the family podostemaceae - shodhgangashodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/6119/11/11...the...

CIIAPTEK IV

THE FAMILY PODOSTEMACEAE

The plants of Podostemaceae are submerged, rheophytic, perennial herbs

attached to rocks and boulders in fresh water streams, rivers and water falls of the

tropical and subtropical regions. The thallus is attached to the substratum by means

of haptera which secrete a cementing substance.

As pointed out by Willis (1902 a), the thallus has various forms, such as thread-

like, ribbon-like, cup-like, and disk-like. It is attached to rocks at its base, at all

points, at certain points or at the centre only. The thallus is usually photosynthetic

and its colour varies. The thallus exhibits a high degree of polymorphism within the

species. This is due to the absence of an inner skeletal system of conducting tissue

like other angiosperms, and duc to the meristematic potentiality of the marginal cells

(Sculthorpe, 1967). The thallus has a great capacity for rejuvenescence (Hammond,

1937).

The family Podostemaceae is divided into two subfamilies, viz. Podostemoideae

and Tristichoidcae as done by Englcr (1930), Cook (1990), and Rutishauscr & Ilubcr

(1991). There are clear differences between the members of these subfamilies in the

floral characters.

Thallus may be flat and creeping over the rocks and attached to it by the lower

surface (Dalzellia) or thread-like and creeping over the rocks and attached to it by

rhizoids, feet and haptera with free floating thallus (Indotrislicha). Usually the

vegetative shoots are confined to the dorsal side of the thallus.

Prepared by BeeHive Digital Concepts for Mahatma Gandhi University

In the flat creeping thalli of Dalzellia, the leaves are in rosettes on the short

vegetative shoots. Besides these leaves, small simple leaves arranged in rows are

also present during the vegetative phase of growth. But in Indotristicha and other

members, the vegetative shoots are well branched, bearing special photosynthetic

units called ramuli. Simple scale leaves are also present on the vegetative thallus.

Unlike Podostemoideae, the vegetative shoots of Tristichoideae remain vegetative.

As soon as the water level falls, flower buds emerge out. In Tristichoideae, spathe is

absent.

I'hc buds arc encloscd in a leafy cupule before anthcsis. The flowers are

bisexual, terminal, solitary, actinomorphic and monochlamydeous with 3-5 perianth

lobes (tcpals). The lower two-thirds of the perianth are united. As the ovary matures,

it emerges out of the perianth.

Stamens many to one and non-adelphous. The tepals are absent. Anthers

bilobed, lobes equal; dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as monads. Pollination

Ovary superior, tricarpellate, syncarpous and isolobous. Ovules many,

anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa membraneous. Stigma as

many as carpels and pubescent. Style very much reduced.

Fruit is a capsule, stalked, usually 9-ribbed with equal valves. Seeds many

and exalbuminous. The testa of the seed will become mucilaginous when it comes in

contact with water. The germination is similar to that in ~odostemoideae.

The following plants were collected from Kerala during the period of the

investigation:

1. Dalzellia zevlanica (Gardn.) Wight

2. [ndotristicha ~ m o s i s i m a (Wight) van Royen


Thallus creeping or non-creeping; bearing marginal, submarginal or dorsal

vegetative shoots. Leaves usually large, stipulate or exstipulate, simple or compound.

The leaf bases are sheathing and they act as bracts in floriferous shoots. As the

water level falls, most or some of the vegetative shoots will change to floriferous

shoots. The upper portion of the leaves are deciduous. The bracts are as many as the

leaves; they are alternate, distichous and either fleshy or scaly.

Flowers bisexual, terminal or axillary, solitary or clustered, zygomorphic,

achlamydeous and enclosed in a spathe before anthesis. The spathe splits along one

side or at its tip and the flower emerges out. The spathe is membraneous and papillate

or non-papillate.

Stamens many to one, usually adelphous, sometimes free. Tepals as many as

the stamens or absent. They are narrow and membraneous. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Ovary superior, bicarpellate,

syncarpous, iso- or anisolobous. Septa membraneous. Ovules many, anatropous and

arranged on a swollen axile placenta. In Farrneria, the number of ovules varies from

2-14. Stigma as many as carpels and they are subequal. In Zevlanidium maheswarii

Mathew @ Satheesh, the stigma is multilobed. Style very much reduced.

The fruit is a capsule, stalked or sessile, ribbed or smooth, dehiscent or

indehiscent with equal or unequal valves. Seeds exalbuminous, with a mucilaginous

testa. They germinate at the beginning of the rainy season. Soon after the production of a

few leaves, the primary axis gives rise to a thallus (Willis, 1902 a & b; Subramanyam, 1962).


The following plants were collected from Kerala during the period of the

investigalion:

1. Farmeria indica (Willis) Arekal & Nag.

2. E. metzgerioides (Trimen) Willis

3. Griffithella hookeriana (Tul.) Warm.

4. Hvdrobrvousis sessilis (Willis) Engl.

5. I'odostemum munnarense (Nag. Arekal) Mathew Satheesh

6. P. subulatum Gardn.

7. Polv~leurum stvlosum (Wight) Hall

8. Willisia selaninoides (Bedd.) Warm.

9. Zevlanidium lichenoides (Kurz) Engl.

10. Z. maheshwarii Mathew et Satheesh

I I . Z. olivaceum (Gardn.) Engl.

KEY TO'TIIE GENERA

......... l a Flowers actinomorphic, carpels 3, spathe 0, cupule present

2a Plant body thread-like, long, slender, branched, free-floating

and attached to rocks by the basal haptera and feet of the

creeping thallus ........................................... 1. Indotristicha

2b Plant body dorsiventrally flat, short, branched creeping over

t he rocks and attached to it by the lower surface ................

.......................................................................... 2. Dalzellia

1 b Flowers zygomorphic, carpels 2, spathe present, cupule 0 ............

3a Capsule isolobous ....................................... 3. Polvuleurum

3b Capsule anisolobous ............................................................


4a Capsule ribbed ............................................................

.............................. 5a Fruit 2-14 seeded 4. Farmeria

5b Fruit many seeded ................................................

....... 6a Leaves caducous .....,...... 5 . Zevlanidium

6b Leaves persistent ........................................

7a Leaves arranged in two rows ...............

................................. 6. Podostemum

..... 7b Leaves arranged in four rows 7. Willisia

4b Capsule smooth ...........................................................

8a Flowers sessile ........................ 8 . Hvdrobrvo~sis

8b Flowers pedicellale ..................... 9. Griffithella


2 5

IV 1. DALZELLJA ZEYLANICA (Gardn.) Wight

Dalzellia zeylanica (Gardn.) Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. 5 : 34, 1852; Cook at in Water

Plants of the World, 456, 1974; Nagendran & Arekal, Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 23

(3-4): 229, 1981; Janardhanan, Short Comm. Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 24 (1-4) :

206- 207, 1982; Cook, Aquatic Plant Book, 191, 1990.

Terniola zevlanica (Gardn.) Tul., Archieves Mus. hist. nat. Paris 6 : 190-192,

t. 13, f 3,1852; Hooker, F.B.I., 5 : 62, 1886; van Royen, Acta Bot. Neerl. 8

475, 1959; Subramanyam, Aquat. Angiosp. 45, 1962; Mukkada, New

Phytol, 68 : 1145-1 158, 1969.

Lawia zevlanica Tul., Ann. Sc. nat. ser. 3,11 : 112,1849; Trimen in A Hand Book of

the FI. of Ceylon, 3 : 416, 1895; Willis is Ann. R. bot. Gard. Peradeniya l(3) :

213, 1902; Engler in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 18a : 34, f 26, 1930;

Gamblc i n FI. Pres. Madras, 2 : 1195, 1925.

Tristicha zeylanica Gardn. in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. 7 : 177, 1847.

Dalzellia Iiask, a monotypic genus is a rheophytic herb with frondose thallus

(Figs. 1A & 9). Thallus flat, dorsiventral; irregularly lobed and closely attached to

II 0

P [ ..! ?! rocks by root hairs and haptera (Fig. 1C). The branches of the thallus radiate from I the centre giving the plants a rosette-like appearance with a diameter of 0.3 -1.0 m.

Thallus exhibits a deep crimson or green colour in the vegetative condition (Plate. I).

Lcaves (Fig. 2B) 2.6-3.0 mm long, dimorphic and occur on the dorsal side,

either in rosettes (Figs. 1 B & 2A) or i n longitudinal rows and along the margin. The

leaves in the rosette are narrow, long and linear but those in rows are broader, shorter

and lanceolate.


Flowers (Fig. 2C) terminal, solitary, 0.6-1.0 cm long (before anthesis) along

lhc growing points and on the dorsal side or the thallus on pedicels emerging from

terminal leafy cupules (Fig. 2D). The floral shoot is very short. Pedicel 0.4-0.8 cm

long, elongating up to 2 cm after anthesis. The flowering occurs arter the rainy

season when the water level falls. Spathe is absent.

The perianth (Fig. 2 E & F) is 1.8-2.2 mm long, rnembraneous and trimerous.

It encloses the stamens and gynoecium in the early stages. However, in the later

stages, the stamcn and the upper part of the ovary and the stigma lobes protrude out.

About two thirds of the lower part of the tepals are united to form a perianth tube.

Stamens 3 ( Fig. 2C), 2-4 mm long before anthesis, free, alternate with tepals.

They emerge out of the perianth tube one after the other. The stamens are dorsifixed

and introrse. Anthers bilobed and the lobes are equal in size. Pollen occur as monads.

Pollination entamophilous.

Ovary superior, obovoid, 1.8-2.2 mm long, tricarpellary, syncarpous (Fig. 2G),

3-lobcd and 3-charnbcrcd. Ovulcs many, anatropus and arranged on a swollen axile

placenta. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, 1.0-1.5 mm long and hairy.

Capsule 9-ribbed and many-seeded. Dehiscence septifragal, valves incurved

after dehisccnce. The cortex of the ovary and the pedicel decay off after fertilization.

Fruit stalk upto 2 cm long.

Distribution ( world ) : India and Sri Lanka (Willis, 1902; Engler 1930; van Royen

1954).

In India, Dalzellia zeylanica is a species distributed in the Western Ghats in

the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

In Kerala, it is a widely distributed species usually seen in the upstreams. For

dctails scc Table 1


2 7

Table 1 Details regarding the collection o f

DALZELLlA ZEYLANICA (Gardn.) Wt. from Kerala

Table 1 contd ....

Locality and District

Padukka, Malappuram Dt.

Nedumkayam, Malappuram Dt.

Kanjirakkadavu, Malappuram Dt.

Nilambur, Malappuram Dt.

Teekoy, Kottayam Dt.

-do-

Charpa water fall, Trichur Dt

-do-

Chikklai, Trichur Dt.

-do-

Athirappalli, Trichur Dt.

River

Punnpuzha

Chaliyar

-do-

-do-

Meenachilar

-do-

Chalakkudipwha

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field No.

and Date

35583 25-02-1970

PM 25779 PM 24771 PM 32370

PM 32383

PM 32389

UCC No. 001 6 UCC No. 001 9 28-1 2- 1990

UCC No. 0099

UCC No. 0035 06-01-1991

UCC No. 00701 UCC No. 0071 01-06-1991

UCC No. 0037 06-0 1 -1 99 1

UCC No. 0065 01-06-1991

UCC No. 0065 01-06-1991

Collected by

J.L. Ellis

Philip Mathew

Philip Mathew

Philip Mathew

C. J . Mathew

V. K. Satheesh & C. J . Mathew

C. J. Mattiew

V. K. Satheesh

C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh -


Table 1 contd .....



Adivaram, Calicut Dt.

-do-

Thomrnenkuthu, ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

Mukkadavu, Pathanamthitta Dt.

Valara, Idukki Dt.

Koratty, Kottaya~n Dt.

-do-

Kanamala, Pathanamthitta Dt.

-do-

-do-

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh & C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Sathcesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Salheesh

River

Chalakkudipuzha

Chaliyar

-do-

Moovattupuzha

-do-

-do-

Kalladay ar

Periyar

Manirnalayar

-do-

Pamba

Pa~nba

Pamba (Azhutha)

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0087 UCC No. 0089 16-1 1-1991

UCC No. 0058 28-05-1991

UCC NO. 01 25 23-12-1991

UCC No. 0060 30-05-1991

UCC No. 0110 05-12-1991

UCC No. 0188 16-0 1-1 993

lJCC No. 01 16 12-12-1991

UCC No. 0142 11-10-1992

UCC No. 0142 04-02-1992

UCC No. 0222 31-12-1993

UCC No. 0148 04-02- 1992

UCC No. 0212 07-02-1 993

IJCC No. 0149 04-02-1 992



Kanamala, Pathanamthitta Dt.

Kathi ketappanchal, Trichur Dt.

Pallankode, Kasaragod Dt.

Victoria estate, Nelliampathi,

Palghat Dt.

Thurai, Pathanamthitta Dt.

Perunthenaruvi, Pathanarnthitta Dt.

River

Pamba (Azhutha)

Chalakkudipuzha

Chandragiri

Chalakkudipuzha (Karapara river)

Achencoilar

Pamba

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0214 UCC No. 0216 07-02-1993

UCC No. 0161 18-11-1992

UCC No. 0167 23-12-1992

UCC No. 0176 30-12-1992

UCC No. 0202 05-02-1993

UCC No. 0207 05-02-1 993

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FlGUHE 1

Dalzellia zeylanica (Gardn.) Wight

A. A portion of the thallus (th) showing longitudinal rows of leaves (1) on the upper side.

U. A portion of the thallus (th) showing dimorphic leaves: rosette of leaves (rl).

C. Lower side of the thallus showing haptera (h)


FIGURE 2

Dalzellia zevlanica (Cardn.) Wight

A. A portion of the thallus (th) showing flower bud (fb); flower (fl) and roscltc of leaves (rl).

B. A single leaf from the rosette (note the narrow elongated cells in the middle of the leaf).

C. A flower with cupule (cu); pedicel (ped); perianth (per); anther (a); filament ( f ) and stigma (st).

D. A leafy cupule bearing leaves (I).

E. Perianth (per),

F. Perianth spread out

G . C. S. of ovary showing ovule (ov); placenta (pl) and septum (s).


PLATE 1

1)alzellia zeylanica (Gardn.) Wight

Note the pattern of growth and colour of the thallus


PLATE 1


IV 2. INDO'I'UISI'ICIIA RARIOSISSIMA (Wight ) van Uuycn

lndotristicha ramosissima (Wight) van Royen in Acta Bot. Neerl., 8 : 474,

1959; Subramanyam, Aquatic Angiosperms, 45, 1962; Chopra & Mukkada,

Phytomorphology, 16 : 182-188, 1966; Nagendran & Arekal, Bull. Bot. Surv.

India, 23 (3-4) : 229, 1981; Cook el. al., Water Plants of the World, 461, 1974;

Cook, Aquatic Plant Book, 179 & 181, 1990; Rutishauser & Huber, Plant Syst.

E v o ~ . 178 (3-4) : 195-223, 1991.

Dalzellia ramosissima Wight in Ic. PI. Ind., 5 : 35, 1852; Engler in Engler &

Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam, 18 a : 33 ff, 16 A, 24, 1930.

Terniola ramosissima (Wight) Wedd. in DC. Prodr. 17: 47, 1873; Hooker, F.B.I.,

5: 63, 1886.

Tristicha ramosissima (Wight) Willis i n Ann. R. Bot. Gard., Peradeniya, l ( 3 )

: 208, 1902 and 1 (4) : 293-306, ff. 5-9, 1902; Gamble, FI. Pres. Madras,

2: 1194, 1925.

Rheophytic herbs attached to rocks (Fig. 3A & B). The vegetative shoots 20-

60 cm long (Plates 2 & 3) and arc attached to rocks at their base by a multilobed

haplera. The creeping roots ( Fig. 3C) have lateral hold fasts called feet. The feet

which occur in pairs (Fig. 3C) are helpful in the attachment of the plants to the rock.

The creeping roots are dorsiventral and frequently branchcd. Thcy havc sl~ghtly

flattened ventral surface with root hairs (Fig. 3C). The root halrs also help in the

firm attachment of the plants to the rocks. The roots and hold fasts are chlorophyllous

and, therefore, green in colour or chocolate-coloured due to the presence of

anthocyanin pigments in the epidermal cells.


The vegetative shoot has a maln axis with many branches. The branches are of

cil ,-.- (*< t two kinds:- 1) ~ p ' e branches hav the structure yf the main axls and exhib~t an

unlimited pattern of growth (Fig 3D); 2) W - c o W - u F d e l i c a t e branches having

only a limited growth (Fig. 3E).

Both the branches of limited and unlimited growth possess scales (Figs. 3D&E).

The branches of limited growth possess many photosynthetic scales which are arranged

helically and this photosynthetic unit is called ramulus (Fig 3E). The lateral shoot

buds arise from the axils of the ramuli.

The scales are 0.5-1.5 mm long, flat, triangular to linear appendages of the

shoots and ramuli (Figs 3D&E). The scales on the main shoot and those on the ramuli

towards the base are triangular and lanceolate. (Figs. 3D&E) whereas the upper scales

of the ramuli are linear with an apical notch (Fig. 3F).

The floral shoots are very short, having a determinate growth with a terminal

pediccllate flower. The flower is subtendcd by numerous photosynthetic scales and

1-3 ramuli (Fig. 4B). The upper scale leaves and one or three ramuli are united at

the base to form a leafy cupule (Fig. 4A).

The flowers are 0.8-1.2 cm long before anthesis. They are trimerous (Fig. 4B). ,"l j

tepals 3, thin, membraneous and the lower two thirds portion of the tepals 5 ~ 4 united

to form a perianth tube (Figs. 4C & D). Stamens 3, 2.5-4 mm long before anthesis,

alternating with the tepals. Anthers bilobed, isolobous, introrse, dorsifixed and

dehisce by longitudinal slits. Pollen held as monads and pollination is entamophilous.

Ovary superior, elliptical, 2-3 mm long, tricarpellary, syncarpous, 3-lobed, 3-

chambered with many anatropous ovules arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Fig.

4 ) Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma 3-lobed, hairy and 1-1.5

mm long (Fig. 4E).


Fruit is a septicidal dry dehiscent capsule with many seeds and three valves.

Each valve is 3-ribbed. Fruit stalk up to 2.7 cm long.

Distribution (World): India and Srilanka

Distribution: In India the plant is distributed in the states of Kerala, Tamil rh

Nadu, Karnalakn. Goa and Ml~araslitra

In Kerala it is a widely distributed species in the downstreams. For the details

of distribution in Kerala see Table2 .


39

Table 2 Details regarding the collection of

INDO'TRISTICHA HAMOSISSIMA (Wt.) van Royen from Kerala

Table 2 contd .....


Thommenkuthu, lduklu Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

Thodupuzha Idukki Dt.

-do-

-do-


Kannankuzhi, Trichur Dt.

40-

-do-

River

Kaliyar, a tributary of

Moovattupuzha

-do-

-do-

-do-

Moovattupuzha

-do-

-do-

Chalakkudipuzha

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0004 UCC No. 0005 08-12-1.990

UCC No. 0063 30-05-1991

UCC No. 0 106 UCC NO. 0107 05-12-1991

UCC No. 0187 16-01-1993

UCC No. 0026 28-12-1990

UCC No. 0049 27-01-1991

UCC No. 0064 30-05-1991

lJCC No. 00 l I 20-12-1991

UCC No. 0039 UCC No. 004 1 06-01-1991

UCC No. 0072 UCC NO. 0073 01-06-1991

UCC No. 009 1 16-1 1-1991

Collected by

Dr. G. V. Thampi

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

Dr. C. J. Mathew

Dr. C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

Dr. C. J. Mathew

Dr. C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


Table 2 contd .....

Locality and 1)istrict


Palai, Kottayam Dt.

-do-

Teekoy, Kottayarn Dt.

-do-

Thurai, Pathanamthitta

Perunthenaruvi, Pathanamthitta

-do-

Kanamala, Kottayam Dt.

-do-

-do-

Koratty, Kottayam Dt.

-do-

-do-

Kiver

-do-

Meenachilar

-do-

-do-

-do-

Achencoilar

Pamba

-do-

-do- (Azhutha)

Pamba

-do- (Azhutha)

Manimalayar

-do-

-do-

Field No. ar~d Datc

80 C R Nagendran 11-12-1973

UCC No. 002 1 UCC No. 0022 UCC No. 0023 UCC No. 0024 UCC No. 0025 28-12-1990

UCC No. 0 102 UCC No. 0 103

UCC No. 0093 05-12-1991

UCC No. 01 80 03-0 1 - 1993

UCC No. 0203 05-02-1 993

UCC No. 0124 14-12-1991

IJCC No. 0210 05-02-1 993

UCC No. 0150 04-02- 1992

UCC No. 0213 02-02- 1 992

UCc No. 02 18 02-02- 1992

UCC No. 0 146 04-02-1 992

UCC No. 02 1 1 05-02-1 993

UCC No. 0220 31-12-1993

Collcctod by

Dr. C. R. Nab-ndran

Dr. C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh &

V. K. Satheesh & Dr. C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh & Dr. C. J . Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


Collected by

Dr. C. J. Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Sathccsh

V. K. Satheesh

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0045 UCC No. 0046 UCC No. 0047 UCC No. 0048 27-01-1991

UCCNo. 0118 33-12-1991

UCC No. 0 163 23-12-1992

UCC No. 0 170 24-12-1992

UCC No. 01 72 24-12-1992

UCC No. 0173 24-12-1992

UCC No. 0126 23-12-1991

UCC No. 0 145 23-01-1992

UCC No. 01 57 29-02- 1992


Mukkadavu, Pathanamthitta Dt.

-do-

Kakkadavu, Kasaragod Dt.

Pulingom, Cannore Dt.

-do-

Kuttoor, Cannore Dt.

Adivararn, Calicut Dt.

Kallar, Trivandrum Dt.

-do-

River

Kalladayar

-do-

Kariangode

-do- (Otankollichal)

Kariangode

Kuttoorpuzha

Chaliyar

Vatnanapuram

-do-


FIGURE 3

Indotristicha ramorissima (Wt.) van Royen

A. Plant attached to stone (sto) with creeping thallus (ct); haptera (h); branch of unlimited gowth(bug) and ramulus (I). (growing in river with full of sand)

B. A goup of plants growing in a river with full of stones (sto)

C. Creeping thallus (ct); feet (0.

D. A branch of unlimited growth possessing scales (sc) and ramuli (r).

E. A ramulus: scales (sc).

F. A scale with an apical notch (an).


FIGURE 4

Indotristieha ramosissima (Wt.) van Royen

A. A leafy cupule spread out: scale (sc); ramulus (r)

B. A floriferous shoot with cupule (cu); anther (a); filament (0; stigma (st) and pedicel (ped). Note the ramuli associated with the cupule.

C. A pcrianlh

D. A perianth spread out.

E. Gynoecium: ovary (0); stigma (st).

E C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov) and septum (s).


PLATE 2

lndotristicha ramosissima (Wt.) van Royen

Note the length of the thallus (collected from a sandy river - Kannankuzhi, near Athirappalli


PLATE 2


PLATE 3

lndotristicha ramosissima (Wt.) van Royen

The dry thalli with fruits above water level and the vegitative thalli under water (location : Koratty, near Erumeli).


PLATE 3


Farmeria Willis in: Notes to Trimen's Flora of Ceylon, V: 386, 1900; Ann. R. Bot.

Gard., Peradeniya 1 (3): 246, & 1 (4): 396, 1902.

Podostemonis Trimen in Fl. Ceyl., 111: 419, 1895.

Maferria C. Cusset in Bull, Mus. natl. Hist. nat. Paris, 4" ser. 14, sect. B, Adansonia,

no 1 : 34, 1992.

Submerged, thalloid, herbaceous, rheophytes attached to rocks at intervals by

haptera. The thallus may be completely creeping or with a free distal portion. The

vegetative shoots are marginal and alternate. Each shoot bears 4-6 leaves per shoot.

Leaves are distichous, delicate and subulate with deciduous tips. The leafbases are

sheathing. A leaf-like appendage may be present on the back of the base of the inner

leaf. Epiphytic algae were found growing on the distal part of the leaves. Most of

the vegetative shoots change to floriferous shoots. The sheathing bases of the leaves

act as protective bracts in floriferous shoots.

The flowers are apogamous or cleistogamous and pedicellate or sessile. Flowers

are protcctcd by ~ncmbrancous spathes. Stamen single, anthers bilobed, introrse,

dorsifixed or basifixed. Tepals two, one on either side of the filament. Ovary superior,

bicarpellary and syncarpous. Ovules 2-14, anatropous, arranged on an axile placenta.

Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, papillate and subequal. Stigma is straight

while it is in the bud condition. Fruit is a dry dehiscent or indehiscent capsule. ,

Capsule smooth or ribhed.


Key to the species:

1 a. Flowers apogamous, capsule ribbed, dehiscent, seeds 4-14 .......................... ................................................................................ I . Farmeria ~J!&Q

1 b. Flowers cleistogamous, capsule smooth, indehiscent, seeds 2 ................... . . .................................................................... 2. Farmeria metzgerto~des

Distribution: India and Sri Lanka.


IV 3a. FARMERlA INDICA Willis

Farmeria indiea Willls in: Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, 1 (3): 248, 1902 & 1 (4):

403, 1902; Engler i n Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 18 a : 68, 1930;

Gamble, FI. Pres Madras, 2: 1199, 1925; Arekal & Nagendran in Proc. Indian

Acad. Sci. 80 H: 226-228. 1974.

Maferria indica (Willis) C. Cusset in: Dul l . Mus. nail. Ilist. nat. Paris, 4' ser.

14, sect. 8, Adansonia, no 1: 34, 1992.

Submerged, thalloid, herbaceous rheophytes attached to rocks at intervals (Fig.

5A) by haptera (Fig. 5B). Thallus 5-12 cm long, flat, dorsiventral and much branched.

Usually it is found creeping on the submerged rocks or rarely on twigs (Plate 4).

Sometimes, the distal portions of the thallus are free-floating.

Vegetative shoots are very short, marginal with two rows of delicate, subulate

Icavcs. I.cavcs usually 1-1.5 cm long with sheathing bases. 'I'he dclicate portion of

the leaf is deciduous (Fig. 5C). The fleshy sheathing bases of the leaves act as

protcctive bracts in floral shoots (Fig. 5C). In some cases, a long leaf-like appendage

is found on the back of some of the inner bracts (Fig. 5D). Epiphytic algae such as

Mougeotia and Characium were found growing on the upper side of some leaves.

Flowering begins when plants become exposed to the air. I t occurs i n January

and continues till February. The flowers are terminal, solitary 3-3.5 mm long (Fig.

5G) , pediccllate, each protected by a membraneous spathe which opens at its tip

(Fig. 5E). Spathe c. 2 mm long; multilobed and slightly curved at its tip (Fig. 51;).

Pedicel 1-1.5 mm long, stamen single, 1.5-2 mm long (Fig. 51-I), elongating up to 3 mm

after anthcsis. Tepals 2, c. 0.75 mm long, one on either side of the filament. The

middle portion of the filament is broader than the tip and the base (Fig. 5H). Anthers

bilobed, basifixed, introrse and dehisce longitudinally. Pollen occur as dyads.


Ovary superior. 1.7-2.0 m m long, 1 mm broad, elliptical (Fig. 5G), bicarpellary

syncarpous and anisolobous. Ovules 4-14, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile

placenta (Fig. 51). Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid,

lobes straight in the bud, subequal, c. 1 m m long, subulate and papillate (Fig. 5J).

Stigma elongates up to 3 mm after anthesis. Fruit is a dry dehiscent capsule, two-

valved, valves subequal and each valve is three-ribbed. Fruit stalk is up to 1.5 mm

long.

Distribution: India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu). For details of distribution in

Kerala. see Table 3.



FARMERIA 1NDlCA (Willis) Arekal &Nag. from Kerala


Kallar, near Ponmudi, Trivandrum Dt.

'ooyamkutti, ldukki Dt.

River

Vamanapura~npuzha

Yeriyar

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0143 23-01-1992 UCC No. 0155 29-02-1992

UCC No. 0229 02-03-1994

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 5

Farmeria indica (Willis) Arekal & Nag.

A. Habit showing the attachment of thallus (th) to the stone (sto).

B. Basal portion of the thallus (th) showing haptera (h) and leaves (I).

C. A floriferous shoot with flower bud (fb) and bracts (br).

D. A bract (br) with an appendage (ap)

E. A floriferous shoot with a n opened flower showing bracts (br); spathe

(sp); stigma (st); anther (a); and filament (t).

F. A spathe after opening.

G. A flower showing tcpal (t); ovary (0); filament (f);

stigma (st) and anther (a)

H. A stamen showing tepal (t); filament (f) and anther (a).

I . C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov); and septum (s).

J. Papillate stigma


PLATE 4

Farmeria indica (Willis) Arekal & Nag.

Note the thallus attached to the stone and a twig


5 9

IV 3b. FARMERIA M E T Z G E R I O I D E S (Trimen) Willis

Farmeria metzgerioides (Trimen) Willis in: Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, 1 (3): 247,

1902 & 1 (4): 397, 1902; Engler in: Engler & Prantl, Nat. Planzenfam. 18 a: 67,

1920; Nagendran & Arekal, J. Mysore Univ., Sect. B. 27: 1976-77; Raveendran

& Mathew, J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 14 (3): 1990; C. Cusset, Bull. Mus. natl., Hist.

nat., Paris, 4" ser., 14, sect. B, Adansonia no 1: 19, 1992.

Podostemon metzgerioides Trimen in: A Hand Book of the FI. Ceylon 419,

1895.

Submerged, thalloid, herbaceous, rheophytes, attached to the rocks at intervals

by haptera and rhizoids (Fig. 6A & B). The thallus 1.8-2.3 cm long, flat, dorsiventral

and branchcd, usually found creeping on the waterworn boulders. Vegetative shoots

are very short, marginal and alternate. Leaves distichous, delicate and subulate.

Iscaves 4-6 per shoot w ~ t h sheathing bases which change to bracts in floriferous shoots.

The upper portion of the leaf is deciduous. Epiphytic algae grow on the upper side

of the distal parts of the leaves.

Flowers attain maturity at the beginning of December. The flowers are

cleistogamous and enclosed in a membraneous spathe (Fig. 6C). They are terminal

1.5-2 mm long, solitary and sessile. Stamen single, 1.2-1.5 mm long (Fig. 6D).

Anthers dorsifixed, bilobed lobes subequal, introrse and dehisce longitudinally.

Pollen occur as dyads. Tepals two, c. 0.75 mm long, one on either side of the filament.

Pollination takes place by autogamy.

Ovary superior, 0.75-0.9 mm long, 0 .5 mm broad, elliptical (Fig. 6E),

bicarpellary, syncarpous and anisolobous. Ovules 2, anatropous attached to the

swollcn upper portion of the axile placcnta. Septa membraneous. Style very much


reduced. Stigma bilobcd, c. 0.75 mm long, subequal and papillate. As thc waler

level falls, thc plant will get exposed to the air and the spathe decays off. The seeds

are dispersed during the dry season.

Distribution: India and Sri Lanka. The details of distribution in Kerala are

given in Table 4.


6 1

Table 4 Details regarding collection of

IiARMERlA METZGEIIIOIUES (l'rimen) Willis liom Kerala


Bhccmanadi, Kasaragod Dt.

Rayarom, Cannore Dt.

Karuvanchal, Cannore Dt.


-do-

Collected by

'T. P. Raveendran

T. P. Raveendran

'T. P. Raveendran

C. J . Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

River

- - -

- - -

- - -

Chalakkudipuzha

-do-

Field No. and Date

Raveendran 4343 1

Raveendran 43447

Kaveendran 43448

UCC No. 0012 20-1 2-1990

UCC No. 0068 01-06-1991


FIGURE 6

Farmeria metzgerioides (l'rimen) Willis

A. Young thallus with root hairs (rh)

B. A portion of thallus (th) with leaves ( I ) and haptera (h).

C. A floriferous shoot with bracts (br) and flower bud (fb) enclosed in spathe.

D. A stamen showing filament (0 and anther (a)

E. A gynoecium showing ovary (0) and stigma (st).


64

1V 4. GRIFFlTIIEl ,I ,A 1100KERIANA (Tul.) Warm.

Criffithella hookeriana (Tul.) Warm., Danske Viid. Selsk. Skr. ser. 6, 11: 13, 1901;

Willis, Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, l(3): 233, 1902 & l(4): 364, 1902;

Cooke, FI. Pres. Bomabay 2: 521, 1906; Engler In: Engler & Prantl , Nat.

Pflanzenhm., 18 a: 61, 1930; Vartak & Bhadbhade, J . Univ. Poona, Sci., 44:

186, 1973; Vidyashankari & Mohan Itam, Aqual. Uot. 28: 161-169, 1987.

Cladonus hookeriana (Tul.) Cusset, Flora du Cambodge, Laos, Vietnam, 14:

72, 1973; Nag. & Arekal, Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 23: 231, 1981; Cusset,

Bull. Mus. natl. Hist. nat. Paris, 4" ser., 14, sect. B, Adansonia, no 1: 24-25,

1992.

Podostemon hookerianus (Tul.) Wedd. In: DC., Prodr. 17: 74, 1873; Hooker,

F.B.I., 5: 65, 1886.

Mnionsis hookeriana Tul. Ann. Sci. Nat. Scr. 3(2): 105, 1849.

GFRIFFITIIELLA IIOOKERIANA (Tul.) Warming

Submerged, rheophytic herbs with thalloid plant body. Thallus branched,

ribbon-like (Fig. 7A) or cup-like (Fig. 7B). Branched ribbon like thalli are creeping

over the rocks and attached to them by haptera on the lower surface. In the cup-like

forms, the thallus is attached to rocks only at a single point on the lower surface in

the centre (Fig. 7C). The vegetative shoots are very short and seen along the margin.

Each shoot bears 6 leaves which are 5-6 mm long, distichous and alternate with

sheathing bases and delicate subulate tips. The sheathing bases ofthe leaves change

to bracts i n thc ilorifcrous shoots. Most of thc vcgctativc shoots changc to llorifcrous

shoots. The bud is enclosed by a membraneous, 4-5 m m long spathe which splits

into several lobes and is funnel shaped (1:ig. 7D) after splitting.


Flowcrs terminal, solitary, 4-5 mm long and pedicellate (Fig. 7E). Pcdicel2.5-

3 mm long. Stamens 2, rnonadclphous, 1.5-2 mm long with an andropodium. Anthers

bilobcd, lobes subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals two,

narrow, membrancous 1-1.2 mm long, one on either side of the andropodium.

Ovary globose, c. I x 1 mm in size, smooth, superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous

and anisolobous. Ovules anatropous. many, arranged on a swollen axile placenta

(Fig. 7F). Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes

subequal c. 0.5 mm long. Fruit is a smooth, dry dehiscent capsule (Fig. 7G). Capsule

two-valved with dehiscence ribs. Valves subequal and the larger valve is persistent.

Fruit stalk 4-4.5 mm long. Seeds many.

Distribution : India. For details of distribution in Kerala, see Table 5.



GRIFFITHELLA HOOKERIANA (Tul.) Warm. from Kerala


Nilambur,

Malappuram Dt.

Patham kayam,

Calicut Dt.

Kakkadavu,

Cannore Dt.

Pallankode,

Kasaragod Dt.

River

Chaliyar

Chaliyar

Kariangoepuzha

Chandragiripuzha

Field No. and Date

PM 33902

PM 33903

PM 34358

UCC No. 0 13 1

24-12-1991

UCC No. 0164

22-12-1992

UCC No. 0165

23-1 2-1 992

Collected by

Philip Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 7

Griffithella hookeriana (Tul.) Warming

A. A portion of ribbon-like thallus (th).

B. Cup form of thallus (th) - upper view

C. Cup form of thallus (th) - lower view showing hapteron (h)

1). A floriferous shoot showing bracts (br); spathe (sp); ovary (0); tepal (t); stigma (st): andropodium (and); filament (f) and anther (a).

E. A flower showing pedicel (ped); ovary (0); stigma (st) and anther (a).

I< C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov) and septum (s).

G. A Pruil (Tr) with fruit stalk (frst)


IV 5. IIYDRO1)RYOPSIS SESSlLIS (Willis) Engl.

Hvdrobrvonsis sessilis (Willis) Engl. Subramanyam & Sreemadhavan, Bull. Bot.

Surv. India, 11 (1-2): 161-168, 1969; Cook in: Water Plants of the World,

459, 1974; Arckal & Nagcndran, Bot. Notiser 128: 332-338, 1975; Nagcndran,

Subramnyam & Arekal, J . Mysore Univ., sect . 0, 27: 180-183, 1976-77;

Nagendran & Arekal, Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 23 (3&4): 232, 1981; Cook, Aquatic

Plant Book, 181, 1990; Cusset, Bull. Mus. natl. Hist. nat. Paris, 4, ser 14, sect.

B, Adansonia, no 1: 20, 1992.

Hvdrobrvonsis sessile (Willis) Engler in: Engler & Prantl. Nat. Pflanzenfam.

18 a: 60, 1930; Subramanyam, Aquatic Angiosperms, 47, 1962.

Hvdrobryum sessile Willis in Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, 1 (3): 239, 1902

& 1 (4): 379, 1902; Gamble, FI. Pres. Madras, 2: 1198, 1925.

I1YL)ROBRYOPSIS SESSILIS (Willis) Engl.

Green herbaccous rheophytes growing on submerged rocks. Thallus 2-3 cm

long, branched, ribbon-like (Fig. 8A), attached to the rocks by the haptera on the

lower surface (Fig. 80). Vegetative shoots very short, marginal and i n the axils of

the branches of the thallus. Most orthe vegetative shoots change to floriferous shoots.

Leaves 4-6, distichous, alternate and 4-5 mm long. The leaf bases are sheathing and

change to bracts in floriferous shoots (Fig. 8C). The tips of the leaves are delicate,

subulate and caducous. Bracts 4-6, distichous, alternate, helmet-shaped and keeled.

The upper bracts arc successivcly larger than the lower ones. A small portion of the

leaf is persistent on the bract (Fig. 8C). Spathe c. 2 mm long, membraneous, splits

along the upper side and is boat-shaped (Fig. 88).


Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile and 2-2.2 mm long before anthesis (Fig. 8D).

Stamens 2, monadelphous with an andropodium (Fig. SF) which is c 1.8 mm long

bcforc anthesis. The andropodium elongatcs up to 2.5 mm after anthesis. Tepals 2,

striated, longer than the ovary and one on either side of the andropodium (Fig. 8D).

Ovary superior, globose, c. 0.8 x 0.8 mm in size, smooth, bicarpellary,

syncarpous, anisolobous and slightly curved upwards near the tip. Ovules many,

arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Fig. 8G). Septa membraneous. Style very

much reduced. Stigma bifid, each lobe c. 0 .8 mm long. Fruit is a smooth, dry,

dehiscent (Fig. 8H). Capsule 2-valved with dehiscence ribs. Valves subequal, the

larger valve is persistent while thc smaller one is dcciduous (Fig. 81). Secds many.

Fruit stalk up to 1 mm long.

Distribution : India. For details of distribution in Kerala, see Table 6


'lable 6 Details regarding collection of

I IYI)I IOII I IYOl'SIS SBSSII.IS (Willia) 12ngl. boo1 Kcrala


Damsite, Silent Valley

Palghat Dl.

Kanjirakkadavu

Malappuram Dt.

Kurumkayatn,

Calicut Dt.

Rajagiri,

Cannore Dt.

River

Bharathappuzha

Chal~yar

Chaliyar

Kariangodepuzha

Field No. and Date

CRS-SV 1 1 197

PM 25668

PM 32384

UCC No. 0131

24-12-1991

UCC No. 0166

23- 12- 1992

Collected by

C. R. Suresh

Philip Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 8

Hydrobryopsis sessilis (Willis) Engler

A. A portion of thallus (th) with vegetative shoot (vs) and floriferous shoots (fs).

B. Lower view of a portion of thallus showing haptera (h).

C. A floriferous shoot showing bracts (br) and ovary (0).

D. A flower with tepal (t); ovary ( 0 ) ; stigma (st); andropodium (and); filament (0 and anther (a).

E. A spathe spread out.

F. An androecium showing andropodium (and); filament (f) and anther (a).

G. C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov) and septum (s)

H. A fruit (fr). Note a very short fruit stalk.

I. Fruit valves after dehiscence. Note the persistent larger fruit valve (Ifv) and deciduous smaller fruit valve (sfv).


IV 6. PODOSTEMlJM Michx.

Herbaceous rheophytes with branched ribbon-like thalli attached at the base

and other points. They may be completely creeping or partially free floating.

Vcgctativc shoots are marginal, alternatc and most of thcm change lo floriferous

shoots. Each shoot usually bears 5-6 or rarely 7-8 leaves which are arranged in an

alternate fashion. The leaves are persistent with sheathing bases and delicate subulate

tips. lntrapetiolar stipules arc present, usually suppressed in lower leaves. The upper

leaves are successively shorter than the lower ones.

'The sheathing bases of the leaves become fleshy bracts in flowers. The leaf

base may be bithecous inorder to protct the buds on either side. Bracts usually 5-6 or

7-8, alternate and distichous; the lower pair small, upper pairs successively larger.

Spathe membraneous, splits at the tip into 3-6 lobes and is funnel-shaped; rarely

unlobed with a single split along the upper side and is boat-shaped.

Flowers terminal or axillary, solitary, zygomorphic and pedicellate. Stamens

usually 2, rarely 3 or 4, monadelphous, the additional stamens in the fork of the

andropodium. Andorecium shorter than the gynoecium before anthesis. Anthers 2-

lobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads.

'repals 2, narrow, membraneous, one on either side ofthe andropodium. Ovary

elliptical, superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous, smooth and anisolobous. Ovules many,

anatropus, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa membraneous. Style very

much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal, rarely trifid. each lobe further forked

or unforked Fruit elliptical, anisolobous and 2-valved, valves subequal, smaller valve

3-ribbed, bigger valve 3- or 5- ribbed excluding the dehiscence ribs. Seeds many.


Key to the species:

la. l'hallus partially creeping; flower I per shoot, terminal .........................

................................ ........ ......................................... 1 . P. munnarense.

1 b. Thallus completely creeping; flowers 2-8 per shoot, axillary ................... .......................................... .................................... .... 2 P. subulatum.


IV 6a. PODOSTEMUM MUNNARENSE (Nagendran & Arekal) Mathew & Satheesh comh. nov. *

Podostemurn nlunnarense (Nagendran & Arekal) Mathew et Satheesh *

Polvpleururn munnarense Nagendran & Arekal, Rot. Notiser, 132: 49-50, 1979.

Herbaceous rheophytes with branched ribbon-like thallus attached at the base

and other points near the base with free floating upper parts; c. 25 cm long, 0.1-0.4

cm wide (Fig. 9A). Vegetative shoots very short, distichous, marginal, alternate and

most of them change to floriferous shoots. leaves 5-6 (Figs. 9B-C 81 E-G), rarely 7

or 8, up to 6.0 cm long, alternate, distichous and persistent with sheathing bases and

delicate subulate tips. lntrapetiolar stipules present (Fig. 9H), usually suppressed in

lower leaves. The upper leaves are successively shorter than the lower (Fig. 91). The

sheathing bases of the leaves become fleshy bracts in flowers. Bracts 5-6, alternate

and distichous: the lower pair small, uppcr two pairs successively larger. Spathe c.

0.4 cm long, rarely upto 1.2 cm long, membraneous, splits at the tip into 3-5 lobes

and is funnel shaped (fig. 9J); rarely unlobed with a single split along the upper side

and is boat shaped (Fig. 9K).

Flowers terminal, solitary (Fig. 9L), 1.0-1.4 cm long, zygomorphic and

pedicellatc; I'edicel 0.6-1.0 cm long with a deciduous cortex. Stamens usually 2,

rarely 3, monadelphous, the third one at the fork of the andropodium (Fig. 9 M ) , upto

0.35 cm long before anthesis (elongates upto 0.5 cm after anthesis), shorter than the

gynoecium. Anthers 2-lobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as

dyads. Tepals 2, narrow, membraneous, 1 .O-1.5 mm long, one on either side of the

andropodium. The tepals are usually halr thc length of the ovary. Ovary elliptical,

2.0-3.0 mm long, 1.5-1.7 mm broad, superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous, smooth and

* Under publication


anisolobous. Ovules many, anatropus, arrangcd on a swollen nxile placen(a (Fig.

9N). Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal,

rarely trifid, each lobe further forked or unforked. Fruit elliptical, anisolobous and

2-valved, valves subequal, smaller valve 3-ribbed, bigger valve 3-5 ribbed excluding

the dehiscence ribs. Seeds many. Fruit stalk upto 1.5 cm long.

Ijirtribution : Kcrala, India. For dclails of distribution i n Kerala, see Table 7


'Iable 7 Details regarding collection of

I'ODOS'1'15MIlM MIINNAKENSIC (Nagendran & Arekal) Mathew & Satheesh comb. nov." from Kerala.

Table 7 to be continued .................


Munnar.

ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Collected by

C. R. Nagendran

Ramani P. Joseph

P. I. Varghese

P. 1. Varghese

G. V. Thampi

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Salhccsh

River

Periyar

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Date

49

26- 12-1972

UCC No. 000 l

----

UCC No. 0029

lJCC No. 0030

05-01-1991

UCC No. 003 1

05-01-1991

UCC No. 0050

17-02-1 991

UCC No. 0055

UCC No. 0057

23-05-1991

UCC No. 0074

UCC No. 0077

12-10-1991



Munnar,

ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

P. 1. Varghese

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

River

Periyar

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Datc

UCC No. 0134

10-01-1992

UCC No. 0 152

27-02-1 992

UCC No. 0 192

UCC No. 01 95

23-01-1993

UCC No. 0223

02-0 1- 1994


FIGIJRE 9

Podostemum munnarense (Nagendran 81 Arekal)

Mathew & Satheesh comb. nov.

A. A portion of thallus ( th) with floriferous shoots ( fs ) and vegetative shoots (vs).

6-C & E-G. Leavcs with sheathing bases separated from a floriferous

shoot. Note the variation in the length of leaves and size of

the sheathing bases (bracts). /

I). A flower bud cnclosed i n the spathe.

H. A leaf with sheathing base and a stipule (sl)

1. A floriferous shoot with leaves (I): bracts (br) and flower bud ( f o )

J. A spathe (sp) after opening

K. A flower showing boat-shaped spathe (sp); pedicel (ped); ovary (0)

and stigma (st).

L. A normal flower with spathe (sp); pediccl (ped); tepal (I) ; ovary (0);

andropodium (and); filament (f); anther (a) and stigma (st).

M. A portion of an abnormal androccium. Note thc addit ional stamen (asta) i n the Cork o f t h e andropodium.

N. C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); o v i ~ l c (ov) and septum (s).


82

IV 6b. PODOSTEMUM SUBULATUM Gardn.

Podostemum subulatum Gardner, Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist ,7: 184, 1847; Tul., Ann.

Sci. Nat. ser 3, I t : 193, 1849; Arch. Mus. Paris 6: 135, 1852; Hooker, F. B. I . ,

5: 65; 1886; Trimen, FI. Ceylon 3: 41 8, 1895; Willis, Ann. R . Rot. Gard.,

Peradeniya l(3): 229, 1902 & l(4): 328, 1902; Gamble, FI. Pres. Madras, 2:

1196, 1925, Subrainnayam Ayuat. Angiosperms, 50, 1962; Vartak & Bhadbhadc,

J. Univ. Poona, Sci. 44: 190, 1973; Nair & Bhargavan, J . Econ. & Tax. Dot.

6(3): 709-710, 1985 a s (( Podostemon subulatum D.

Zeylanidium subula tum (Gardn.) C. Cusset, Bull. Mus.natl. Hist. nat. , Paris,

4' ser., 14, sect. B, Adansonia, nO1: 32, 1992.

Submerged, creeping, dorsiventral, herbaceous rheophytes attached to rocks

by thcir lower side. 'Thallus narrow, ribbon-like, 2-3 min broad, up to 10 cm long

and dichotomously branched (Figs. IOA & 12A). Vcgclativc shoots 2-8 mm long and

occur along the margin of ilic thallus at the branching rcgions. 'l'hey change to

florireorus shoots. Leaves (Figs. 12C & D) 2.5-6 cm long, alternate, distichous,

delicate and subulate. The lcaves are persistent (Plate 5). The sheathing bases of the

leaves act as the bracts in floriferous shoots. Some of the leaf bases are bithecous

(Figs. 1 IA & 12D) and they protect the buds on either side. 'fhc leaves towards the

flower buds are successively shorter (Fig. 12C). Spathe 3-6 mm long, membraneous,

splits at its tip into 5-6 lobes and is funnel-shaped after splitting (Figs. 12E & F).

Each ilorifcrous shoot (Figs. 10A, I IA &12B) bears 2-8, axillary flowers, each

flower 4-7 mm long before anthesis (Figs. 12G - I), zygomrphic and pedicellate;

Pedicel 1.5-5 mm long with a deciduous cortex Stamens 2 (Figs. 125 & K). rarely 3

or 4, the cxtra stamens occur in the fork of the andropod~um (Flg. 12L), 4.5 mm long

berorc anthcsis, monadelphous and slightly shorter than the gynoeclum (Fig. 12G).


Anthers 2-lobed, anlsolobous, dorsifixed and introrse (Figs. 123 & K). The

andropodium elongates up to 6 mm aftcr anthesis. Pollen occur as dyads. Tepals 2,

narrow, membraneous, 2-3.5 mm long, one on either side of the andropodium and

slightly shorter than the ovary (Figs. 12G & H). Sometimes, the tepals are longer

than the ovary (Fig. 121).

Ovary elliptical, c. 1.2 x 2 mm in size, superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous and

anisolobous. The ovary is slightly co~nprcsscd in the material collected from

Melappara. Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Figs.

12M & N). Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes

subequal, 1-1.5 m m long. Stigma elongates up to 3 mm after anthesis. Fruit elliptical,

anisolobous and 2-valved; valves unequal, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the

dchiscence ribs. Seeds many. Fruit stalk 2-20 mm long. Following

Distribution: Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Mahrashtra. For details of ditribution

i n Kerala. see Table 8.



PODOS1'ISMUM SUBULATUM Gardn. from Kerala


Kakkadumpoyil,

Malappuram Dt.

Kanjirakkadavu,

Malappuram Dt.

Paramb~kulam,

Palghat Dl.

Kururnkayam,

Calicut Dt.

Melappara,

ldukki Lit.

Mamalakkandam

ldukki Dt.

-do-

Iiiver

Chaliyar

-do-

Karappara river

Chaliyar

Periyar

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Date

PM 34590

PM 32357

691 1 A (MH)

21-12-1980

UCC No. 0133

24-12-1991

UCC No. 01 82

12-01-1991

Collected by

Philip Mathew

Philip Mathew

N. C. Nair

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

UCC No. 0 190

07-01-1993 K. C. Madhu

UCC No. 0228

02-01-1994 V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 10

Pudoatemum subulatum Cardn.

A. A portion of the thallus (th) with floriferous shoots. (Collected from Kurumkayam, near Anakkampoyil)


FIGURE 11

Podostemum subulatum Gardn.

A. A floriferous shoot. Note the bithecous bract (bbr). (Collected from Mamalakkandam)


FIGURE 12

Podos ten~um subulatum Gardn.

A. A portion of thallus (th). Note thc epiphytic algae (ea) on the leaves (I). (Collected from Melappara)

R. A portion of thallus (lh) with floriferous shoot showing bithecous bract (bbr); bract (br); spathe (sp); andropodium (and); filament (f); anther (a); stigma (st).

C. A iloriferous shoot with persistent leaves ( I ) and flower bud (fo)

D. A bithecous leaf. Note the biconcave basal portion of the leaf - bithecous bract.

E. A spathe

Ji. A spathe sprcad out

G . A flower enclosed in the spathe (sp) showing ovary (0); stigma (st); andropodium (and); anther (a) and tepal (1).

1-1 & I. Flower berore anthesis

J. Androeciunl - t h e side facing gynoecium K. the side away from gynoecium showing andropodium (and); filament ( f ) and anther (a).

L. An androccium with 4 stamcns

M. C. S. ovary of the plant collected from Melappara.

N. C. S. of ovary of thc plant collected from Kururnkayam showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov) and septa (s).


PLATE 5

Podostemum subulatum Gardn.

Photograph of shoots (vegetative and reproductive)

Note the persistent leaves


. __--

PLATE 5


1V 7. POLYPLEllRUM STYLOSUM (WIGIIT) J. B. HALL

P o l v ~ l e u r u m stylosum (Wight) J . B. Hall, Kew Bull. 26(1): 131, 1971.

Dicraeia stvlosa Wight, a Dicraea r, Icon. PI. Or. 5: 33, 1952; Wedd. in DC.,

Prodr. 17: 70, 1873; Willis, Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya l(3): 225,1902;

Submerged, rheophytic herbs with thalloid plant body (Fig. 13A) attached to

boulders in the fresh water streams. They are attached at the base and other points by

haptera. The haptera are of two types, one with a flat attaching region (Figs. 14D)

and the other a prop-root like structure emerging from the lower side of the thallus

just below the secondary shoots (Figs 17D). The hapteron is two- to many-branched

and helps to avoid brcakagc of the thallus i n swiftly fowing water. In the carly phase

in growth, the thallus is found completely creeping over the rocks in all the collections of

Polwleurum stvlosum. In some collections, the thallus is found creeping and completely

attached by the lower surface even i n the reproductive phase (Figs. 14C & D, !5C)

Thallus 1s ribbon-like and branched. It is 3-52 cm, long and 0.4-2.3 cm broad.

I n some varieties, the tip of the thallus is profusely branched (Figs.16 A & 17 C).

Vcgetativc shoots arc vcry short, marginal or submarginal or dorsal, alternate and

distichous. Most of them change to floriferous shoots. Leaves 4-6, alternate,

distichous, delicatc and subulate with persistent sheathing bases which change to

bracts in floriferous shoots (F~gs. 18A & B). The lip of the leaf is deciduous. In some


collcctions, a portion of the leaf other than the base is persistent (Figs. 18D). Bracts 4-6,

alternate and distichous like the leaves (Figs 18C & D). In some cases the bracts are keeled.

The flower is protected by a membraneous spathe which splits at its tip into

two main lobes. One or both lobes may be again divided (Figs. 18E & F). In some

collections, the tip of the spathe splits irregularly into 4-5 lobes (Fig. 18 G) . Rarely,

thc spathc does not split, but becomes dctached a1 its base and is carried off by the

elongating pedicel (Fig. 18tl). In the mature flower, the spathe is funnel-shaped,

slightly curved at its base and erect above. It is 3-7 mm long.

Flowers terminal, solitary, zygomorphic and pedicellate (Figs. 18C & D). The

pedicel is 2-16 mm long with a deciduous cortex. The elongation of the pedicel after

fertilization is a common feature. Stamens 2, monadelphous with an andropodium

(Fig. 181). The androecium is 2.5-3.5 mm long before anthesis and elongates upto

7.5 mm after the dehiscence of the anthers. Anthers 2-lobed, lobes subequal,

dorsifixed and'introrsc. Pollen occur as dyads. Tepals 2, narrow, membraneous, one

on either side of the andropodium (Fig. 181) and 1.5-3 mm long. They may be as

long as the ovary or shortcr than the ovary.

Ovary superior, elliptical, bicarpellary, syncarpous, isolobous, 1.5-3 mm long

and 0.8-1.3 mm broad. It is 6 or 8-faced (Figs. 18J & K); sometimes 6-ribbed (Fig.

18L). Ovules many, anatropous and arranged on a swollcn axile placenta (18J-L).

S t y vcry much rcduccd. Stigma bifid, 0.5-1.2 tnm long, lobcs subcqual and margin

entire. Fruits 2-valved, valves equal, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the dehiscence

ribs. The ribs are narrow. Fruit stalk 0.8-4.5 cm long. Seeds many.

The following ecotypes of Polyolcurutn stylosutn were found in my collections:

1. Collected from Teekoy, Kottayam District.

Mature thallus (Fig. 13A and Plates 6 & 7) green to pink-coloured, 15-52 cm


long, 5-1 1 mm broad, branched, free floating from an attached base. Vegetative shoots

vcry short, marginal and submarginal in position; chat~gc lo floriferous shoots. I.eavcs

usually 4, c. 2 cm long, alternate, distichous, delicate and subulate. The leaves have

sheathing bases which change to bracts i n flor~ferous shoots; the upper portion of

the leaf is dcciduous. Bracts 4, fleshy, helmet-shaped and keeled on its back. The

upper bracts are larger than the lower ones. Spathe 5-6 mm long, splits at its tip into

2 main lobes. 'The smaller lobe is further subdivided into 3-5 lobes. The spathe is

funncl-shaped after opening.

Flowers terminal, solitary, zygomorphic, and pedicellate; pcdicel 5-14 mm long,

with a dcciduous cortex. Stamens 2, 3-6.5 mm long, monadelphous with an

andropodium. Anthers bilobed, lobes subequal, introrse and dorsifixed. Pollen held

as dyads. Tepals 2,2-2.5 cnm long, one on either side of the andropodium. Ovary

superior, elliptical, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 1.75-2.5 mm long, 0.8-1 mm broad across

the middle region, isolobous with 6 faces. Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a

swollen axile placenta. Septa membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid,

lobes subequal, 0.8-1 mm long; one or both lobes may be forked. Fruit elliptical,

1.75-3 mm long, 2-valved, valves cqual, each valve 3-ribbcd, excluding thc dchisccncc

ribs. Seeds many. Fruit stalk upto 4.5 cm long.

2. Collected from upper 'I'hommenkuthu, ldukki District.

Chocolate to pink-coloured, hcrbaceous rchophyte with thin, f lat ,

dichotomously or trigonously branched thallus (Figs. 14A & B and Plate 8) attached

by hase, upto 30 cm long. 4-8 lnln broad. Vcgctativc shoots arc vcry shorl and

submarginal i n position. Most of them towards thc lower portion of the thallus will

change to floriferous shoots. Lcaves 4-6, distichous, dclicatc, subulate and dcciduous,

c. 6 mm long, leaf base sheathing, change to bract in the floriferous shoots. Bracts

4-6, helmet-shaped and kcclcd. Spathe tncmbraneous, 0.5-0.6 cni long, splits at its

tip into 4-5 lobes; funnel-shaped after opcning.


Flowers 8-10 mm long, solitary, terminal and pedicellate; pedicel 3-10 mm

long. Usually the flowers are situated at the basal 113 to 112 portion of the thallus.

Stamens 2, 2.5-3 mm long, monadelphous with an andropodium. Anthers bilobed,

lobes subequal; dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2, narrow,

membraneous, 2-2.5 mm long, one on either side of the andropodium. Ovary

elliptical, superior, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 2.7-3 mm long and c. 1 mm broad across

the middle region, isolobous and 6-faced. Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a

swollen axile placenta. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal, upto

1 mm long with an entire margin. Fruits elliptical, isolobous, many-seeded, bivalved,

each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the dehiscence ribs. The valves are equal in size.

Fruit stalk upto 1.5 cm long.

I t appears to bc I'olvpleurum stylosum var laciniata of Willis (1902 a)

3. Collected from Maneepuram, Calicut District.

Thallus (Fig. 15D) green, leaf-like, 3-7 cm long, 5-1- mm wide, free floating

from an attached base, rarely attached at other points by the additional haptera.

Vegetative shoots very short, marginal or submarginal, change to floriferous shoots.

Leaves usually 4, 0.5-3 cm long, distichous, alternate, delicate and subulate with

sheathing bases, change to bracts in the floriferous shoots. Bracts fleshy, helmet-

shaped and keeled. Spathe opens at its tip by splitting into 4-5 lobes, funnel-shaped

al'lcr opcning and 4-5 rnm long.

Floriferous shoots are irregularly scattered along the margin of the thallus.

Flowers terminal, solitary, 8-10 mm long, pedicellate; pedicel 6-7 cm long. Stamens

2, monadelphous, 3-4 mm long with an andropodium. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subequal; dorsifixed and introrse. Tepals 2, 1.5-1.9 mm long, one on either side of

the andropodium. Ovary superior, 1.75-2.5 mm long 0.8-1 mm broad across the middle

region, elliptical, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 6-faced and isolobous. Ovules many,


anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa membraneous. Style very

rnuch reduccd and stigma 1.25-2 mm long with an entire margin. Fruit 2-3 mm long,

many-seeded, 2-valved, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the dchiscence ribs and the

valves are equal. Fruit stalk upto 2.8 cm long.

It appears t o be the Polypleurum stylosum var. bourdillonii o f Willis (1902 a).

4. Collected from Nelliampathi, Palghat Dt.

Herbaceous rheophyte with thalloid plant body. Thallus (Fig. 15A) branched,

c. 3 cm long and 6 min wide. It is attached to rocks submerged in the river by the

basal haptcra. Thallus thick and leathery. Vegetative shoots very short, marginal

and alternate; most of them change to floral shoots. Bracts 4, alternate and distichous.

Spathe 5 - 6 mm long, splits at its t ip into 4-5 lobes and is funnel-shaped.

Flowers so l i ta ry , t e rmina l , ped ice l l a t e , 6-8 mm long, b isexual and

zygomorphic; pediccl 3-6 m ~ n long. Stamens 2,2.5-3.5 mm long and monadelphous

with an andropodium. Stamens shorter than the gynoecium. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2, 2-2.5 mm long,

narrow, membraneous, as long as the ovary; and one on either side of the andropodium.

Ovary slightly compressed in the bud; superior, 2-2.5 mm long 1-1.4 mm broad across

the middle region, bicarpellate, syncarpous, isolobous with many anatropous ovules

arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa are membraneous. Style very much

reduced. Stigma bifid, 1 - 1.2 mm long and subequal. Fruit is a dry dehiscent capsule,

2-2.5 lnin long, 2-valved, valves equal, each valve 3-ribbed. Fruit stalk upto 1 crn

long. Seeds many.

5. Collected from Kallar, near Munnar, ldukki 1)istrict.

Chocolate-colourcd rheophytic herbs attached to rocks in the rivers. Thallus


branched (Fig. 15B), 5-10 cm long and c. 1 cm broad (Plate 9). The th~ck , short,

stout, leathery thallus will be erect when the water level falls. Vegetative shoots

submarginal, most of them change to floriferous shoots. Leaves 4, distichous, c. 5

mm long, alternate, delicate, subulate, and deciduous. The sheathing leaf bases change

to bracts in the floriferous shoots. Bracts 4, alternate, distichous, helmet-shaped and

keeled. Spathe 5-7 mm long, membraneous, funnel shaped, splits at its tip into

4-5 lobes. I n some flowers, the spathe does not split, but becomes detached at its

base and is carried off by the elongating pedicel.

Flowers terminal, solitary, marginal, 9-10 mm long and pedicellate. Pedicel 6-

7.5 mm long. Stamens 2, monadelphous, 3.5-4 mm long, shorter than the gynoecium.

Anthers bilobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen occur as dyads.

Tepals 2, narrow, membraneous and as long as the ovary, one on either side of the

andropodium. Ovary elliptical, superior, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 2.5-3 mm long, I

mm broad across the middle region, 8-faced and isolobous. Ovules many, anatropous,

arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa very thin and membraneous. Style very

much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal and forked or unforked. Fruit is a dry

dehiscent capsule, 2-valvcd, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the dehiscence ribs; valves

equal in size. Fruit stalk upto 1.4 cm long. Seeds many.

I t is similar to that of the var. fucoides of the species Polvpleurum stvlosum of

Willis (1902 a).

6. Collected from Pulingom, Cannore District.

Submerged rheophytic hcrbs attached at their base and at several points near

the tip. Plant body thalloid, well-branched (Plate 10) and partially free floating.

Thallus c. 13 cm long and upto 1.3 cm wide (Fig. 17C). Haptera towards the tips are

3-4 mm long, prop root-like, with 2-3 branches. They are seen on the lower side of

the tips of the branches and below thc floral shoots. Vegetative shoots are very short,

marginal and alternate. The vegetative shoots towards the tip of the thallus change


to lloriferous shoots. Leavcs 4, c. 1.4 cm long alternate, distichous and delicate with

sheathing bases which change to bracts i n floriferous shoots. Spathe 4-5 mm long,

funnel-shaped, splits at its tip into 6-7 lobes.

Flowers solitary, terminal, pedicellate, bisexual and zygomorphic. The flowers

are crowded near the tip. Pedicel c. 5 mm long. Stamens 2, monadelphous, 4-5 mm

long, with an andropodium; shortcr than the gynoccium. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subcqual, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. The elongation of the pedicel

and filaments after fertilization is common. Tepals 2, narrow, membraneous, c. 2

mm long, one on either side of the andropodium. Ovary superior, elliptical, c. 3 mm

long and 1 mm broad across the middle region, bicarpellate, syncarpous and 8-faced.

The ovary is isolobous. l'hc two faces of the ovary opposite to the anthers are

furrowed. Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Style

very much reduced. Stigma 2-lobed, lobes subequal and tongue-like. Fruit is a dry

dehisccnt capsule, c. 3 mm long, 2-valved, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding the

dehiscence ribs. Fruit stalk upto 1.3 cm. long. Seeds many.

7. Collected from lower Thommenkuthu, ldukki District.

Thallus flat, pink-coloured (Plate 11 ), profusely branched (Fig. 16A and Plates

12, 13 & 14), attached at its basc and other points, usually 4-9 cm long, rarely up to

17 cm long, 0.4-2 cm wide. Vegetative shoots are very short, marginal as well as

dorsal i n position; most of them change to floriferous shoots which are crowded

towards llic lips orlhc branches. l.cavcs usually 4, 5-12 niln long, distichous, subulntc,

delicate and the tips are deciduous. The sheathing bases of the leaves change to

bracts in Lhc floriferous shoots. I3rncts 4, l'lcshy w ~ t h a pcrsistent portion ofthc leaf.

Spathe funnel-shaped, slightly curved, 6-8 mm long, membraneous, splits at its tip

into two main lobes which may be further subdivided into smaller lobes. In some

flowers, the spathe does not split but becomes dctached at its base and is carried off

by the clongaling pcdiccl

Plowers 6-10 mm long, terminal, solitary and pedicellate; pedicel 3-8 mm long.


Stamens 2, monadelphous, 2.5-5 mm long with an andropodium. Anthers bilobed,

lobes subequal, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2, c. 2 mm

long, one on either side of the andropodium. Ovary elliptical, superior, bicarpellate,

syncarpous, 2 mm long and 1 mm broad across the middle region, isolobous, 6-faced

with very narrow po~nted rib-like projections in between the adjacent stamens. Ovules

many, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Style very much reduced,

stigma bifid, lobcs subcqual and 1-1.2 mln long.

Fruit elliptical, c. 2.3 mm long, many-secded; 2-valved, valves equal, each

valve 3-ribbed, excluding the dehiscence ribs. Fruit stalk upto 2.5 cm long.

It is similar to that of the species Polvpleurum wallichii (K. Br. ex. Griff.)

Warm.

8. Collected from Mukkadavu, Pathanamthitta Dt.

Submerged rheophytic herbs with branched ribbon like thalli, c. 9 cm long and

c. 8 mm broad, attached to rocks by the lower surrace (Figs. 17A & B). Vegetative

shoots arc very short, alternate on the upper surface along the margin of the thallus;

they change to floriferous shoots. Leaves 3-5, delicate, subulate, upto 1.2 cm long,

alternate and distichous with deciduous tips. Leaf base sheathing and changes to

bract in floriferous shoot. Bract 3-5, helmet-shaped and keeled, spathe 3-6 mm

long, splits at its tip into 4-5 lobes and is funnel-shaped after splitting.

Flowers terminal, 6-9 mm long, solitary, zygolnorphic and pcdiccllatc; pcdiccl

3-7 mm long. Starncns 2, 4-6 mm long and monadelphous with a fleshy flat

andropodium. Anthers hilobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixcd and introrse. Pollen hcld

as dyads. 'repals 2, 1.75-2 mm long, one on eithcr side of the andropodium. Ovary

elliptical, superior, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 1.75-2 mm long, and 1-1.2 mm broad

across the middle region, isolobous and 6-ribbed. Septa membraneous. Style very


much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal and 1-1.2 mm long. Fruit elliptical, c 2

inln long, many-sceded, bivalved and valves equal i n size; each valve 3-ribbed,

excluding the dehiscence ribs. Fruit stalk upto 1.5 cm long.

9. Collected f rom Perunthenaruvi, Pathanamthit ta District.

Thallus ( Fig. 15 C) branched, upto 7 cm, long 7.5 mm

the surface of the rock and firmly attached to it by hapte

surfacc of the thallus. Vegctative shoots arc very short, margi

4, ilelicatc, subulate, 4-6 mm long, alternate, distichous wit

upper part of the leaf is deciduous and the sheathing base changes to a bract which is

helmet-shaped and kccled at its back. Bracts 4, spathe 5-6 mm long, splits at its tip

into 4-5 lobcs and is funnel shaped

Plowers terminal, 5-7 mm long, solitary, zygomorphic and pedicellate; pedicel

usually 2-4 mm long, rarely less than 2 mm long. Stamens 2, 3-4 mln long,

monadelphous with an andropodium. Anthers bilobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed

and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. 'I'epals 2, narrow membraneous and one on either

side of the andropodium. The tepals are as long as or slightly longer than the ovary.

Ovary elliptical, superior, bicarpellate, syncarpous, 1.5-2 mm long and 0.8-1 mm

broad across the middle region, isolobous and 6-faced. Ovules many, anatropous,

arranged on a swollen axile placenta; septa membraneous. Style very much reduced;

stigma bifid, and lobes subequal. Fruit elliptical, c. 2 mm long and 1 mm broad

across the middle region, many-seeded; valves equal, each valve 3-ribbed. Fruit stalk

upto 8 mm long.

This ecolype resembles the species Polypleurum minor (wedd.) Nag. el ul i n

its characters.

10. Collected f rom Icrattayar, ldukk i District.


Submerged licrbaccous rhcopliytc with branched thallus (Figs. 14C 8r I))

growing over the rocks as rosctte, like Cyathodium. It is creeping over the rocks and

is attached to it at the lower surface o f the thallus by haptera. Uaptera are situated

on the thallus below the region of the vascular strands. Thallus is about 3-6 cm long,

c. 8 mrn broad and inany-branched. Vegetative shoots have not been seen in the

collection. 1710ral s l~oots are alternate and marginal. [Jracts 4, alternate and distichous.

Spatlle 4-5 nim long, splits at its tip into two main lobes and each lobe may be again

divided. It is funnel-shaped after opening

r:lowcrs 6-8 ltiin long, solitary, terminal, pcdiccllatc, bisexual and xygomorphic,

pcd~cel 3-5 rnln long. Staincns 2, monadelplious, c. 3 rnln long with an andropodiurn.

It is almost as long as the ovary. Anthers bilobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed and

introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2, narrow membraneous, one on either side of

the andropodium. They are c. 1.7 mm long. Ovary superior, elliptical, c. 2 mm long,

c. 1.3 mm broad across the middle region, bicarpcllate, syncarpous, isolobous and 8-

faced. Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Style very

much rcduced. Stigma 0.5-0.8 mm long, bifid and lobes are subequal. Fruit c. 2 mm

long, 2-valved, each valve 3-ribbed, excluding thc dehiscencc ribs. The valves are

equal i n size. Fruit stalk upto 9 mm long. Seeds many.

A coinparitive study of the above 10 ccotypes is given in 7'able 9

I)istribution : India, Sri Lat~ka and Al'rica. 'l'hc details of distribution of this

species in Kerala arc given in Table 10.


Table 9 A Comparative study of the d~fferent ecotypes of

POLYPLEURUM STYLOSUM (Wt. ) Hall collected from Kerala

Table 9 Continued .....

P l a c e and C o l l r e l l o n No.

'reckoy, Kolln)um 111. LlCC Nc,. 0OCJ4

l'hommcnkathu.

(upper) ldukki 111.

IJCC No. 0109

Mrnnccpurun~. Callcall 111

l lCC No. 0127

Nclllarnpolhi. Pslghat T)I

l lCC No. 0177

Kullar. Ncnr Mun~nor. Idukki 111. IICC No. 0138

P c d i c r l

0.5-1.4 r m long

3-8 mm

lung

8-7 mm long

3-6 man

long

6-7 mmn lung

F l o w e r

o . H . I . ? ~ ~

lanp. i~rcgt#larly

dislributcd

alonp the

margin o l lho

lhallus

R - I l l mm

lung. lloral shmls tc~\vunlr ths h v ~ l ,x>rlion of lhc l h a l l u ~

X-I0 nnn l o ~ g .

irrcgalarl) dial&huced

dong thc magin

olthc

tl~allus

AR mm

long. along tho margin o f l h ~ . l l ~ ~ t 1 1 ~ ~ ~

0-111 mm

long. scnltered irrcgalurly

ulung lhc margin ofthe

lhullur

Thallur

Cficcn to pink-

coloarcd. 15-51 cm long. 5-1 I mm brmd.

ulloshsd at baro

and free Omring

Chosslolc lo nlivc grscu ioloamd. up to 311 cm long. 4-8 ntm bmmd.

nltnchcd by thc haw. dicholumou~ly ot

aip<muasly bronched

l i rccn-c~~l~~urcd. 3-7 cnn long. 5-10 mm wido.

frcc floating l iom nn ottncbcd baa. rarely otlachcd a1 othm roinls by prop nx,l-

like hnplcrn

Olivc grcon-

cdoured. c 3 en, Ik3ng. 6 mm wide. attiwl!r.d nl its how. Isillhcry

Clnaoluls-cc~loarrd.

5-10 cm lung. c. I cm

uida. nnnched I. nrcky unly 811 its

bna. Icolhcni. erccl al lcn lhe waler level

fills

S t a m e n

3 -61 mm lcmp

2.5-3 mm long

3-4 mnb

bn8

25.35 mm

long

3 .54 nlm

long

T e p a l

2-23 mm

l h ? " ~ ~

2-2.5 mm

b n g

I 5-1.9 mm long

2-2.5 mm long

2 .53 mm long

S p a t h e

5-6 nlm

I t i at ia l ip intr,

2 main l o k r :

rmnllcr lobc

furihcr sub dividsd inlo

3 I

5-6 m r long.

rp l ik ut ilr 1i1, inlo4-5

Inbc~. lirnnel-

~hnped nllcr upmmg

11-5 i r ~ t u I<mg

rplilr nl ilr l ip mlo 4-5

hkr. lunnol-

rhupcd ollsr

opening

5-6 mm

lun?. splits at ilr l ip i7>11~4-5 1 k . l ~ ~ .

l\,!nw(.l

allibpal r l lcr

~p l i t l i ng

5-7 rnmn 1k.g.

sphlr at i l r tip info4-5

Ih,her, fienncl

-shnpd: ranly d-r

not splil nnd i r c:lrriul o l l I.) 1,ml,cc1

Ovary

1.75-25mm

Ihnp. 0.RI mm

brwd o~rcltr

lhe middlu. (,-locod

2.7-3 mm

long. 09.1 1 mm

brmd "cross the middle.

6 - l a d

1 7-2.5 mm

lhn$

OR,l mm

S l l g m a

ni6d.

11 8-1 mnq i w g

l o b s rub cqanl. one or kvlh thc lclhr mny hc

Ibrlcd

lli6d.

o 5-08 mn

long. Ink* st~htq~1~1. unfirkcd

llilid. 1.25-2 mm

long.

Frull Stmlk

l i p ~ o

3 sm lung

Up lo 1.5 cm long

I Ip lo

2 8 cm

long

I l p k, I cm

long

I l p I I I

1 4 cnn

long

"" acnss* 21ud,l. thc

middlo.

6-iocsd

2-2.5 mm

Ionr. 1 - 1 J mm

hrnnd IILn)vv

I ~ o ~ ~ I ~ I c . ~,-li,ccd. clm$ptcsscd

m bud

2.5-3 m a

loll? c. I mm hruod

0cms.i

tho middle. bthscd

unlbrkcd

llidd. 1-1.2 mm

long. l o k ~

r80hrq~~~ I . ttotl~r~kcd

llilid.

1-1 2 mnt

long. lobs

suhcquul. ft,rkcd nr

llnlbrkcd


P l c e and C o l l e c t i n n No.

hl ingom. Cannnro Dl. l lCC No. 0171

lhommenkulhv Ilolrsr) Idakki I)!. ltCC Na, 11104

Makkadnvu. Near Punalur I 'ul l ! :~~~~on~ll~i l lo 1)1 l lCC No 117

I'en~nthcnnrttri. Ncnr Kt!d:,!nnnmlli l ~ ~ t l t ~ ~ o ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l ~ ~ o ! ~ t l ) t

IJCC No I1122

l:.rattayar. Nc:u KIIIIIII,POI~:~. ldllkki 1)l. l lCC No. 0181

Tha l l u r i

t i i u ~ - ~ r e c n to pink- calourd. 10-13 cm long. 1-13 c m wide. n t u c h d ul hv: onJ scrcrnl poiv~tr ncur

thc tip hy pmp root- l i i c hsplcra

C b ~ ~ o l n t ~ . c o l ~ ~ a d . 4-9cw Innp. mmly 11pto 17 cm lcme. 11.1.2 rm hrculd. pr<+ lirscly h~no~cl~cd ncnr lho tip. illlachsd at

lunrc tmd IVIIIE~ plintr 1,) l p t c ) l ? nx't-lnko lloploru

Choct~luto to oltvc- preen-cohard. 8-11 can lhllp. H~'J qnm n i d c nltimrhcd 1,) nlclr hy lhc lclucr surhsc hu the haplora along rn~ddlc limo e l lhs thullur and undsr the shrxlls

I'ank-cnlourd. 5-7 r m Il,lrp. 7-X n~tn aide. crccp~op C>,C~ !hc

nrln. Brml\ uvatihd k, it h? Ihc hoploru ou !he lawcr rurfasc. along tho lmidlllc linc and undcr lllc .11,">1

I ipht grccn-coloared. 1-6 cnl limp. 7-8 m r sridc. erot>ir>r w c r thc n,cks a* n,sctlc- I C h u m . nttacL~d at lower r # # r l b s ~ I,y huplcra

S p a t h e

4-5 tn~m long. splits st its tip into (1-7 bkr B~nncl- r h n p d sflcr opening

(v-8 lnnn Ihng rphtr at its lip i l l l r r 2 muin Ik3bss. e.ch may be r~l l l l ier s~~lxlividc<+.

!aral) cunicd 011' hv the ~"doccl

1-6 mm imp, nplit.; "I its !i(l i81lo 4-5 tk>lcr. limnncl -shop4 aRm

opvnne

5-6 nun 14xtg. ~ p 1 1 1 ~ ill i t r

t i i t I labs. lilnnrl-rhupcd rllcr opcnng

4-5 mnl long. split.; at its t i p into2 sulni,~ Iuh~s. coch Iobc rnm hc upsin divided. Ivlllbsl-rl~ilpucl

Trpr l

1.8-2 mm long

1.8-2 mm long

1.7-2 mm lonp

1 5-2.2 mm Ih?~g

1.61.8 mm long

S t i g m a

llilid. 1 - 1 3mm

Ibng l u k s vakc l~~u l

Ilifid. 1.1-1 5 nlrn lotl& ll,hr ~ulrqu.1

llilid. 1-1 2mm

Ihrng. lobes ~uk r1~1n l

llilid. I)X-1.2 "lll hng. h,Des subcqu~l

llilid. 0 5-11 R onant

Inng. b k u rubequal

Ovary

2.5.3 mm long. I nlm h r d ~1cruli.i

middle. R-l'acsd. lurn,ral op,">sib to anthcr

I '1-2.2 rnnl

lhrne 1 mnl hnlud a ~ ~ m n s .

6 .Ibccd

1.7-2 mm Ivnp. 1 - 1 2 n ~ a , h~tmatd

DIC~OIS

tho middlc. 6- r ihkd

1.5-2 mm lhme I1 8-1 rnnn

hnud scmss

the middle. 6-laccd

2.5-3 mm l o n ~ I 1 - 1 3 mm hrwd ucrnts tho 111ic1db. 8-ti~ssd

Fruit

S t a l k

l l p to 1.3 cm lone

l i p to 2.5 cm Ibng

I l p to 1 5 c m lh,ne

I l p 10

R 1,1111

long

t lp to 0 nnnv Ihmg

S t a m e n

4-5 mm long

2 5-5 mm b n g

4-6 mrn long

3-4 mm

2 5.3 mm Ihmg

Flower

9-11 mln

long. crurdcd war lhc tip. along ihc marpin ~ l ' t he thnllur

6-10 m n ~ lirsg. r,%!t>dcd oleur thc tip. nlong lllc sub- nlnreinlll

p'%il#ot~

0-9 nlnn kmg dixt"huled <rn tllc ~ahnlargin- nl posit. ihn o l ' l h ~ lhallur

5-7 mm Ll#tp, I 1 soncrcd. nnurpinn~l

or rahmnr- pion1 in psilioon

6-8 mm lcvnp. rn,8ruino1 Or s u b morpinul. tbrnaghtrat tlle ~l lal lur

P e d i c e l

5-6 mm

long

3-8 mm lung

3-7 mm long

2-4 mm lhnp. nlrcl" l r r r than 2 null long

3-5 mm long



POLYPLEIIHIJM STYLOSUM (Wight) Hall from Kerala

Table 10 to be continued

Localiiy and District

Canoli,

Malappuratn Dt.

Nellia~npalhi, I'alghat Dt.

Karappara, Palghat Dt.

'I'hommenkuthu,

ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Dalc

PM 32358

lJCC No. 0002

28-12-1990

UCC No. 0177 30-12-1 992

UCC No. 0003 UCC No. 0006

UCC No. 0007 IlCC No. 0009 UCC No. 0010

08-12-1990

UCC No. 001 3 UCC No. 0014 25-12 1990

UCC No. 0061 30-05-199 1

UCC No. 0104 UCC No. 0 105 UCC No. 0108 lJCC No. 0 109 05-12-1991

UCC No. 01 84

UCC No. 01 86 UCC No. 01 89 16-01-1993

River

Nilambur,

Chaliyar

Karappara river

Karappara river

Moovatupuzha

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Collcdcd by

Philip Mathew

C. I' Thara

V. K. Satheesh

G. V. l'hampi

G. V. Thampi

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


Table 10 to be continued


Kallar, Near Munnar

Idukki Dt.

-do-

Valara,

ldukki Dt

-do-

Irumbupalam,

ldukki Dt.

Erattayar,

ldukki Dt.

Teekoy,

Kottayam Dt.

-do-

-do-

Mukkadavu,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

Mukkadavu.

Pathanamthitta Dt.

River

Periyar

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Meenachilar

-do-

-do-

Kalladayar

Kalladayar

Field No. and Dale

UCC No. 0032

13-01-1991

UCC No. 0138

11-01-1992

UCC No. 0052

23-05-1991

UCC No. 0198

24-0 1 - 1993

UCC No. 0054

23-05-1991

UCCNo. 0181

12-10-1993

lJCC No. 00 18

28-12-1990

UCC No. 0092

UCC No. 0094

UCC No. 0095

UCC No. 0096

UCC No. 001 7

05-12-1991

UCC No. 0 1 79

03-01 -1 993

UCC No. 0043

UCC No. 0044

27-01-1991

UCC No. 0144

UCC No. 01 17

13-12-1.991

Collected by

Rarnani P. .I.

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

C. J. Mathew

C. J . Mathew &

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

C. J . Mathew

V. K. Satheesh


Locality and Dislrict

Perunthenaruvi,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

-do-

Thurai,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

Pooyamkutti,

ldukki Dt.

Koratty,

near Erumeli

Kottayam Dt.

Chiklai,

Trichur Dt.

Parambikulam,

Trichur Dt.

Maneepuram,

Calicut Dt.

Pulingom,

Cannore Dt.

Kakkadavu,

Cannore Dtl

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

River

Pamba,

-do-

Achencoilar

Yeriyar,

Manimalayar

Chalakkudipuzha

Krappara river

Chaliyar,

Kariangodepuzha

Kariangodepuzha

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0122

14-12-1991

UCC No. 0208

05-02-1 993

UCC No. 0205

05-02- 1993

UCC No. 0230

UCC No. 023 1

UCC No. 0232

03-01-1994

UCC No. 0221

31-12-1993

UCC No. 0036

UCC No. 0037

06-01 -1 99 1

UCC No. 0237

04-01-1996

UCC No. 0127

23- 12-1 99 1

UCC No. 0169

UCC No. 0171

24-12-1992

UCC No. 0162

22-12-1992


F I G U R E 13

P o l ~ ~ l e u r u r n stylosum (Wight) l l a l l

A. A thallus with floriferous shoots

(Collected from Teekoy)


FIGURE 14

Polvpleurum stvlosum (Wight) Hall

A, B & C. Thallus showing polymorphism.

D. Lower view of the thallus showing haptera (h )

A & £5. Collected from Thornrnenkuthu - upper

C. Collected from Erattayar


FIGURE 15

Polyl)leurum stylosum (Wight) Hall

A - D. Thallus showing polymorphism.

A. Collected from Nelliampathi.

B. Collected from Kallar (near Munnar).

C. Collcctcd I'rorn Pcrunthcnaruvi.

D. Collected from Maneepuram.


FIGURE 16

P o l y ~ l e u r u m stylosum (Wight) Hall

A. Thallus showing profused branching.

Collected from Thommenkuthu - lower


P o l y ~ l e u r u m stylosum (Wight) Hall

A bG C. 'l'hallus showing polymorphis~ii

B. Lowcr surface of the thallus showing flat haptera (fh)

U. A portion of thallus showing prop root-like haptcron (prh) on the lower side.

A. Collected from Mukkadavu.

C. Collected from Pulingom.


FIGURE 18

Polypleurum s t y l o s t ~ m (Wight) Hall

A. An outer leaf with sheathing base

U. An inner leas with sheathing base

C - D. Floriferous shoots showing bracts (br); spathe(sp); ovary (0); tepal (t); stigma (st).

E - G. Spathes. Note the variation in the number of lobes

11. A flower in which the spathe does not open.

I. An androccium showing tepal (t); andropodium (and);

filament (f) and anther (a).

J. C. S. of 6-faced ovary : ovule (ov); placenta (pl)

and septum (s).

K. C. S. of 8-faced ovary.

I,. C. S, of 6-ribbcd ovary. Note the rib (r).


PLATE 6

P o l ~ ~ l e u r u m stylosum (Wight) Hall

Collected from Teekoy (Ecotype No. 1)

Photograph of herbarium specimen.


PLATE 6


I'LA'I'E 7

Polvpleurum stylosum (Wight) Hall

1,ocation : Teekoy (Ecotype No. 1 )

Photograph showing dry plants with fruits on exposed rocks.

Note the thalli bcaring flowers near the water.


PLATE 7


PLATE 8

Polvnleurum stylusurn (Wight) Hall

Collected from Thommenkuthu. (Ecotype No. 2) (Photograph of herbarium specimen)

Note the dichotomous and trigonous branching of the thalli and possition of the floriferous shoots.


PLATE 9

Polvpleurum stvlosum (Wight) Hall

Collected from Kallar, near Munnar (Ecotype No. 5)

Photograph of thalli with flowers and fruits.


PLATE 10

1'olv~)lcurum ~tylosum (Wight) llall

Collected from Pulingom. (Ecotype No. 6)

Photograph of thalli showing branching.


I ,' \ r , l ; l

-

PLATE 10


PLA'I'E 1 1

Pol~pleururn stvlosum (Wight) Hall

Collected from Thommenkuthu. (Ecotype No. 7)

Note the pink colour and branching of the thalli.


PLATE 11


PLATE 12

Polvpleurum stylosum (Wight) Hall

Collected from Thommenkuthu. (Ecotype No. 7)

Note the profusely branched thalli and possition of the floriferous shoots.


PLATE 12


PLATE 13

Polvl~leurum stylosum (Wight) Hall

Collected from Tho~n~nenkuthu (Bcolype No. 7)


It-

, -

PLATE 13


PLATE 14

Polypleurum stylosum (Wight) Iiall

Location : Thommenkuthu (Ecotype No. 7)

Photograph of thc plants attached to boulders


PLATE 24-


138

IV 8. WILLISIA S E L A G I N O I D E S (Bedd.) W a r m . Will is

Willisia selaginoides (Bedd.) Warm. Willis in Ann. R. Rot. Card. Peradeniya l(3):

235, 1902 & l(4): 370, 1902; Engler, Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. I S a:

51, 1930.

Willisia selaginoides (Bedd.) Warm. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Sk., ser. 6, nat.

l l (1) : 58, 1901; Cusset, Bull. Mus. natl. Hist. nat, Paris, 4's&r., 14, sect. B,

Adansonia, no 1 : 26, 1992.

Mnionsis selaginoidcs Bedd. in Madr. J . Sc. Ser. 3, 11: 105, 1849

Podostemon selaginuides (Bedd.) Benth. in Benth & Nook., Gen. PI. 3: 113,

1880; Hooker, F. B. I. 5: 68, 1886.

W I L L l S l A S E L A G I N O I D E S (Bedd.) W a r m . ex Willis

Rheophytic herbs with small crustaceous, irregularly lobed, olive green or

chocolate-coloured thallus. Thallus closely attached to rocks by haptera. Vegetative

shoots crect (Fig. 19A) and I'late 15A), 4-7 crn long, crowded on the thallus. Leaves

scaly (Figs. 19B & C), opposite, decussate and closely arranged in 4 rows.

The vegetative shoots with the leaves are quadrangular and narrow towards

the base and broad towards the tip. This is due to the fact that the lower leaves are

smaller than the upper ones. ].eaves are 3.5-5 ~ n ~ n long with an apical notch

(Pig. 19U & C).

[:lower buds arc crlcloscd in a ~ne~nhrancous spathe which is 6-8 mm long with

an apical notch (Fig. 191)). The flower cmergcs out of the spathc by a circular break


ncar its tip. After opening, the spathe is funncl- shaped. When the tip of the spathe

is broken off, the edge left has an irregular outline (Fig. 19E). Flowers 5-7 mm long

before anthesis (Fig. 191;) and elongate up to 9 mm after anthesis.

Flowers are terminal and pedicellate; pedicel 1 - 2 m m long. Stamens 2,

monadelphous with an andropodium (Fig. 19G). The total length of the stamens

varies from 5-6 mm before anthesis. Anthers bilobed, dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen

held as dyads. Tepals 2, one on either side of the andropodium, 5-6 mm long, narrow,

membraneous and exceed the length of the ovary.

Ovary superior, 3 x 2 tnln i n size, bicarpellary, syncarpous and anisolobous.

The Inid portion of the suturc of carpels i s slightly swollen and broad (Fig. 19t-l).

Ovules many, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Fig. 191). Septa

membraneous. Style very much reduced. Stigma bifid, lobes subequal c. 2 mm

long. Fruits (Plate 15B) bivalved, each valve I-ribbed (Fig. 19J), excluding the

dehiscence ribs and valves subequal. The mid portion of the dehiscence rib is slightly

broad and swollen and is very clear in the fruits.

Distribution: India (Kcrala and 'l'amil Nadu). The details of distribution i n

Kerala are given in Table 11.


'lhble 1 I Dctails regarding collection of

WILLISIA SELAGINOIDES (Bedd.) Warm. g Willis from Kerala


Parambikulam,

Trichur Dt.

Parambi kularn,

Trichur Dt.

-do-

Pooyamkutti,

ldukki Dt.

Ponnambalamedu,

Quilon Dt.

River

Karappara river

Submerg~ble arca

Karappara river

Pcriyar

Pamba

Field No. -

and Date

6971 1 (MH)

21-12-1980

63

10-12-1973

UCC No. 0238

04-0 1 - 1996

UCC No. 0234

03-0 1 - 1994

Collected by

N. C. Nair

C. R. Nagendran

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

C. N. Mohananan


FIGURE 19 -

Willisia selapinoides (Bedd.) Warm. ex Willis

A. Thallus with hapteron (h) and floriferous shoots (fs)

U. Side view of a single leaf. Note the apical notch (n).

C. Upper view of a leaf. Note the apical notch (n).

D. A spathe with a distal notch (n).

E. A spathe after opening.

F. A flowcr showing pedicel (pcd) ; ovary (0) ; andropodium (and);

filament (f); anther (a) and tepal (t).

G. An androecium showing andropodium (and); filament (F) and anther (a).

H. An ovary (0). Note the swollen area (sa) in the middle of the suture.

I. C. S. or ovary showing placenta (pl); ovule (ov) and septum (s).

J. A fruit (fr). Note the rib (r).


PLA'rE 15

Willisia selaginoides (Bedd.) Warm. ex Willis

A . A tuft o f vegetative shoots.

B. A tuft o f shoots bearing fruits.

Collected from Pooyamkutti


PLATE 15


Z e v l a n i d i u m (Tul). E n g l e r in : Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed- 2 , 18a: 61, 1928

l l v d r o b r y u m s e c t i o n : Z e v l a n i d i u m Tul., A r c h . M u s . P a r i s 6: 139, 1852.

Green to olive green, submerged, herbaceous rheophytes, closely attached to

the rocks of the fresh water mountain streams by their lower surface. Thallus, closely

attached to rocks by haptera and rhizoids.

The crustaceous thallus is lichen-like and the vegetative shoots are seen on the

upper surface. The margin of the thallus is often lobed. In the ribbon like forms, the

branches are alternate and the vegetative shoots are seen along the margin in the

axils of the branches. The vegetative shoots often change to floriferous shoots. In

Z. olivaceum, two kinds of shoots are present. -

Leaves 4-6, rarcly upto 12, 4-14 mm long, alternate, distichous, delicate and

subulalc, each with a sheathing base w h ~ c h changes to a scaly bract in the floriferous

shoot. The delicate, subulate portion of the leaf is usually deciduous. The upper

bracts arc largcr than thc lowcroncs. The bracts arc alternate and distichous like the

leaves.

Spathe boat-shaped or nearly boat-shaped, usually prostrate, opening by a

longitudinal slit on thc uppcr sidc, occasionally. 1-4 small lobcs arc sccn at thc base

of the split region. Flowers terminal, solitary and pedicellate. Pedicel 1-6 mm long

with a deciduous cortex. Stamens usually 2, sometimes up to 4 ,2-3 mm long before

anthesis; monadclphous with a fleshy flat andropodium. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subequal, dorsifixcd, introrse and split longitudinally. Pollen held a s dyads. Tepals


2, narrow, membraneous, one on either side of the andropodium, half, three-fourth

or as long as the ovary.

Ovary superior, elliptical to obovoid, 1-2 mm long and 0.75-1.25 rnm broad in . the middle region, bicarpellary, syncarpous, anisolobous and smooth. Ovules many,

anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta. Septa membraneous. Style very

much reduced. Stigma bifid, 0.5-0.75 mm long, sometimes multilobed with a diameter

of 1.25-1.5 mm. The margin of the stigma may be entire or serrate.

Fruit nearly elliptical to obovoid, 1-2 mm long 1- 1.5 rnm broad, dehisces

longitudinally, bivalved, valves subequal, larger valve persistent and each valve 3-

ribbed. Fruit stalk 1-8 mm long. Seeds many.

Key to the species:

l a . Vegetative shoots at the angles of the branchesa long the margin of the

thallus ............................................................................ 1 Z. lichenoides

lb. Vegetative shoots scattered over the upper surface of the thallus ................

2a. Shoots of two kinds, sterile shoot erect with a tuft of 20 - 37 leaves,

fertile shoots prostrate with 4-6 leaves .......................... 2. Z. olivaceum

2b. Shoots of one kind; fertile, prostrate with 4-6 leaves .........................

3a. Stamens 2.7-3.2 mm long, gynophore present, stigma multilobed ........ . .

............................................................................ 3. &. maheshwar~~

3b. Stamens 4-8 mm long, gynophore absent, stigma bilobed ............... . .

................................................................................ 4. z. john son^^*

- -ccrnurrutrt Lne W W K S 01 previous authors


147

I V 9a. ZEYLANIDIUILI I , I C I I E N O I D E S (Kurz ) Engl.

Z e ~ l a n i d i u r n lichenoides (Kurz.) Engl., in Engl. & Pranil Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2,

18 a: 61, 1928; Subramanyam, Aquat. Angiosperms, 49, 1962;

l l ~ d r o b r y u r n lichenoides Kurz, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 42 (2): 103, 1873; Willis,

Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, l(3): 242, 1902, Cooke, FI. Pres. Bombay,

2(1): 522, 1906; Gamblc, FI. I'rcs. Madras, 2: 1 199, ' 1 925.

Podosternunr m i c r o c a r p u ~ n Wedd., in DC., Prodr. 17: 76, 1873.

Small, green or pink-coloured (Plate 16), herbaceous, rheophytic herbs, closely

attached to the rocks (Plate 17), of the fresh water mountain streams by haptera present

on the lower surface (Fig. 20C). Thallus branched, ribbon-like and creeping over the

surface of the rocks (Figs. 20A & B). The branches are alternate and the vegetative

shoots are seen in the axils of the branches (Fig. 20B), along the margin. Most of the

vegetative shoots change to floriferous shoots.

Leaves usually 4-6, rarely 8-12, upto 10 mm long (Fig. 20D), alternate,

distichous, delicate and subulate, each with a sheathing base which changes to a

helmet- shaped scaly bract in the flower. The delicate, subulate portion of the leaf is

deciduous. Bracts 4-5 (Figs. 20E & F), rarely 8-12, alternate and distjcbous Jjke the

\caves. The upper bracis are larger than the lower ones.

The spathe encloses the flower bud. It is membraneous, splits along the upper

side and is boat- shaped (Fig. 21A). The base of the split region may possess one to

many lobes (Fig. 21C & D). Flowers terminal, solitary, 3-6 mm long and pedicellate

(Fig. 20E & F). Pedicel 1-4 mm long before anthesis, with a deciduous cortex.

Stamens usually 2 (Fig. 21E), rarely 3 (Fig. 21F), or 4 (Fig. 21G & H), 2-3 mrn long


(before anthesis), rnonadclphous with an andropodium. Anthers bilobed, lobes

subequal, dorsif ixed and introrse. Pollen held a s dyads. Tepals 2, narrow,

membraneous, one on cither side of the andropodium. The position of the tepals on

the sides of the andropodium varies. The tepals may be opposite to each other . (Fig. 21E), or one tepal may be at a higher level than the other one (Fig. 21F-H).

l'hey may be as long as the ovary or shorter than the ovary before anthesis. An

elongation of the tepals after anthesis is frequently observed.

Ovary superior, 0.8-1 mm x 1-1.2 mm in size, bicarpellary, syncarpous,

anisolobous, smooth and obovoid. Ovules many, anatropous and arranged on a swollen

axilc placcnta (Fig. 21 13). Septa membrancous. Style very much reduced. Stigma

bifid, lobes subcqual with an entire (Fig. 20E & F) margin.

Fruit obovoid, dry dehiscent capsules. They are bivalved, valves subequal

and larger valve persistent. Each valve is broadly 3-ribbed, excluding the dehiscence

ribs. Fruit stalk upto 8 mm long.

Distribution : India and Sri Lanka. For details of distribution in Kerala, see

Table 12.


'lable 12 Details regarding collection of

ZEYLANLDIUM LICHENOIDES (Kurz) Engl. from Kerala.

Table 12 Continued


Munnar

ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do--

-do-

-do- -

River

Periyar

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field N< and Date

48

26-12-1992

UCC No. 0033

06-01-1991

UCC No. 0056

23-05-1999 1

UCC No. 0076

UCC No. 0078

UCC No. 0079

UCC No 0080

12-10-1991

lJCC No. 0135

UCC No. 0 137

10-01-1992

UCC No. 0191

UCC No. 0 I3

23-0 1 - 1993

UCC No. 0224

UCC No. 0225

UCC No. 0227

02-0 1 - 1994

Collected by

C. R. Nagendran

P. I. Vaghese

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


Table 12 Continued


Kallar, near Munnar, ldukki Dt.

-do-

Valara, ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

Valara, Idukki Dt.

-do-

lrumbuplalam

-do-

Thommenkuthu Idukki Dt.

-do-

River

Kallar (Periyar)

-do-

Periyar

-do-

-do-

Periyar

-do-

-do-

-do-

Moovattupuzha

-do-

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0 139

11-01-1992

UCC No. 0 196 23-01-1993

UCC No. 0057 23-05-1 991

UCC No. 0083 13-10-1991

UCC No. 0143 11-01-1992

UCC No. 0197 UCC No. 0 199 24-0 1-1 993

UCC NO. 0224 UCC No. 0225 UCC No. 0227 02-01 -1 994

UCC No. 0053 23-05- 199 1

UCC No. 0081 13-10-1991

UCC No. 0015 28-12-1990

UCC No. 0062 30-05-1 991

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

Dr. G. V Thampi

V K. Satheesh


Table 12 Continued..

-

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

C. J. Mathew

C.J.Mathew& V. K.Satheesh

P. I. Varghese

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


Thommenkuthu ldukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

Teekoy, Kottayam Dt.

-do-

Charpa, Trichur Dt.

Chiklai, Trichur Dt.

Vettilapaara, Trichur Dt.

Athirappalli, 'l'richur Dt.

Kathiketappanchal, Trichur Dt.

Kuthiran, Trichur Dt.

River

Moovattupuzha

-do-

-do-

Meenachilar

-do-

Chalakkudipuzha

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Field No. and Date

UCCNo. 0112 UCC No. 01 13 05-12-1991

UCC No. 01 83 16-01-1993

UCC No. 021 9 09-10-1993

UCC No. 0020 28-12-1990

UCC No 0098 UCC No. 0 I00 UCCNo.0101 05-12-1991

UCC No. 0034 06-01-1991

UCC No. 0034 01-06-1991

UCC No. 0067 01-06-1991

UCC No. 0088 UCC No. 0090

16-1 1-1991

UCC No. 01 59 18-11-1992

UCC No. 158 07-11-1992


Table 12 Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Mu kkadavu

Pathanamthitta Dt.

-do-

-do-

Athikkayam,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

Thurai,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

Kayam,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

Perunthenaruvi,

Pathanamthitta Dt.

-do-

Kanamala

Kottayam Dt.

-do-

River

Kal ladayar

-do-

-do-

Pamba

Achencoilar

-do-

Pamba

-do-

Pamba

Azhutha

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0042

27-01-1991 - lJCC No. 0 l 15

UCCNo. 0119

13-12-1991

UCC No. 0201

04-02-1 993

UCC No. 0 120

14-12-1991

UCC No. 0204

05-02- 1993

UCC No. 0205

05-02-1993

UCC No. 0121

UCC No. 0 1 23

14-121991

UCC No. 0209

05-02- 1993

UCC No. 0151

04-02-1992

UCC No. 02 15

07-02-1993

Collected by

C. J . Mathew

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh



Kallar, Trivandrurn Dt.

-do-

Pooyamkutti

Ernakulam Dt.

Anakkampoyil, Calicut Dt.

Pathamkayam, Calicut Dt.

Nelliampathi,

Palghat Dt.

Tholpetty, Wayanad Dt.

Pararnbikkulam, Palghat Dt.

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 0144 23-01-1992 - UCC No. 0 156

29-02-1992

UCC No. 0233

03-01-1994

UCC No. 0128 UCC No. 0129 24-12-1991

UCC No. 0 130 24-12-1991

UCC No. 0174

UCC No. 0175

30-12-1993

UCC No. 0235 24-12-1995

UCC No. 0236 04-0 1 - 1996

River

Vamanapurampuzha

-do-

Periyar

Chaliyar

-do-

Karapparapuzha

Kabini

Karapparariver

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 20

Zeylanidium liehenoides (Kurz) Engl.

A. A portion of thallus (th) with floriferous shoots attached to the stone

(sto).

B. A portion of the upper side of the thallus (th) showing floriferous

shoots (fs).

C. Lower side of the thallus showing haptera (h).

D. A floriferous shoot showing flower bud (fb) and leaves (1).

E. A flower showing bract (br); spathe (sp); tepal (t); ovary (0);

andropodium (and); filament (f) and anther (a).

F. A flower. Note the additional lobe (lo) on the spathe.


FIGURE 21

Zeylanidium lichenoides (Kurz) Engl.

A. A spathe.

B. C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovules (ov) and septum (s).

C - D. Spathe with small lobes

E. A normal androecium. Note the tepals (t); andropodium (and); filament ( f ) and anther (a).

F - H. Abnormal types of androecium. Note the number of stamens and variation in the position of tepals.


PLATE 16

Zevlanidium lichenoides (Kurz) Engl.

Photograph of plants attached to boulders.

Note the colour of thalli

Location : Tholpetty


PLATE' 16


PLATE 17

Zevlanidium tichenoides (Kurz) Engl.

Photograph of plants attached to the substratum.

Location : Thommenkuthu


PLATE 17


IV 9b. ZEYLANIDIUM MAHESHWARII Mathew & Satheesh .

Zevlanidium maheshwarii Mathew & Satheesh *

Z. mahesbwarii (Fig. 22A and Plate 18) is an annual, herbaceous, thalloid

rheophyte growing in patches on the submerged rocks of the swiftly flowing fresh

water hill streams. The plant body is attached to rocks by the haptera on their lower

surface. It is closely appressed to the rock and not easy to separate from the

substratum. The plants occupy an area varying from 0.55 x 0.8 m to 4 x 6 m.

The vegetative shoots are scattered over the upper surface of the prostrate

thallus. Leaves (Fig. 22B), 4-6, rarely 8, alternate, distichous, delicate, subulate and

deciduous with persistent sheathing bases. The sheathing bases of the leaves will

function as bracts in floriferous shoots. Bracts 4-6, rarely 8, alternate, distichous,

helmet-shaped and scaly. The lower pairs are smaller, where as the upper pairs are

successively larger (Fig. 22C and Plate 19A). Most of the vegetative shoots change

to floriferous shoots at the end of the rainy season. The flower bud is protected by a

c. 2 mm long, boat-shaped, papillate spathe (Plate 19A), which is prostrate and splits

along the upper side (Fig. 22C).

The flowering is towards the beginning of November when the plants get

exposed due to the fall in the level of water. Flowers are entornophilous, 5.5-6 mm

long, naked, terminal, solitary and pedicellate (Fig. 22C). Pedicel 3-4 mm long with

a deciduous cortex. Stamens 2, 2.7-3.2 mm long, monadelphous and dorsifixed.

Androecium is shorter than the gynoecium before anthesis (Plate 19B). Anthers

bilobed, lobes subequal dorsifixed and introrse. Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2,

1.3-1.6 mm long, one on either side of the andropodium. The andropodium is attached

Under Publication in: Aquatic Botany


to the pedicel about 1 mm below the ovary and hence, a 1 mm long gynophore is . present (Fig. 22C and Plate 19B). Ovary nearly obovoid, 1.25 long and 1.00 mm

broad in the middle region; superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous and anisolobous. Ovules

*102, anatropous, arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Fig. 22D). Septa

membranous. Style very much reduced. Stigma multilobed (Figs. 22E & F and Plate

19B & C).

Fruits and seeds become mature by the beginning of December. Fruit is a dry

dehiscent capsule; obovoid, anisolobous and 2-valved, valves subequal, larger valve

persistent (Plate 19D), each valve is broadly 3-ribbed. Fruit stalk upto 1 cm long.

Seeds * 94. Seed set efficiency is approximately 90 %.

Distribution : For details of distribution in Kerala, see Table 13


Table 13 Details regarding collection of A

ZEYLANlDIUM MAHESHWARII Mathew & Satheesh frornKerala.


Thommenkuthu,

ldukki Dt.

-do-

River

Moovattupuzha

-do-

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 01 11

05-12-1991

UCC No. 0185

16-01-1993

Collected by

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 22

Zevlanidium maheshwarii Mathew & Satheesh

A. A portion of thallus (th) with floriferous shoots.

B. A portion of thallus (th) bearing a vegetative shoot with leaves (1)

C. A flower showing bracts (br); spathe (sp); pedicel (ped); gynophore

(g); tepal (t); andropodium (and); filament (0; anther-(a); stigma (st)

and ovary (0).

D. C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovules (ov) and septum (s).

E - F. Upper view of multilobed stigma.


FIGURE 22

Zeylanidiurn maheshwarii Mathew & Satheesh

A. A portion of thallus (th) with floriferous shoots.

B. A portion of thallus (th) bearing a vegetative shoot with leaves (1)

C. A flower showing bracts (br); spathe (sp); pedicel (ped); gynophore

(g); tepal (t); andropodium (and); filament (f); anther-(a); stigma (st)

and ovary (0).

D. C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovules (ov) and septum (s).

E - F. Upper view of multilobed stigma.


PLATE 18


Photograph of plant growing at the site.

Locality: Thommenkuthu.


PLATE 18


PLATE 19


(Scanning Electron Micrographs)

A. A flower bud : bract (br). Note the flower bud protected by papillate

spathe (ps) x I I.

B. A flower showing tepal (t), andropodium (and), filament (f), anther

(a), gynophore (g), ovary (0) and multilobed stigma (st) x 10.

C. Upper portion of a flower showing andropodium (and), filament (0,

anther (a), ovary (0) and multilobed stigma (st) x 28.

D. A portion of fruit stalk (frst) bearing the persistent larger fruit

valve (lfv) x 12.


PLATE 19


171

IV 9c. ZEYLANIDIUM OLIVACEUM (Gardn.) Engl.

Zevlanidium olivaceum (Gardn.) Engl., Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 18 a:

62, 1930; Subramanyam, Aquatic Angiosperms, 49, 1962; Rao & Hajra, Bull.

Bot. Surv. India, 12 (1-4): 271-272, 1970; Nagendran & Arekal, Bull. Bot. Surv.

India, 23 (3-4): 23 1, 1981.

Podostemon olivaceum Gardn., Calc. J. nat. Hist. 7: 1846; Hooker, F.B.I. 5:

66, 1886.

Hydrobrvum olivaceum Tul., Ann. Sc. nat. Ser. 3, 11: 104, 1849; Willis,

Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya l(3): 239, 1902.

It is a submerged, dorsiventral, herbaceous rheophyte closely attached to rocks

(Fig. 23A) by its lower surface with haptera and rhizoids. Thallus is crustaceous and

closely appressed to the rocks. The margin and the growing points of the thallus are

pink in colour. The central portion of the thallus is olive- green in colour.

Two kinds of shoots may occur on the upper surface of the thallus. These are:

(1) shoots with a strong axis which is c. 1-5 cm long (Fig. 23A) and (2) fertile shoots

(Fig. 23B). the leaves on the sterile shoots are many and occur as a tuft, linear to

lanceolate and upto 5 cm long. On the other hand, the leaves on the fertile shoots

possess sheathing bases which change to bracts.

Leaves 6, rarely 8, each leaf is c. 1 cm long (Fig. 23B); the delicate subulate

portion will fall off and the sheathing bases become scaly bracts. Bracts 6-8 in number

and the upper bracts are successively larger than the lower ones. Spathe boat-shaped,

prostrate and splits longitudinally along the upper surface (Fig. 23C & D).


Flowering is towards the beginning of October when the plants are completely

exposed to the air. Flowers naked, c. 5 mm long (Fig. 23C), terminal, erect, solitary,

zygomorphic and pedicellate. Pedicel usually 1-2 mm long, rarely 3 mm long.

Stamens 2, 3-3.5 mm long, monadelphous with a fleshy flat andropodium (Fig. 23E).

Anthers bilobed, lobes subequal, dorsifixed, introrse and dehisce longitudinally.

Pollen held as dyads. Tepals 2, narrow, membraneous, one on either side of the

andropodium, c. 2 mm long and is almost as long as the ovary.

Ovary superior, bicarpellary, syncarpous, smooth, anisolobous, nearly elliptical

and c. 2 mm long and 1 mm broad in the middle region. Ovules many, anatropous,

arranged on a swollen axile placenta (Fig. 23F). Stigma bifid, lobes subequal, margin

entire or serrate (Fig. 23G) and 0.5-0.75 mm long.

Fruit is a dry dehiscent capsule nearly elliptical, 2 mm long, dehisces obliquely,

2-valved, valves subequal, larger valve persistent and each valve is broadly 3-ribbed.

Seeds many. Fruit stalk upto 4 mm long.

Distribution : India and Sri Lanka. For details of distribution in Kerala, see

Table 14


173


ZEYLANIDIUM OLIVACEUM (Gardn.) Engl. from Kerala.


Umaya malai Idukki Dt.

Anamudi Idukki Dt.

Munnar Idukki Dt.

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Rajamalai ldukki Dt.

Valara Idukki Dt.

Nelliampathi Palghat Dt.

Kathiketappanchal, Trichur Dt.

River

Periyar

-do-

Marayur river (Periy ar)

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

-do-

Periyar

Karappara Palghat Dt. (Chalakkudipuzha)

Chalakkudipuzha

Field No. and Date

UCC No. 26467 17- 11-1965

68 29 -11 - 1973 UCC No. 0027

UCC No. 0028 05 - 01 - 1991

UCC No. 0140 10 - 01 - 1992

UCC No. 0025 12 - 10 -1991

UCC No. 01 36 10 - 01 - 1992

UCC No. 0 193 23-01 - 1993

UCC No. 0226 02-01 - 1994

UCC No. 01 54 27 - 02 - 1992

UCC NO. 0082 13 - 10 -1991

UCC No. 0084 UCC No. 0085 UCC No. 0086 19-10-1 99 1

UCC No. 0 160 18-11-1992

Collected by

B.V. Shetty

C. R. Nagendran

P.I. Varghese

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

P. I. Varghese

V K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh

V. K. Satheesh


FIGURE 23

Zevlanidium olivaceum (Gardn.) Engl.

A. A portion of thallus (th). Note the sterile vegetative shoot (svs) and

leaf (1).

B. A floriferous shoot showing leaves (I) and bracts (br).

C. A flower showing spathe (sp); bracts (br); ovary (0) and stigma (st).

D. A spathe

E. An androecium showing tepal (t); andropodium (and); filament (f)

and anther (a).

I? C. S. of ovary showing placenta (pl); ovules (ov) and septum (s)

G. A gynoecium. Note the serrate margin of stigma (st). Ovary (0).


CHAPTEK V

DISCUSSION

Podostemaceae is a unique family among angiosperms due to the peculiar habit

and habitat of the members. The plant body is thalloid and attached to the rocks and

boulders of the fresh water streams by haptera.

THALLUS:

The thallus of Podostemaceae exhibits a wide range of morphological features.

In Indotristicha, the thallus is branched, thread-like and chocolate-coloured. The

thallus possesses several assimilatory shoots called ramuli. In Dalzellia, another

member of Tristichoideae, the thallus is flat and it grows as a rosette. It is pink or

crimson-red in colour during the early phase of growth due to the presence of

anthocyanin pigments in the epidermal cells of the thallus. Thallus possesses short

vegetative shoots, on which the leaves are arranged in a rosette. After the vegetative

phase of growth , the colour of the thallus will turn to olive green.

In Polvpleurum stvlosum, the thallus is branched and ribbon-like. It may be

creeping (eg. the specimen collected from Erattayar), partially free floating (eg. the

specimen collected form Arattukadavu, Thommenkuthu).

Griffithella hookeriana exhibits two different kinds of thalli: I ) branched

ribbon-like and 2) cup-shaped. The species of Zevlanidium also exhibit two different

forms of thalli. In g. lichenoides, the thallus is branched, ribbon-like and completely

creeping, whereas in all the other species of Zevlanidium, the thallus is crustaceous.

Farmeria metznerioides, F. indica and Podostemum subulatum possess branched thalli

which are comparatively thick and slightly compressed dorsiventrally.


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