh Greening and Beautification Corporation, Vijayawada 520003 2Dr. S.R.K. Govt. Arts College, Yanam, 533464 UT of Puducherry Article Info Abstract Received: 10-08-2020, Updated taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution of wild Ficus taxa in Revised: 16-09-2020, the state of Andhra Pradesh are presented. The study based on primary Accepted: 22-09-2020 field data and published data revealed the occurrence of 23 wild species Keywords: Diversity and of Ficus in the state. Distribution, Wild Figs, Andhra Pradesh INTRODUCTION three species in the subgenus Sycidium; one each in Genus Ficus L. belonging to the family Moraceae the subgenera Ficus and Pharmacosycea. comprises 755 species (van Noort & Rasplus, All the species are systematically 2020). Chaudhary et al. (2012) reported 115 taxa enumerated along with a key for easy identification. (89 species and 26 infraspecific taxa) of Ficus in Individual species are presented with brief citation India. Pullaiah et al. (2018) reported 27 taxa of (with cross reference to the works of Fischer Ficus belonging to 26 species, of which 24 species (1928); Pullaiah et al. (2018); Sudhakar et al. are wild and three (Ficus benghalensis var. krishnae 2017), technical description; phenology, habitat and F. carica, F. elastica) are cultivated. ecology, distribution at global, national and Andhra Andhra Pradesh is the seventh largest state Pradesh level; along with voucher specimens. All in Indian Union, extended to an area of 162, 970 sq. the species are tabulated for their current km and lies between 12°37ʹ and 19° 25ʹ NL and 76° distribution in the state of Andhra Pradesh district- 45ʹ and 84° 72ʹ EL. The state comprises 13 districts; wise (Table 1). four southern districts known as Rayalaseema and All the specimens are deposited in Sri the other nine districts come under Coastal Andhra. Krishnadevaraya University Herbarium (SKU). Forest cover is 17.86 per cent of the total Two photo plates comprising 13 significant species geographical area (FSI, 2019) and major portion of of Ficus are presented (Plate 1&2). Abbreviations fall in Eastern Ghats hill ranges. The altitude is for authors and districts are as follows: Authors: from sea level to 1680 m of above MSL. ANS: A. Narayanaswamy; BR: B. Ravi Prasad Rao; In the present study, we explored intensively GVS: G.V.S. Murthy; JSG: J.S. Gamble; KJ: K. forested and non-forested areas of all districts of Joseph; NCMR: N. Chandra Mohan Reddy; PA: P. Andhra Pradesh for locating wild taxa of Ficus for Anjaneyulu; PSPB: P. Surya Prakash Babu; SKB: the past four years and representative specimens S. Khadar Basha; SMN: S.M. Nagesh; TP: T. were made into herbarium. Critical study of the Pullaiah. Districts: ATP: Ananthapuramu; CTR: primary data as well as published literature revealed Chittoor; EG: East Godavari; GNT: Guntur KDP: the occurrence of 23 wild species of Ficus in the Kadapa; KNL: Kurnool; KSN: Krishna; NLR: state of Andhra Pradesh. Of these 23 species, 13 Nellore; PKM-Prakasam; SKLM: Srikakulam; belong to subgenus Urostigma (Chantarasuwan et VSKP: Visakhapatnam; VZN: Viziyanagaram; WG: al., 2013); five species in the subgenus Sycomorus; West Godavari. Herbaria: MH (Madras Herbarium). https://biosciencediscovery.com 223 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) N. Chandra Mohan Reddy et al., Key to wild Ficus taxa of Andhra Pradesh 1. Figs cauliflorous……….…………………………………….……………….………………......….2 1. Figs ramiflorous or axillary ……………………………..…………………….........................…....6 2. Leaf base semi-sagittate……………………………….………….…………….……….semicordata 2. Leaf base otherwise……….……………..……………………………………….…...…....……..…3 3. Leaves opposite-sub opposite……………………………..………………………...…….….hispida 3. Leaves alternate……………………………………..………………………………...….…………4 4. Receptacles glabrous……………………………………………………………………....variegata 4. Receptacles pubescent ……………………………………………………….……..………...…….5 5. Leaf base cordate…………….………………………………………….……………….. auriculata 5. Leaf base otherwise.…………………………………..…………………..………..……...racemosa 6. Aerial prop roots numerous…………………….……………………………………….....……….7 6. Aerial prop roots less or absent……………………………………………………….…………….8 7. Receptacle less than 1.5 cm diam………………………………………….………….….microcarpa 7. Receptacle more than 2 cm diam……………………………………….………….…...benghalensis 8. Figs more than 2.0 cm diam………………………………………………….……………..………9 8. Figs 2.0 cm or less in diam…… ……………………………………………..…..……….……….13 9. Figs sessile……………………………………………..……………………..…………...……… 10 9. Figs pedunculate...………………………………………………..…………………………….….11 10. Petiole less than 3 cm long ………………………………………..………………….....benjamina 10. Petiole more than 3.5 cm long, up to 10 cm …………………………………………..…...rumphii 11. Large trees up to 15 m high …………………………………………..…………………exasperata 11. Shrubs or small trees up to 5 m high…………………………………………………..……...….12 12. Straggling shrubs…………………………………………...………….……………....heterophylla 12. Erect shrubs or small trees…………………..……………………………..…………...…..palmata 13. Receptacle more than 1 cm diam.……………………………………..………………...….…….14 13. Receptacle 1 cm diam. or less than 1 cm………………………………….…..…..……….….….20 14. Figs sessile…………………………………………………………………….….…………..…. 15 14. Figs peduncled…………………………….……………………………………..……….…..…..16 15. Leaves cordiform, with tail, up to 10 cm long…………………………………………..…religiosa 15. Leaves ovate- lanceolate, without tail………………………………….…..…………... amplissima 16. Leaves with bullet nerves below………………………..………………..……………....…nervosa 16. Leaves otherwise………………………………………………………….….…………………..17 17. Figs glabrous……………………………………………………………………………..arnottiana 17. Figs pubescent………………………………….…………………….………………..…..…...…18 18. Receptacle 1.8 cm dia., ………………………………….….………………….……....dalhousiae 18. Receptacle1.2 cm diam., ……………………………………………..………...…..……......…..19 19. Petiole up to 2 cm long……………………….………………………..………………..…tinctoria 19. Petiole up to 10 cm long……………………………………………………….……………..virens 20. Figs densely tomentose………………………………………………………..….………..…mollis 20. Figs other than above…………………………………………………………..……………....…21 21. Petiole less than 2.2 cm long ……………………………………………….…..…………concinna 21. Petiole more than 2.5 cm long………………………………………………………………..…..22 22. Leaves oblong-lanceolate……………………………………………….………………..…tsjakela 22. Leaves ovate-elliptic……………………………………………………………..……....geniculata Taxonomic treatment Madras 3: 1362.1928; Jatini, Gardabhande, Juvvi, Ficus amplissima J.E. Sm. in Rees, Cyclop. 14: Peddajuvi, Pittajuvvi. Ficus no. 68.1810; Sudhakar et al., Figs East. Ghats Deciduous tree, up to 20 m high; often epiphytic 26.2017; Pullaiah et al., Fl. Andhra Pr. 4: 1801. when young; aerial roots few, trunk cylindric; bark 2018. F.tsiela Roxb. Ex Buch.-Ham, Trans. Linn. yellowish-grey, smooth. Leaves alternate, ovate- Soc. London 15: 149.1827; C.E.C. Fischer in Fl. lanceolate, 2-14 x 2-7.5. cm, base rounded, entire, https://jbsd.in 224 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Bioscience Discovery, 11(4):223-235, Oct - 2020 apex short bluntly acuminate, lateral nerves 10-13 16.5-25 x 13-23 cm, base cordate, slightly toothed pairs, glabrous, green above, pale beneath, or serrate, apex shortly acuminate, lateral nerves 5-7 coriaceous; petiole up to 7 cm long. Figs axillary, pairs, glossy and glabrescent above, pale and solitary or in pairs on leafless branchlets, sessile; shortly-softly pubescent beneath, subcoriaceous; receptacles 1.8 cm diam., depressed-globose or petiole up to 6 cm long. Figs in pendulous clusters pyriform, glabrous, purple when ripe. on stem, peduncle up to 5 cm long; rreceptacles 6.5 Fl. & Fr.: Throughout the year. cm diam., pyriform, pubescent, purplish- red when Habitat & Abundance: Common, in deciduous ripe. and semi-evergreen forests, up to 1000 m in rocky Fl. & Fr.: Throughout the year. habitats; along road sides, old walls, agricultural Habitat & Abundance: Rare in semi-evergreen lands and human habitations. and moist deciduous forests up to 1500 m, along Distribution: World: Sri Lanka, Maldives. India: streams and moist localities. Bihar, Central and South provinces, Goa, Gujarat, Distribution: World: Bangladesh, Malesia, Maharashtra, Rajasthan. AP: Throughout Myanmar, Pakistan to South China, Thailand, Repr. Spec.: Papavinasam Dam (CTR), NCMR & cultivated in Taiwan. India: Outer Himalaya PA 56353; Istakameswari Temple (PKM), BR & ascending up to 2,000 m, Arunachal Pradesh, PA 54639 Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Ficus arnottiana (Miq.) Miq., Ann. Mus. Bot. Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Ludg.-Bat. 3: 287. 1867; C.E.C. Fischer in Fl. Orissa, Sikkim, South India, W. Bengal AP: WG, Madras 3: 1363.1928; Sudhakar et al., Figs East. EG & VSKP. Ghats 30. 2017: Pullaiah et al., Fl. Andhra Pr. 4: Repr. Spec.: Pamuleeru vagu (EG), NCMR & BR 1803. 2018. Asti, Bandaraavi, Kalla-raavi, Konda 56661. raavi, Konkani. Ficus benghalensis L., Sp. Pl. 1059. 1753; C.E.C. Deciduous lithophytic tree, up to 15 m high; Fischer in Fl. Madras 3: 1361.1928; Sudhakar et al., glabrous, often epiphytic, aerial roots absent; bark Figs East. Ghats 36.2017; Pullaiah et al., Fl. Andhra pale grey-brown, smooth; Leaves alternate, cordate- Pr. 4: 1804. 2018. Marri chettu, Marri, Pedda marri subcordate, ovate,