Tripogon zeylanicus Nees ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac.

K., Thoiba, Abstract, A. K. Pradeep & Roem., Tripogon, 2020, A revision of Tripogon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in India, Rheedea 30 (3), pp. 325-378 : 374-376

Tripogon zeylanicus Nees ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1(3): 301. 1854; Thwaites, Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 374. 1864. Lectotype (designated here): CEYLON, s.d., C.P. Thwaites 281 (K [ K000907445 digital image!]; isolecto CAL!).

Tripogon anantaswamianus Sreek., V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 25(1–4): 185, 1983. syn. nov.; P.V. Sreek. & V. J . Nair, Fl. Kerala Grass: 399, t. 82. 1991; S . Moulik, Grass. Bamb. India 2: 620, t. 137. 1997; Kabeer & V. J . Nair, Fl. Tamil Nadu-Grass 179. 2009; Sasidh., Biodiv. Doc. Kerala – Fl. Pl. 595. 2004. Type: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district, Eravikulam Sanctuary , 15.11.1980, P. V . Sreekumar 69432 (holo CAL [ CAL0000002442 !]; iso K [ K000245042 digital image!], MH [ MH00001659 !]) .

FiGS. 48–50 Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–50 cm high erect; nodes glabrous, slightly geniculate, 1-noded. Leaf sheaths 4–10 cm long, linear, glabrous or hairy; ligules a small fine membrane with a tuft of 1–2 mm long hairs at apex; leaf blades 25–40 × 0.3–0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, flat-convolute, more hairy towards collar, sparsely hairy along margins and both surfaces, acuminate to attenuate at apex. Racemes 10–30 cm long, solitary, slender, spikelets loosely or tightly arranged in rachis; rachis 3–7 mm long, stout, glabrous or scabrid; peduncles 10– 15 cm long, glabrous. Spikelets 8–15.5 × 3–3.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, linear, dorsiventrally flattened, leaden green, 7–15-flowered; callus bearded, hairs 0.5–1 mm long; rachilla 1–1.3 mm long, glabrous, almost straight, not persistent; lower glumes 4–5 × 0.75–1mm, asymmetrical, ovate-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, awned at apex, awns 1–1.5 mm long; upper glumes 7–9 × 0.5–1 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, 1-nerved, 1-keeled, apex 2-lobed, mucronate or awned, awns scabrid, 1–2 mm long; lemmas 7–8 × 1.5–2.5 mm (including awn), oblong-lanceolate, slightly keeled, 6-lobed, 3-nerved, 3-awned, lateral awns and median awns sub-equal or sometimes reduced, lateral lobes on either side of each lateral awn 0.25–0.5 mm long, awns scabrid, apex straight or geniculate, median awns c. 4 mm long, lateral awns 0.5–3 mm long, lateral lobes 1– 1.5 mm long, acuminate, margins scabrid, apex sometimes bi-lobed; paleas 3–4 × 1–1.4 mm, elliptic-oblanceolate, hyaline, 2-keeled, ciliate, acuminate at apex; lodicules 2, 0.3–0.5 mm long, truncate; stamens 3, anthers 1.3–2 mm long, oblong, filaments 0.5–0.75 mm long, slender, glabrous; ovary 0.3–0.6 mm, obovate, styles 2, 1– 1.2 mm long, slender, hyaline, stigma 0.7–1.2 mm long, plumose, creamy white. Caryopses 1.2–1.8 × 0.3–0.4 mm, narrowly oblong, cylindrical, brown.

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

Habitat: This species is usually found growing in seasonally wet rock crevices and Ghat road sides at elevations between 700–2000 m in association with Arundinella pumila , Eragrostis collinensis , Tripogon bromoides , T. ravianus , T. sivarajanii (all Poaceae ), Cyanotis tuberosa and C. villosa (Spreng.) Schult. & Schult.f. (both Commelinaceae ).

Distribution: Endemic to South India and Sri Lanka.

Specimens examined: INDIA , Kerala, Idukki district , Eravikulam Sanctuary, 27.08.1980, P . V . Sreekumar 68403 ( BSID, MH); Ibid. , 15.12.2014, K . Thoiba & A . K . Pradeep 137571a, 137571b; Ibid., 12.12.2015, K . Thoiba & A . K . Pradeep 146697 ( CALI); Ibid. , 16.11.1980, P . V . Sreekumar 69429 ( BSID). s.loc., s.d., C . N . Sunil 1775 ( CALI); Poovanpara , 07.09.1997, S . D. Biju 36185 ( TBGT); Alampetty, Marayoor – Chinnar road, 26.10.2017, A . K . Pradeep & K . Thoiba 146753 ( CALI); Munnar , 14.11.1980, P . V . Sreekumar 68460 ( BSID); Wayanad district, Chembra , 12.10.2012, Remya J . & Prasanna 74507 ( TBGT). Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district , Valparai, 28.01.1978, M . Chandrabose 57709 ( MH); Dindigul district, Kodaikanal , Shevaroy hills, 09.1905, C . A . Barber 7254; Observatory hills, 09.1905, C . A . Barber 7254a; Palani hills, Poombarai road, 04.07.1901, Bourne 2111 ( MH); Kodaikanal, Palani hills, Berijam road, 06.12.1986, K . M . Matthew & M . Charles 47756; Kukkal, Boothanachiammankoil hill, 19.10.1987, K . M . Matthew 50803; KodaiBerijam road, 16 th km, 17.12.1989, S . Perianayagam 53973; Vandaravu, 18.12.1989, K . M . Matthew & K . T . Matthew 54018; Berijam slopes, 09.08.1984, K . M . Matthew 40785 ( RHT); Nilgiri district, Avalanche , 14.10.1972, K . Vivekananthan 42950; Bison swamp, 11.06.1970, B . V . Shetty 34196a; Mukurthi National Park , 16.05.1971, J . L . Ellis 38476 ( MH); s.loc., 24.05.2016, C . N . Sunil 1775 ( CALI); Ootacamund , 05.08.1900, C . A . Barber 2652; Wenlock downs, Ootacamund, 11.11.1956, B . D. Patil 945 ( CAL); s.loc., s.d., Wight 1871 ( CAL); s.loc., s. d., s.coll. 56 ( MH) .

Notes: Tripogon zeylanicus was originally described without giving a reference to a specimen. However, Steudel (1854) while validating the name provided a reference to the country of collection as “Ins Zeylon”. A search for specimen used for the description of T. zeylanicus from Sri Lanka, resulted in two specimens bearing the same collection number (C.P. 281) one at CAL and the other at K which was also cited by Thwaites (1864). There are five specimens of various sizes mounted on the single sheet at K (K000907445 digital image!). An illustration with all its floral parts derived from C.P. 281 is seen attached on the middle left and side of the sheet. All parts in the drawing agreeing well with the description provided by Steudel and subsequently by Thwaites. Presumably it is the sheet used by Steudel for describing T. zeylanicus and is selected here as the lectotype. The left hand side specimen with the illustration affixed, probably with a young inflorescence cannot be ascertained to be T. zeylanicus . Tripogon anantaswamianus described by Sreekumar et al. (1983b) exactly correspond to T. zeylanicus and hence it is reduced to synonymy.

Figures

FiG. 48. Tripogon zeylaniCus Nees ex Steud.: a. Habit; b. Spikelet; c. Lower glume; d. Upper glume; e. Lemma; f. Palea; G. LodiCule; h. Stamen; i. Pistil; j. Caryopsis.

FiG. 49. LeCtotype of Tripogon zeylaniCus Nees ex Steud. (K000245028) designated by here. © The Board Trustees for the Royal BotaniC Gardens, Kew. ReproduCed with permission.

FiG.50. Distribution ofTripogon vellarianus Pradeep,T.velliangiriensis Murug.& V.Balas.,T. wightii Hook.f.and T.zeylaniCus Nees ex Steud. in India [drawn using ESRI (2011) ArCGIS Desktop: Release 10].