Tripogon malabaricus Thoiba & Pradeep, J. Bot. Res. Inst.

K., Thoiba, Abstract, A. K. Pradeep & Roem., Tripogon, 2020, A revision of Tripogon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in India, Rheedea 30 (3), pp. 325-378 : 354

Tripogon malabaricus Thoiba & Pradeep, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 8(2): 523. 2014, as “malabarica ”. Type: INDIA , Kerala, Kozhikode district, Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary , Kakkayam , 990 m, N 11 ̊33.037', E 075 ̊55.024', 19.09.2013, Thoiba Kottekkattu 134436 (holo BRIT!; iso CAL!, CALI [ CALI112096 !], K!, MH [ MH00003235 !]).

FiGS. 28 , 29 & 32

Tufted perennial herb. Culms 25–65 cm high; nodes glabrous. Leaf sheaths 10–18 cm long, linear-lanceolate, coriaceous, villous adaxially, apex pubescent; ligules indistinct, tuft of 2.5–3.5 mm long hairs at apex; leaf blades 30–70 × 0.2–0.8 cm, linear-lanceolate, flat, margins slightly scabridulous or scabrid, pubescent with short white papillose hairs adaxially and glabrous abaxially. Racemes 15–40 cm long, 30–55 spikelets tightly arranged in rachis; rachis rigid, stout, glabrous; peduncles 8– 15 cm long, glabrous. Spikelets 13–14 × 1.5–2 mm, linear, distant, dorsiventrally flattened, 4–7- flowered; callus bearded; rachilla 1 mm long, glabrous; lower glumes 2.5–4 × 1–1.5 mm, coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, acuminate at apex; upper glumes 4.5–6 × 1–1.5 mm, lanceolate, coriaceous, 1–3-nerved, 1-keeled, scabrid, acute at apex; lemmas 3–5 × 1.5–2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, 3-nerved, slightly keeled, scabrid, 1-awned, awns 3–5 mm long, scabrid, sometimes slightly geniculate towards apex; paleas 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm, obovate, hyaline, 2-keeled, ciliate, subulate at apex; lodicules 2, 0.25–0.5 mm long, truncate at apex, coarsely 3-toothed; stamens 3, anthers 1.5–2 mm long, oblong, filaments 1mm long, slender, glabrous; ovary 0.5–0.75 × 0.25–0.5 mm, obovate, styles 2, 0.5–0.75 mm long, slender, hyaline, stigma 0.75 mm long, plumose, creamy white. Caryopses not seen.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from late July to early November.

Habitat: This species grows from 950–1500 m altitude on steep granitic cliffs, road cuts and wet rocky hillsides in association with Chlorophytum malabaricum Baker ( Asparagaceae ), Impatiens scapiflora B.Heyne , I. gardneriana Wight ( Balsaminaceae ), Kleinia grandiflora (DC.) Rani ( Asteraceae ), Pouzolzia auriculata Wight , P. bennetiana Wight (both Urticaceae ), Themeda triandra Forssk. and Panicum spp. (both Poaceae ).

Distribution: Endemic to South India , hitherto known only from the type locality and adjoining areas.

Specimens examined: INDIA , Kerala, Kozhikode district, Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakkayam , 09.11.2014, K . Thoiba 137545; Vayalada, Thalayad , Kakkayam , 16.09.2017, Nikhil Krishna & K . Thoiba 146746 ( CALI); Malappuram district, Thamburankolli, Koodaranji , 30.10.2013, K . Thoiba 134480 ( CALI) .

Notes: Dey and Prasanna (2019) reduced this taxon to synonymy under T. major subsp. vellarianus (Pradeep) Sang.Dey & Prasanna. This conclusion is based on a comparison of single specimen each of both the taxa available at CAL. Our field observations of both taxa do not support this finding. Tripogon malabaricus differs from T. vellarianus and T. lisboae in having linear, coriaceous, villous leaves, 13–14 mm long spikelets with 4–7 - florets, lemma with straight or geniculate, scabrid awns and keeled palea with a subulate apex.

Figures

FiG. 28. Tripogon malabariCus Thoiba & Pradeep:a. Habit;b. Enlarged portion of raCeme; c. Ligule;d. Spikelet; e.Glumes;f. Lemma;G.Palea; h. Enlarged portion of palea apex; i. Palea with flower; j. LodiCules; k. Stamen & pistil.

FiG.29.Tripogon malabariCus Thoiba & Pradeep:a. Habit;b. Spikelet; c. Lower glume; d. Upper glume; e. Lemma; f. Palea; G. Stamen; h. Pistil.

FiG. 32. Distribution of Tripogon malabariCus Thoiba & Pradeep, T. munnarensis Thoiba & Manudev and T. narayanae Sreek.,V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair in India [drawn using ESRI (2011) ArCGIS Desktop: Release 10].