AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 SURVEY OF CLIMBERS IN THE THEROOR PANCHAYATH, KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA Arthi A. K. & Mary Kensa V Department of Botany and Research Centre, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil – 629002, Kanyakumari District, M.S University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. India. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Plants are remarkable source of valuable substances for human beings. These are showing variation in their habitat as well as their habit. As per climatic conditions, the plants are showing their presence in different sites. Some plant species which are climbing and creeping in their tendency are referred as climbers and creepers. A climber plant includes tendrils and creepers having adventitious roots on nodular part of the stem helpful for their climbing and creeping on any substratum. The present study revealed the climbers of the study area were represented by 67 species under 50 genera belong to 28 familes (63 dicots, 3 monocots and 1 pteridophyte) (The life span data showed that about 53 of climbers were perennials and the remainders were annuals 14. Among all the families, Convolvulaceae and Cucurbitaceae have 8 species followed by Fabaceae 6 species, Vitaceae and Apocynaceae 5 species, Acanthaceae 4 species, Oleaceae, Passifloraceae, Piperaceae and Verbenaceae 3 species Nyctaginaceae 2 species and familes with single species are Apiaceae, Araceae, Asclepidaceae, Asparagaceae, Basellaceae, Bignoniaceae, Colchicaceae, Combretaceae, Malpighiaceae, Mimosaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Sapindaceae, Solanaceae and Zygophyllaeae. Twining (43) was the predominant climbing mechanism in all identified climbers followed by tendrils 15, while hook climbers 5, root climbers 3 and petiole climber 1.Most of the identified climbers are wild (26) and the cultivated (28) and the remainders were wild/ cultivated. Every climber showed Volume 8, Issue 9, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 61 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 both the left handed as well as right handed coiling. Here there are, 51 right-handed coils and the remainders 16 are left-handed coiling patterns. (Table: 9; Fig: 6). Based on the regeneration mode of identified climbers 24 species are regenerated by seeds, followed by 33 species are by stem cuttings, 8 species are by seed/stem cuttings and 2 species by tubers/stem cuttings. 13 species are comes under aromatic climbers and the remainders 54 are in non aromatic category. Every climber showed both the left handed as well as right handed coiling. Here there are, 51 right-handed coils and the remainders 16 are left-handed coiling patterns. Over exploitation of some climber species particularly collection of roots and underground parts from the climbers causes damage to these plants. Therefore, there are a people for the importance as well as conservation of these climbers in their original habitat. Keywords: climatic conditions, habitat, climatic conditions, regeneration and underground parts. INTRODUCTION The climbing plants are part of India flora. Some of the climbing species are often exhibit vigorous growth and fast growing (Baro and Borthakur, 2017). Climbing plants are one of the most interesting group but a much-neglected group of plant. They also play a part in historical importance of our ancient buildings which owe their attraction to the green veil which covers up their architectural or structural defects making them assume perfect beauty in our eyes. They are weak stemmed plant. The increase in diversity of climbing plants may be due to various reasons like forest disturbance, change in climatic conditions and formation of tree-gap due to excessive timber extraction (Raj , 2016). Climbers contribute to their environment by purifies air quality, water purifiers, conserving water, preserving soil and supporting wild life. They also lower the air temperature and reduce the heat intensity of the green house effect by maintaining low levels of carbon dioxide (Raj and Deepak Kumar, 2016). Recent reviews of the role of climbers in Volume 8, Issue 9, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 62 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 forest ecosystem (Putz and Mooney, 1991; Schnitzer and Bongers, 2002; Wright et al ., 2004; Phillips et al ., 2005) have highlighted the abundance, competitive abilities and contribution to disturbance regimes. Today, climbing plants typically contribute 2-15% of the leaf biomass to forest (Feamside et al ., 1990; Gerwing and Farias, 2000; Clark et al ., 2008). In climber-rich areas, they can contribute as much as 40% of the established total biomass (Hegarty and Cabelle, 1991; Perez-Salicrup et al ., 2001). Previous studies on diversity of climbers in different parts of India suggest that the climbers are the main components of ecosystem, and their conservation is important to establish their appropriate utilization (Mahajan, 2006; Ajaib et al ., 2012; Singh et al ., 2013). The literature collected during this study period with reference to the present work indicates that there is not much work or the available information regarding Kanyakumari district is very little. Based on the above background literature, the present work entitled “Survey of climbers in Theroor panchayath, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, South India” was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area The study area Theroor panchayath is situated in Agasteeswaram taluk, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. There are approximately 5,290 peoples are live. An average temperature is 27.9˚C, which does not exceed 30˚C. The heat is very high in April (29.3˚C) and May (29.7˚C). In October and November there are thunder storm, that is due to depression coming over from the Bay of Bengal and crossing the district. The rain fall is due to South West monsoons and also due to return monsoon and from the Bay of Bengal. It is obvious that the Volume 8, Issue 9, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 63 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 flora here is very rich containing dry deciduous, semi-evergreen and some moist evergreen speces. There are mixed type of clay, alluvial soil and red soil are seen. A field survey was conducted from October 2018 to December 2018 (3 months), to record the climbing plants are growing on different parts of Theroor panchayath (Plate 3). One visit was made at every week end. Thus, a total of twelve visits were made to all the practically possible places in search of climbers. The periodical trips were under taken to the different part of the study area to get information about climbers. The identification of plant was done using taxonomic literatures (Gamble and Fischer, 1915; Mathew, 1983; Nair and Henry, 1983) and with the help of experts. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present study revealed the climbers of the study area were represented by 67 species under 50 genera belong to 28 familes (63 dicots, 3 monocots and 1 pteridophyte) (Table: 1,2,3 and 4; Fig: 1; Plate: 4). The life span data showed that about 53 of climbers were perennials and the remainders were annuals 14 (Tables: 7; Figure: 4). Among all the families, Convolvulaceae and Cucurbitaceae have 8 species followed by Fabaceae 6 species, Vitaceae and Apocynaceae 5 species, Acanthaceae 4 species, Oleaceae, Passifloraceae, Piperaceae and Verbenaceae 3 species Nyctaginaceae 2 species and familes with single species are Apiaceae, Araceae, Asclepidaceae, Asparagaceae, Basellaceae, Bignoniaceae, Colchicaceae, Combretaceae, Malpighiaceae, Mimosaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Sapindaceae, Solanaceae and Zygophyllaeae (Table: 10; Fig: 7). Climbing mechanisms differ significantly among the identified climbers in the study area. Generally, all climbers encountered in the study area possess one of the 5 major mechanism of climbing. Twining (43) was the predominant climbing mechanism in all identified climbers Volume 8, Issue 9, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 64 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 followed by tendrils 15, while hook climbers 5, root climbers 3 and petiole climber 1 (Table: 13; Fig: 10). Most of the identified climbers are wild (26) and the cultivated (28) and the remainders were wild/cultivated (13) (Table: 5; Fig: 2). The study reveals that, the different plant parts like roots, stem, leaves, fruits, flowers, buds, rhizomes are used by the local people of study area (Table: 3). The identified climbers are used as medicine and economic way ( Abrus precatorius, Antigonon leptopus, Asparagus racemosus, Asystasia gangetica, Boerhavia diffusa, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cayratia pedata, Cayratia trifolia, Cissus quadrangularis, Cissus vitiginea, Clematis armandii, Clerodendrum thomsoniae, Clitoria ternatea, Galphimia glauca, Gloriosa superba, Hemidesmus indicus, Ipomoea aquatica, Ipomoea bilobata, Ipomoea pes- trigidis, Lantana camara, Mimosa pudica, Mukia maderaspatana, Passiflora foetida, Pergularia daemia, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Solanum trilobatum, Thunbergia erecta, Tinospora cordifolia, Tribulus terrestris as medicine and Allamanda schottii, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Epipermnum aureum, Jacquemontia caerulea, Jasminum auriculatum, Jasminum grandiflorum, Merremia quinquefolia, Nephroloepis exaltata, Petrea volubilis, Phaseolus vulgaris as economic and Allamanda cathartica, Basella rubra, Bougainvillea glabra, Centella asiatica, Coccinia indica, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita pepo, Ipomoea horsfalliae, Ipomoea obscura, Ipomoea quamoclit, Jaminum sambac, Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa cylindrica, Mansoa alliaceae, Momordica charantia, Passiflora coccinea, Passiflora edulis, Pentalinon luteum,