ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF BHU CAMPUS JEETENDRA KUMAR VAISHYA*, DR. A. A. ANSARI** AND PROF. N. K. DUBEY*** Six species namly Pentapetes phoenicea L. Fresh specimens were carefully studied under (Sterculiaceae), Acmella paniculata (Wall. ex DC.) R. hand lens and a detailed description of individual taxon K. Jansen (Asteraceae), Spilanthes ciliata Kunth was prepared. The plants of doubtful identity were (Asteraceae), Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. checked against their authentic specimens lodged at the (Asteraceae), Spilanthes radicans Jacq. (Asteraceae) Herbarium of Botanical Survey of India, CRC, and Utricularia aurea Lour. (Lentibulariaceae) not Allahabad, India. reported in the Flora of BHU (Dubey, 2004) have been Enumeration recorded from BHU campus1, Varanasi during the period from 2010 to 2013, while collecting plants for preparation Spilanthes radicans Jacq., Collect. Bot. Chem. of herbarium specimens and for revisionary studies. For Hist. Nat. 11 (3): 1714. 1804; Sivaraj. & Mattew in Anc. each species correct binomial with basionym if any, Sci. Life 3: 169. 1984; Sivaraj. & Remesan in J. Econ. citation to protologue, relevant references and synonyms, Taxon. Bot. 10: 144. 1987; Chowdhery in Hajra et al. common / vernacular name if any, description alongwith (ed.), Fl. India 12:412. 1995; Karthikeyan et al. Fl. Pl. distribution in India and world, ecological observation, of India - Dicotyledons - Checklist. 278. 2009. flowering & fruiting period uses, etc. are provided. (Asteraceae) Varanasi is a very old city and is situated in the Common name: White Spot-Flower, Toothache northern region of India, on the left bank of the river Plant. Ganges at an altitude of about 81 meters above the sea level. The flora of B.H.U. campus comprises 574 Erect, annual herbs, 30-50 cm tall. Stems usually species belonging to 426 genera and 111 families of terete, minutely pubescent. Leaves ovate, 3-7 x 2-4 cm, angiosperms. The monocotyledons and dicotyledons ratio obtuse at base, acute at apex, margins minutely serrate; is 1:4.8 for families; 1:4.1 for genera and 1:4.7 for petioles ca 1 cm long, hairy. Inflorescence terminal or species. The dicotyledons are represented by 474 in leaf axils. Heads white, solitary, non-rayed, discoid, species, 343 genera and 92 families. The monocotyledons 0.8-1.0 cm long; peduncles 2-6 cm long. Receptacle are represented by 100 species, 83 genera and 19 glabrous; palea solitary, concave, boat shaped, ca 5 mm families. The first three dominant families of the campus long, glabrous. Involucral bracts oblong or subulate, are Asteraceae, Papilionaceae and Poaceae. The present obtuse, 3-nerved from base, minutely hairy outside. Disc account is based on the exploration and study on florets 50-60. Corolla white, 4-5 lobed; lobes papillose, angiospermic plants of the B.H.U. campus1. triangular- ovate, 1.5-2.0 mm long, corolla -tube 0.4- The six species namly Pentapetes phoenicea L., 0.6 mm long, with a short neck. Anthers minute, linear- Acmella paniculata (Wall. ex DC.) R. K. Jansen, oblong, ca 1.0 mm long, tips slightly pointed. Stigmatic Spilanthes ciliata Kunth, Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) lobes linear, curved. Achenes brownish-black, dimorphic, Cass., Spilanthes radicans Jacq. and Utricularia 1.5-2.0 x 0.5-1.0 mm long, marginal ones trigonous, aurea Lour. are reported as additions to the Flora of others ellipsoid or obcordate, laterally compressed, BHU (Dubey, 2004). For each species correct binomial margins ciliate. Pappus of 2 subequal bristles.2,3,4,5 with basionym if any, citation to protologue, relevant Flowering & Fruiting: November – January. references and synonyms, common / vernacular name if any, description alongwith distribution in India and Ecology: Rare in swampy and shady habitats world, ecological observation, flowering & fruiting period growing in association with Parthenium hysterophorus L., uses are provided. Spilanthes uliginosa Sw. and Tridax procumbens L. *Senior Research Fellow, Botanical Survey of India, Allahabad-211002 (U.P.), India **Scientist-E & Head of the Office, Botanical Survey of India, Allahabad-211002 ***Professor, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005 ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF BHU CAMPUS 155 Distribution : INDIA [Kerala, and Uttar heads is used as a substitute for the tincture of Pradesh: Varanasi (Agriculture field B.H.U.)]. pyrethrum to treat inflammation of jaw-bones and caries. CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO. A Native of C. It is regarded as a stimulant and sialogogue. The plant America and Mexico. is boiled in water and the liquid as well as the solid are administrated against dysentery. The decoction is also Spilanthes ciliata Kunth in Humboldt et al., Nov. given as a diuretic and lithotriptist agent and is employed Gen. Sp. 4, ed. 4: 163. 1818. Sivar. & Remesean in J. as a bath for rheumatism and as a lotion in scabies and Econ. Taxon. Bot. 10: 145. 1987; Chawdhery in Hajra psoriasis. The root is used as a purgative. The plant is et al. (ed.), Fl. India 12:403-405. 1995; Karthikeyan et employed as a fish poison in several parts of India. Ether al. Fl. Pl. India- Dicotyledons- Checklist. 277. 2009; extract of the fresh flower-tops of the plant is effective Wu. Z. Y in Raven. P. H. & Hong, D. Y. (eds.) Flora against anopheles mosquito larvae (as a soap of China, Vol. 20-21.1469. 2011. (Asteraceae) suspension) even in great dilutions with water. Ethanolic Herbs, perennial, 30–80 cm tall. Stems usually extracts of the herb were found to affect the blood decumbent to ascending, rooting at nodes, green to pressure of dogs and cats. The ethanol extract of the purple. Leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate, 2.3–7.5 × 1– whole plant of S. ciliata show antihepatotoxic activity. 5.9 cm, glabrous to sparsely pilose on both surfaces, base Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. In F. Cuvier’s usually truncate or cordate, margin denticulate to Dict. Sci. nat. ed. 2.24:331. 1822; Spilanthes uliginosa coarsely dentate, apex acute. Capitula radiate, solitary Sw., Prodr. 110.1788; Sivar. & Ramesan in J. Econ. or 2 or 3, terminal or axillary; peduncles 1–7.4 cm, Taxon. Bot. 10:146.1987.; Spilanthes iabadicensis A. sparsely to moderately pilose; phyllaries 7–10, 2-seriate, H. Moore in Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 42 (20):524. 1907; outer series 3–5, narrowly to broadly ovate or elliptic, Karthikeyan et al. Fl. Pl. India- Dicotyledons- 4–6.9 × 1–2.3 mm, inner series 3–6, lanceolate to ovate Checklist. 185. 2009; Wu. Z. Y in Raven. P. H. & Hong, or elliptic, 2.8–6.1 × 1–2.9 mm; receptacle 3.8–7.4 × D. Y. (eds.) Flora of China, Vol. 20-21.1470. 2011. 0.8–1.9 mm; paleae straw-colored, 3–4.5 × 0.4–0.8 mm. (Asteraceae) Ray florets 5–10; corolla yellow orange, 2.5–6.5 mm, Herbs, annual, 10-30 cm tall. Stems solitary or tube 0.9–2 mm, lamina 1.2–4.7 × 1.1–3 mm. Disk several from base, erect, green, glabrous or pilose. florets 90–177, yellow-orange; corolla 5-lobed, 1.5– 2 Petiols 0.5-1.5 cm, sparsely to moderately pilose, mm, tube 0.3–0.6 mm, throat 1–1.5 mm, lobes triangular, wingless or narrowly winged; leaf blade lanceolate, 0.2–0.4 × 0.2–0.3 mm. Achenes black, 1.4–2.2 × 0.5– narrowly ovate, 1.3-5.0 x 0.3-2.5 cm, glabrous to 1 mm, without shoulders, with obvious cork like margin, sparsely pilose on both surfaces, base attenuate to margin sparsely to moderately ciliate; pappus usually cuneate, margines sinuate to dentate, sparsely ciliate, absent or sometimes of 2 very short subequal bristles, apex acute to acuminate. Capitula radiate, solitary 2 or > 1 mm.2,3,4,5 3, terminal, ovoid, 5-8 x 4-6 mm; peduncles 1.2-3.0 cm, 2n = 78. sparsely pilose; receptacle 3-6 x 0.5-1 mm; paleae straw colored some time with purple, 2.5-3.5 x 0.5 mm. Ray Flowering & Fruiting: July – Oct. florets 4-7; corolla yellow or orange yellow, 1.5-3.5 mm, Ecology: Shady habitats growing in association with tube 0.5-1.5 mm, limb 3-toothed, 1-2 x 0.5-1.5 mm. Disc Parthenium hysterophorus L., Spilanthes uliginosa florets 50-100, yellow or orange yellow, tetramerous; Sw. and Tridax procumbens L. corolla 1.0-1.6 mm, tube 0.2-0.4mm, lobes triangular. Achenes black, 1.0- 2.0 mm, moderately ciliate, pappus Distribution.: India: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, of two equal bristles.2,3,4,5 Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. Flowering & Fruiting: Throughout the year. Ecology: Common in shallow water and swampy Use: The flower heads are pungent, chewed paddy field. to relieve tooth-ache and affections of throat and gums, and paralysis of tongue. It is also used as a remedy for Distribution.: INDIA [Andaman & Nicobar stammering in children. A tincture made from the flower Island, South India, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, 156 PRAJÜÀ : Vol. 59, Part-02, Year 2013-14 Himalayas and Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi (Agriculture leaves numerous, multifid; ultimate segments capillary. field B.H.U.)]. HONG KONG, TAIWAN (NATIVE Traps orbicular; either lateral or at the point of THROUGHOUT THE TROPICS IN AFRICA, bifurcation. Scapes erect, long, without any floating AMERICA & ASIA , CARIBBEAN, COSTA RICA, vesicles; scales always absent; pedicels sharply reflexed GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA IZABAL, MEXICO, in fruit; bracts basifixed, orbicular, rounded or subacute NICARAGUA, PANAMA, INDONESIA, SRI at apex; bracteoles absent. Calyx-lobes subequal, ovate. LANKA, NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINES, S. Corolla yellow. Capsules globose. Seeds lenticular- AMERICA AND UNITED STATE. prismatic 5-angled, minutely winged, reticulate. Acmella paniculata (Wall. ex DC.) R.K.