Zygophyllum coccineum

R. A., Poptani, V. U., Chauhan, J. B., Bhatt, B. R., Paradva & Vijaykumar, V., 2025, ZygOphyllum COCCIneum (Zygophyllaceae): a new record to the Flora of India from Kachchh, Gujarat, Rheedea 35 (1), pp. 33-38 : 34-37

Zygophyllum coccineum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 386. 1753 . Lectotype: Illustration by Rev. Thomas Shaw 1738: 41, 231, f. 231. Figs. 1 & 2

Perennial undershrubs, 45–65 cm tall, 100 cm wide. Stem largely herbaceous, erect, branches ascending, initially covered with hairs, later glabrous, pubescence around the nodes, older stems slightly woody, with whitish green bark. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 0.8–1 × 1.5 mm, ciliate at margin. Leaves petiolate, 2-foliate; leaflets terete, 5–12 × 1–2 mm, base oblique, apex rounded, glabrous; petiole terete, 12–15 mm, as long as or longer than leaflets. Flowers axillary, bisexual, usually solitary, occasionally 2 at each node, white and slightly greenish-yellow in color; pedicels 7–9 mm long. Sepals 5, ovate, 4–6 × 2–3 mm, margin membranous, cucullate, apex obtuse, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, fleshy, green. Petals 5, spathulate, 5–7 × 2–2.5 mm, longer than sepals, margin slightly undulate, apex rounded, glabrous, thin, white. Stamens 10, 3.5–4 mm long, anthers bi-lobed, oblong-ovate, dorsifixed, bright yellow, dehiscence septicidal; scales ovate to lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, entire. Disk cup-shaped, 8–10 lobed, dark green, glabrous. Ovary oblong, c. 1 mm long, pubescent, penta-locular; style single, c. 1 mm long, pubescent, persistent in fruit. Fruit capsule, oblong or obovoid, 7–9 × 3–4 mm, base truncate, apex obtuse, sparsely pubescent or glabrous, with 5 faint lobes. Seeds 4–7 in each lobe, elliptic, 1–2 mm, tip acute, tuberculate, brown.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from October to January and fruiting from April to May.

Habitat & ecology: A population of this plant species was found growing on an abandoned roadside land to Kandla Port, Gujarat. More than 10 individuals were observed at two nearby sites within the area. The soil type was saline loamy, recorded salinity and pH values were 6.66 parts per thousand and 7.25 respectively. These sites also shared the characteristic of being low-lying depressions that are inundated with water seasonally, thereby creating a marshy habitat .

Hooker (1872) documented this species in the rocky plains of Sindh, Pakistan. Ghazanfar and Osborne (2015) described its habitat as sandy and gravel deserts in Egypt and sandy shorelines in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Alzahrani and Albokhari (2018) reported its habitat in the salt marshlands of Jeddah, while El-Amier et al. (2016) reported its presence in the limestone wadis of Egypt. From this, it seems that this species can withstand a range of soil conditions. The present study area fulfills the habitat preferences of this species. It is reported to be non-palatable, hence it has lesser chances of seed dispersal by animals. Further research is required to understand its survivability in habitats with different salinity levels, and also its effects on the existing regional flora in the near future, as it seems to be a highly adaptable species.

Associated growing species include Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud. ( Poaceae ), Suaeda fruticosa Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel. ( Amaranthaceae ), Suaeda monoica Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel. ( Amaranthaceae ), Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Thwaites ( Poaceae ), and Heliotropium curassavicum L. ( Boraginaceae ).

Distribution: The species is distributed in countries, such as Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, and Pakistan, and the Gulf States like Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen ( POWO, 2024). With this report, the distribution of Z. coccineum now extends to India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Gujarat, Kachchh District, Gandhidham, Kandla , N 23°01’26’’, E

70°11’33’’, 10.10.2023, Rakesh Poptani, Bhagirath

Paradva 53375 ( BSJO!). Kandla, Ibid. N 23°01’21’’ ,

E 70°11’39’’, 17.02.2024, Vivek Chauhan, Jayesh

Bhatt GUIDE1012 (Herbarium GUIDE, Bhuj).

PAKISTAN, Sindh province, Hyderabad, near Jacob tank, N 25°25’01’’, E 68° 21' 36’’, 09.03.1940 ,

S. V. Shevade 630 ( BARO 123450004372 image!).

Table 1. Morphological comparison of Zygophyllum coccineum with its close related species. ERITREA, Massawa, Green Island , 28.07.1988, O. Ryding 1347 ( K000865520 image!). EGYPT, Al Fayoum province , Giza, Qasr Qaroun , N 29° 24' 20.31", E 30° 25' 5.97", 03.01.1983, Monier Abd El Ghani 4885 ( K [ K005031480 ] digital image!) .

Notes: Zygophyllum coccineum is known to possess medicinal properties ( El-Gamal et al., 1995; Mohammedi, 2021). It is being used in traditional medicine for gout, rheumatic pain, cough, hypertension, asthma, flatulent colic, and diuretic, and also the juice from the fresh leaves and stem is used as an abrasive cleanser, and in certain skin diseases ( Batanouny, 2005). It is also reported to furnish ecosystem services such as accumulating toxic heavy metals (Osman & Badawy, 2013; El-Sherbiny et al., 2019). Given its diverse medicinal as well as ecological benefits, the plant species propagates through cuttings and therefore can be promoted in the surrounding industrial areas.

Figures

Fig. 1. Zygophyllum coccineum L. a–c. Plant in a natural habitat.

Fig. 2. Zygophyllum coccineum L. a. Flowering twig; b. Bi-foliate leaves; c. Stipule; d. Flower-side view; e. Flower–top view; f. Sepal–adaxial view; g. Petal; h. Stamen with scale; i. Gynoecium; j. Fruiting twig; k. Capsule; l. Capsule with septicidal dehiscence; m. Seeds (Photos by V. U. Chauhan & R. A. Poptani).