Tripogon munnarensis Thoiba & Manudev, Phytotaxa

K., Thoiba, Abstract, A. K. Pradeep & Roem., Tripogon, 2020, A revision of Tripogon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in India, Rheedea 30 (3), pp. 325-378 : 356-359

Tripogon munnarensis Thoiba & Manudev, Phytotaxa 272(2): 130. 2016. Type: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district, Munnar, Udumbanchola , near Mundiyaruma , 1430 m, 16.12.2014, T. Kottekkattu & A.K. Pradeep 144105 (holo CAL!; iso CALI [ CALI112103 !], MH!, K!). FiGS. 30 & 32

Caespitose perennials. Culms 5–15 cm high erect, unbranched; nodes glabrous, slightly geniculate. Leaf sheaths 2–5.5 cm long, closely involute to the culm, persistent, fibrous; ligules obscure, fringed with long hairs at apex, hairs 1–2 mm long; leaf blades 5–15 × 0.18–0.25 mm, lanceolate, flat to convolute, densely villous adaxially and sparsely villous abaxially, margins entire, minutely pungent at apex. Racemes 7–15 cm, contracted, 14–35 spikelets loosely or tightly arranged in rachis; rachis 0.5–1 cm long, stout, quadrate, glabrous; peduncles 5–10 cm long, stout, glabrous. Spikelets 10–16 × 1–2.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, 10–16-flowered, younger florets with pinkish dots; callus bearded, barbate in front at the base of rachilla internode, hairs 1–1.5 mm long; rachilla not persistent, 1–1.2 mm long, glabrous, slightly zig-zag; lower glumes 1–2.7 × 0.5–1 mm, oblong-lanceolate, asymmetrical, chartaceous, 1-nerved, acute at apex; upper glumes 3–4.5 × 0.5–1 mm, symmetrical, elliptic-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, prominently scabrid, 2-fid at apex, shortly awned from the notch, awns 0.3–0.5 mm long, scabrid; lemmas 3–3.5 × 1–1.5 mm (including awn), narrowly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 4-lobed, 3-nerved, 3-awned, lobes acute-acuminate, 0.3–0.5 mm long, aristate, median awn 1–1.5 mm long, scabrid, almost straight or curved, lateral awns 0.5–0.8 mm long; paleas 1.5– 3 × 0.6–2 mm, hyaline, elliptic-lanceolate, keeled and slightly winged, keels minutely ciliolate along the margins distally, sub-acute to deeply notched at apex; lodicules 2, 0.5–0.8 mm long, wedge-shaped, apex coarsely 3-toothed; stamens 3, anthers 1–1.5 mm long, oblong, filaments 0.4–0.5 mm long, slender, glabrous; ovary 0.3–0.5 mm long, obovate, style 2, 0.5–0.75 mm long, slender, hyaline, stigma 0.5–0.75 mm long, plumose. Caryopses not seen.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from September to early December.

Habitat: It grows on hill sides among boulders and also along the Ghat road sides at elevations between 1000–1500 m, in association with Chrysopogon nodulibarbis , Tripogon bromoides , T. sivarajanii (all Poaceae ), Henckelia incana ( Gesneriaceae ), Eriocaulon spp. ( Eriocaulaceae ) and moss species.

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

Specimens examined: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district, Kambakal Medu, Munnar , 26.09.2014, K. M . Manudev 138906 ( CALI); Munnar, Udumbanchola , near Mundiyaruma, 16.12.2014, K . Thoiba , A. K . Pradeep & T . Mohammed Yoonus 144105 ( CAL, CALI, K, MH); Ramakkalmedu, 23.10.2017, A. K . Pradeep & K . Thoiba 146752 ( CALI) .

Notes: Tripogon munnarensis is similar to T. narayanae , but differs from it in having 10–16 mm long spikelets with 10–16 florets, rachilla 0.5–0.8 mm long, apically acute asymmetrical lower glumes, median awns 1–1.5 mm long, almost straight or curved, and lateral awns 0.5–0.8 mm long.

Tripogon narayanae Sreek., V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 80(1): 196. 1983, as “ narayanii ”; Sreek. & V.J.Nair, Fl. Kerala Grass: 401, t. 84. 1991; S.Moulik, Grass. Bamb. India 2: 622. 1997; Kabeer & V.J.Nair, Fl. Tamil Nadu Grass: 181. 2009; Sasidh., Biodiv. Doc. Kerala –Fl. Pl. 595. 2004. Type: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district, Eravikulam National Park, 2000 m, 28.08.1980, P.V. Sreekumar 68412 (holo (CAL [CAL0000002441!]; iso K [K000245043 digital image!], MH [MH00001654!]). FiGS. 31 & 32

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–25 cm high erect; nodes glabrous, slightly geniculate, 1 or 2 noded. Leaf sheaths 4–10 cm long, linear, hairy; ligules thin, membranous, with a ciliate rim at apex, cilia 1–2 mm long; leaf blades 10–25 × 0.15–0.25 cm, linear-lanceolate, flat-convolute, hairy along margins and both surfaces, acuminate to attenuate at apex. Racemes 6–12 cm long; peduncle 5–10 cm, glabrous; spikelets loosely or tightly arranged in rachis; rachis 2–3 mm long, triquadrate, stout, scabrid. Spikelets 5–10 × 2–2.8 mm, linear-lanceolate, distant, dorsiventrally flattened, leaden grey, 4–6-flowered; callus bearded, hairs 1–1.2 mm long; rachilla 2 mm long, glabrous, almost straight, not persistent; lower glumes 2.3–3.5 × 0.5–1 mm, notched on one-side, ovate-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled; keels slightly scabrid, acuminate or mucronate at apex, mucro 0.3 mm long, scabrid; upper glumes 4–5.5 × 0.5–0.75 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, apex dentate or shortly awned, awns 0.5–0.8 mm long at sinus; lemmas 3.5–4 × 1–1.2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, coriaceous, 3-nerved, slightly keeled, 4-lobed and 3-awned; awns scabrid, apex straight or geniculate, median awn 1.5–3.6 mm long, lateral awns almost half the length of median, 0.5–2.3 mm long, lateral lobes ovate-acute, 0.3–1 mm long, margins scabrid or aristate; paleas 2–3 × 0.5–0.75 mm, elliptic-oblanceolate, hyaline, 2-nerved, 2-keeled, keels ciliate above the halves, emarginate or 2-lobed with a minute central notch at the apex; lodicules 2, 0.3– 0.4 mm long, obovate, 3-lobed at apex; stamens 3, anthers 1.3–1.5 mm long, oblong, purple tinged, filaments 1.5–2.5 mm long, slender, glabrous; ovary 0.3–0.5 mm long, obovate, styles 2, c. 4 mm long, slender, hyaline, stigma 2, c. 0.6 mm long, plumose, creamy white. Caryopses 1.2–1.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm, narrowly oblong, light brown.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Habitat: This species is usually found growing along soil filled rock crevices, and wet areas along Ghat road sides and high elevation grasslands in association with Arundinella ciliata Nees , A. pumila , Garnotia tenella , Tripogon bromoides , T. munnarensis (all Poaceae ), Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult & Schult.f. ( Commelinaceae ) and Henckelia innominata (B.L.Burtt) A.Weber & B.L.Burtt , ( Gesneriaceae ).

Distribution: Endemic to Peninsular India .

Specimens examined: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district , Kanthalloor, Pius Nagar, 13.11.2012, A . K . Pradeep & K . Thoiba 134401a, 134401b, 134401c, 134401d; Kanthallur, 22.11.2013, A . K . Pradeep & K . Thoiba 138008a, 138008b, 138008c, 138008d; Udumbanchola, Mundiyeruma, 16.12.2014, K . Thoiba & A . K . Pradeep 144103a, 144103b, 144103c, 144103d; Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, 09.12.2016, A . K . Pradeep & K . Thoiba 146764 ( CALI). Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district , Velliangiri hills, 30.09.2016, A . K . Pradeep & Nikhil Krishna 146722, 146723 ( CALI); Nilgiri district, Gudallur , suicide point, 12.12.2015, K . Thoiba 146708 ( CALI); Salem district, Yercaud, Rosegarden view point, 10.12.2017, Nikhil Krishna & K . Thoiba 146788 ( CALI) .

Notes: It resembles Tripogon bromoides but differs in having densely tufted villous leaves, florets 4–6, lateral awns half the length of the median awns, and palea ciliate above the middle.

Figures

FiG.30.Tripogon munnarensis Thoiba & Manudev:a.Habit;b. Spikelet; c. Lower glume; d. Upper glume; e. Lemma; f. Palea; G. LodiCule; h. Stamen & 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].

FiG. 31. Tripogon narayanae Sreek.,V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair: a. Habit; b. Spikelet;c. & d. Lower glume;e.Upper glume;f. Lemma;G.Palea; h. LodiCule; i. Stamen; j. Pistil; k. Caryopsis.