BULL. BOT. SURV. INDIA Vol. 12, NOS. 1-4: pp, 6-17, 1970 THE GENUS MANZSURZS L. (POACEAE) IN INDIA S. K. JAIN Rotaniwl Sum of India, Calcutta ABSTRACT The genus Manisurtj L. belongs to the subtribe Rottboellineae, tribe Andropogoneae of the sub- family Panicoideae. The genus Maninnis L. is represented in India by nine species and three varieties. The description of the genus Manhis L. and a key to all the twelve taxa is given. The structure formed by the fusion of the internode of the rhachis (i.e. joint) and the pedicel of plied spikelet is a very useful character and a key to the Indian species based only on this character as been provided. Critical notes on nomenclature and identity are given. A detailed description of M. fo~fiGula&Fischer emend. Jain has been given. Two new combina- tions have been made, uir. M. aminata (Hack.) 0.Kuntze var. stocksii (Hook. f.) Jain and M. dw~gms (Hack ) 0. Kuntze var. hirsuta (Fischer) Jain. 'All the taxa of the genus found in Indii are endemic to India. It has been suggested that the genus Manhis L. might have originated in peninsular India. Diagnostic charactels such as the lower glume of the sessile spikelet and the joints and pedicels of all the twelve taxa are illustrated by line drawings. INTRODUCTION pedicel, the spikelets seemingly in opposite pairs on There has been some confusion regarding the each node ; a pair formed of one sessile spikelet of limits of the genus Manisuris L. and its related that node and one pedicelled spikelet of next lower genera of subtribe Rottboellineae (tribe Andropo- node. Rhachis more or less fragile, disarticulation goneae, subfamily Panicoideae) in Indian floras. at right angles to the rhachis, tips of internodes Much of the confusion has resulted from frequent truncate or oblique, with concavities corresponding transfers of species from one genus to another. For to the next upper sessile and adjacent pedicelled example, it will be seen that almost all the species spikelet. Sessile spikelets dorsally compressed. now included by Bor (1960) under Elyonurus Humb. Florets 2, lower male or neuter, palea present or et Bonpl. ex Willd., Coelorhachis Brongn., Hemar- not ; upper hermaphrodite, awnless. Glumes equal, thria R. Br., Heteropholis Hubb., Mnesithea Kunth or the upper shorter ; lower coriaceous, transversely and Manisuris L. were at one time or the other, rugose or muricate ; conspicuously winged from the assigned to the genera Rottboellia L. f. and/or Pel- keels, upper membranous, immersed in the cavity tophorus Desv. Species now treated under Hacke- formed by the joint and pedicel, usually pnerved, lochloa 0.Kuntze have, till recent, been treated by keeled (often obscurely). Lemlms hyaline, nerve- most authors under the genera Manlisuris L. f. (Nov. less or 2-nerved. Lodiezcles 2, cuneate. Stamens 3 ; Gram. Gen. 21, 1779) and Manisuris P. Beauv. stzgmas linear. Grains oblong, embryo equalling (Essai Agrost. I 19, 1812) which are later homonyms the grain. Pedicelled spikelets male or neuter. of Manisuris L. (Mant. PI. Alt. 164, 1771). Lower glum coriaceous, smooth, asymmetrically or unilaterally winged, upper variously winged from Manbmim L. Mant. PI. Alt. 164, 1771. keel. Florets as in sessile, but male or barren. Annual or perennial slender grasses. Culwts Etymlogy : Manisuris is derived from MANIS, usually mu'ch-branched. Leaves linear. Inflores- a scaly lizard and OURA a tail, in allusion to the cence of spike-like, spathe-supported, compressed appearance of the racemes. racemes, which terminate the culms and their Type species : Manisuris myuros L. branches. Spikelets in pairs, different in sex and Type locality : India. shape ; the internodes of the rhachis (here referred Chase and Niles (1962) have listed 28 species and as joints) fused with the adjacent pedicels to form 5 varieties ; several of these taxa are now treated rather stout internodes, convex on the back, hollow- under other genera. Recently 3 more species of the ed out on the inner face for the reception of the genus Manisuris have been added from India. One sessile spikelet. Owing to this fusion of a joint and variety is being reinstated here. The genus is re- ~~701 JAIN : THE GENUS M.4NISURIs L. (POACME)IN INDIA 7 presented in several parts of the world ; it is more Bor, the pedicel is not fused with the joint ; and common in tropics. in this respect the transfer of the species from Critical note : The genus is distinguished from Coelorhachis to Manisuris is rather anomalous. its related genera by the lower glume of the sessile This matter is, however, not taken up in further spikelet being winged and usually variously sculp- detail here. It would be necessary to make an tured or foveolate, and internodes of the rhachis examination of more material and to have a better (joints) and pedicels of the adjacent pedicelled spike- understanding of Coelorhachis and its allied genera, lets being fused to form a variously shaped, usually before disturbing the present position. stout structure. The shape, size, ornamentation and awns of the SPECIES IN INDIA lower glume of sessile spikelet have generally been Hooker (1896) treated the species of this genus used to distinguish the Indian taxa of the genus. under Rottboelliu L. f. ; and the five species, num- Whereas these are usually reliable and helpful bers 6 to I I, given by Hooker, are all retained by characters, variations are sometimes seen. For Bor (1960). The variety Rottboellia acuminata. example, the ridges on the back of the glume in Hack. var. stocksii Hooker described by Hooker M. forficulata Fischer and M. talbotii (Hook. f.) Bor (LC. p. 155) has not been retained by Bor. But, are very variable ; spikelets with fewer ridges, in- another variety, namely var. woodrowii Bor has complete ridges or completely devoid of any ridges been added by him. In the latter part of the book, on back are sometimes seen along with ridged ones Bor has included another less known and rare in the racemes of both these grasses. Particularly, species, namely iM. divergens (Hack.j 0.Kuntze. the lowest one or few spikelets in a raceme are often Fischer (1933) had described a new variety of without ridges on lower glumes. The character of M. forficuhta Fischer, namely var. hirsuta Fischer. direction of the ridges, i.e. whether they point and Bor has retained this variety ; and thus, Bor has overlap upwards (towards the tip of the glume) or reported six species and two varieties of the genus downwards, has been used by some authors. This Martisuris L. in India. again is often a variable character. The ridges in Recently, three more spies of the genus have M. acuminata (Hack.) 0. Kuntze are ordinarily been described from peninsular India (Jain and horizontal or pointing and overlapping downwards, Desh@nde 1968, Jain and Hernadri 1968, Rolla Rao but one or two upper ridges pointing upwards can and Hemadri 1968). be seen in many specimens. In M. goaensis Rolla The material of the genus from all the major Rao et Hemadri the tips of the otherwisedownward- herbaria of India has been examined. The .type pointing ridges sometimes bend and point up- material of most of the Indian species and varieties wards. of th'e genus is available in Calcutta herbarium, and One group of species in the genus is characterised has been examined. by only one awn in the lower glume of sessile This scrutiny has led to : spikelet; spikelets with this single awn becoming I. a better understanding of the distinguishing bifid are sometimes seen mixed with normal spike- characters of the various taxa ; lets. The size of awn also sometimes varies. 2. fuller appreciation of taxonomic value of the A combination of the different characters (size, joint of the rhachis and its adjacent pedicel ; ornamentation, awn) of the lower glumes of sessile 3. emendment of the description of M. forfiEulata spikelets, however, makes separation of all the taxa Fischer ; of the genus quite easy. 4. reinstatement of the variety Rottboellia acu- The structure formed by the fusion of joint with minata var, stocksii Hooker and the resulting the pedicel has been found to be a very useful new combination Manisuris acunzinata var. character in distinguishing the Indian species of sjocksii (Hooker) Jain ; this genus, so much so that it has been possible to 5. transference of the variety M. forficulata draw a dichotomous key to the Indian species only Fischer var, hirsuta Fischer to M. divergens, on the basis of the shape and size of this structure. and the resulting new combination M. diver- As mentioned earlier, fusion of the joint with gens var, hirszcta (Fischer) Jain ; and the pedicel is a character so far found to be con- 6. proper understanding of the range and appre- stant within the genus. But, in M. clarkei (Hack.) ciation of endemism of various taxa in India. 8 BULLETIN OF TIJE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA The genus is now believed to comprise nine F. Glume 5-8 mm long, awns also 5-8 mm long; species and three varieties in India. Two dicho- marginal tubercles con- tomous keys to the Indian species of the genus are splcuous, back of the glume with tubercles or provided, one is based primarily on the lower ridges, rarely smooth 4. M. fw/;nrlata glume of the sessile spikelet ; the other only on the FF. Glume 5 mm long or less, awns about 3 character of joint and pedicel. mm long or leas, mar- Thereafter, the species and the varieties are dealt ginal tubercles not con- spicuous, back of the one by one; they are arranged in alphabetical glume pitted or faintly ridged: order.