J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. VoI. 38 No. 2 (2014) ISSN; 2050-9768 NEW RECORDOF TWO SPECIESOF SMIIAXL" (SMILACACEAE)FROM ASSAM,INDIA S. Benuanx& S.K.BoRrserun*x Department of Botany, Gauhati Uniuersity, Guwahati- 7810 14, Assam, Ind.ia "":;;:;;::;::i;:::fff ff;'*:"* ABSTRACT Two speciesof Smilax L. viz., S. ocreata A. DC. Mongr. and S. zeylani.caL. are recorded for the first time from Dhemaji and North Cacher Hills district of Assam, India. The nomenclature, detailed description, uses, conservation status, and photographs are provided for it easy identification. INTBODUCTION During a freld exploration in North Cacher Hills district and Dhemaji district of Assam some interesting specimens of Srnilax L. were collected. After critical studies and scrutiny of literatures (Hooker, 1886; Hajra, 1996; Chen et dI., 2000) the collected specimen were identified as Smilax zeylanica and Smilax ocreata, hitherto not reported from Assam. During the scrutiny of literatures (Hooker, 1"886;Bora & Kumar, 2003) and herbarium materials deposited in ASSAM Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Shillong revealed that the specieshas not been reported from Assam earlier. The specimenson which the present is basedhave been preserved following standard herbarium techniques (Jain & Rao, 1977) and the voucher specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Botany Department, Gauhati University (GUBH). The genus Smilax L. belongs to the family Smilacaceae and established by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarurn (1753). Smilax L. is type genus of the family Smilacaceaewith co. 350 species(Takhtajan, L997) or ca. 200 species (Chen et aI., 2006). The members of the genus are mainly distributed in tropical and temperate belts through the world, but mostly confrned to Asia and America (Chen et al., 2006). Heywood et al. (1993) recognized the family Smilacaceae with the one genus Smilax L. having ca.375 species widely distribution in tropics and subtropics. Lawerence (1951-) recognized about 300 species under the lone genus Smilax L. of the family Smilacaceae.In India, 227 Baruah& Borthahur out of 24 species 17 are reported from district: Matipung, North Cacher Hills District: BHU'TAN, CHINA, Shamphari); Northeast India (Hooker, 1886). Hajra (1996) Hangrum, VIETNAM. BANGLADESH, MYANMAR, NEPAL, reported 16 species under two genera viz., Specimen examined: Hangrum, North Cacher Smilax and Heterosmilax from Arunachal Pradesh and mentioned 3 species viz., S. Hills, Assam, 8th Februaty, 2013, S. Baruah 443 (GUBH); China, 17th September, 1897, Martin, buirnbelatq,,S. grifftthii and H. polyandra as Leon and Bodinien 1871(E 00327040)(KEW). insuffrciently known species. Balakhrisnan No/e: Scrutiny of literatures revealed that the (1981) reported the occurrence of 6 species has not been reported from Assam. In species from Jowai subdivision of Nleghalaya and Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, ASSAM Joseph (1982) reported only one speciesfrom ERC, Shillong also the species is not represented (1978) Khasi and Jaintia Hlls, while Hajra even by a single specimen. The species closely reported two species from Assam. Bora & resembles S. perfolinta but differs in having ovate Kumar (2003) reported two species under auricles with round base completely clasping the genus Smilax L. from Pabitora Wild Life San- branchlet. ctuary (WLS), Assam. However, Iike other Uses.'Roots used for curing urinary problems monocotyledonous families of north-eastern (Gogoiet aL.2005). India the family Smilacaceaeis yet to be properly documented and studied and hence the Smila* zeylanira L. Sp. P1",2: 1029.1753;Blume Enum. Pl. Javae t: L7. 1827; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. present study was undertaken since 2010. India 6: 309. 1892;Deb, Fl. Tripura 2:392. L983; Chowdhery et al. Materials for the Fl. Stnilar ocreata A. DC., Monogr.Phan. 1: 193. Arunachal Pradesh 3:211.2009.fPlate II] 1878;Koyama,FEH. 416. 1966;SmilaxroxburghianaWall. ex. Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 311. A large climbing shrubs; stems smooth, more L892, p.p. concerningthe syn. S. u;'thoptera.or less 4-angled, armed with a few small distant lPlate Il. prickles or almost unarmed. Leaves alternate, A prickly scandant shrub, stem branched' broadly ovate,or suborbicular,T - 20 x 4 - 12 cm., in Leaves are faintly reticulate, coriaceous.Leaves size, apex acuminate or cuspidate, glabrous, blade lanceolate to ovate-oblong, base rounded to cuneate,occasionallyshallowly cordate,8 - 20 x 4 15 cm. Petiole 2 - 3 cm, broadly winged, 0.5 - 2 cm wide, half-ovate, brown, coriaceous, reticulately veined, tendrils usually strong. Inflorescence a racemeof | - 2(- 4) peduncled,umbels bracteate,4 6 cm, basally prophyllate; umbels of both sexes, 10 - 25 flowered, base thickened, receptacle subglobose. Male flowers - tepals yellowish green, tingedpink, 3 - 5 x 0.5 - 1 mm; pedicels0.5 - 0.7 cm; stamens 5 - 7 mm; filaments basally connate. Female flowers - inner tepals very narrow; tinged pink, stigma distinct 3- lobed, staminodes absent. Berries dark green when young, globose,ca. 6 - 8 mm in diam. Fl: Mach -- January; F'r : July - October. polished and shining, base usually rounded, narrowly sheathing, 3 - 5 costate; petiole 1.2 - 2.5 cm. long, narrowly sheated; tendrils very long and slender. Inflorescenceumbel. Flowers in pedunculate many-floweredumbels; peduncles1.3 - 2 cm long; bracts below the peduncles,pedicels of both male and female flowers arising from an aggregation of numerous minute bracts. Male flowerspedicels 3 mm. long; perianth 5 - 6 mm. long; stamens 6 mm long. Female flower- perianth rather shorter than the male, segments reflexed, the 3 outer ovate-oblong;pedicels6 - 7 mm. long; stigma 3, recurved. Berries remaining green for long time and red when ripe. Fl & Fr: April - September. Occurrence: Deciduous forests. Occurrence: Grows in moist evergreen and Distribution: Ind.ia: Assam (Dhemaji district, mixed semi-everfreen forests. Likabali), Arunachal pradesh, Tripura; MYANDistributinn: INDIA: Meghalaya, Assam MAR. (Kamrup district: Amsingki, Karbi Anglong 228 J. Econ. Taxon.BoL VoI.38 l{o. 2 e014) differex rtag* of auricle"F**alrrr* fraits 229 Baruah & Borthal<ur s^ II. Sraaif*x z*ylan:ca,A,3 - in ndural habrtat,C,D,E -rnale flowrr in different * ita&*r,F, S- II diff*r*nt yi*w *f leayr *.irfar*s,1- ist*rs***l rtrrn with i*ndril. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. VoL 38 No. 2 (2014) Consewation status: The species has been listed in IUCN|S Red Data Book as Vulnerable (VU) (Balaguru et a|.2006). Beijing Science Press; St Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press 24: 96-117. Y.X. QIU, A.L. WANG, K.M. CAMERON & C.X. FU 2006. A phylogenetic Specimen examined: Assam, Likhabali, analysis of the Smilacaceaebased on morpholDhemaji district 30.03.2012,S. Baruah 622,643 (6) (N 27'3y 3L.23tryE 9ry43t 33.63/ and E 27"2A ogical data. Acta Phytotax. Sin.44 (2): 113-125. 45.9U095"2t/46.8/0 (GIJBH); Gandhamardan Hills DAS, T., S.B. MISHRA, D. SAHA & S. AGARWAL (Nrusinghanath), Bhubeneshwar,, Orissa, 66 July, 20L2. Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal 1988, R.C. Mishra, 2349 (RPRC, Bhubeneshwar); Plants Used by Ethnic and Rural People in Charmady, D. Canara district, Karnataka, 26 Eastern Sikkim Himalayan Region. African October, 1996, K. Ravikumar, G.S. Goraya and S.R. Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences4(1):16Ramesh,09404(FRLH, Bangalore). 20. Nofe.' However, Hooker (1886) mentioned its GOGOI, S.K., R. TERON & P.J. HANDIQUE distribution in India as hilly tropical districts and 2005. Certain herbal ethno-medicinesused by from Eastern Himalaya and Burma to the Malay the Karbi tribe of Assam (India). J. Curr. Sci. Peninsula and from Concan to Ceylon. Scrutiny of 7(r):7L-74. literatures revealed that the species has not been IIAJRA, P.K. 1996. Materials for the flora of reported from Assam. In ASSAM Herbarium, Arunachal Pradesh. BSI, Calcutta. Botanical Survey of India, ERC, Shillong also the 1978. Flora of Kaziranga National species is not represented even by a single speciPark and Manas Wild Life Sanctuary of Assarn men. This speciesis closelyresembledwith S. ouali(Angiosperm and Gymnosperm). Ph.D. Thesis folia and always been confused to do identification. Gauhati University. However, the stem of this species is quadrangular HEYWOOD, V.H.; D.M. MOORE, & W.T. by which it can be easily identified. STEARN, L993. Flowering Plants of the World. Llses:Stems are used as toothbrush which is Updated ed. New York oxford University considered useful against toothache (Sukla et ol., Press.320. 2010). Stem are used in urinary complaints and in HOOKER, J.D. 1886. The flora of British India. dysentery, and roots are taken as tonic (Das et al., Vol VI. Reeveand Co. London. 2072). JAIN, S.K. & R.R. RAO 1977.A hand boohof Field and Herbarium Tachnique. Today & Tomorrow REFERENCES Publication, New Delhi. BALAGURU, B., S.J. BRITTO; N. NAGAMU- JQSEPH, J. 1982. Flora of Nongpoh and its uicinity, Khasi and Jauyantia Hills district of RUGAN, D. NATARAJAN & S. SOOSAIRRAJ Meghalaya, BSI, Calcutta. 2006. Identifying conservation priority zones for effective management of tropical forests in LAWERENCE, H.M. L95L. Taxonomy of uasculor Eastern Ghats of India. Biodiuersity and plants. Oxford & IBH Publishing, New Delhi. Conseruation. L5: L5229-1543. LINNAEUS, C. 1753.SpeciesPlantarum. Berlin BALAKHRISNAN, N.P. L98L. Flora of Jowai. Yol. SUKLA, A.N., S. SRIVASTAVA & A.K.S. RAWAT 1. BSI, Howarh. 2010. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal BORA, P.J. & Y. KUMAR 2003. Floristic diversity plants of Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh. of Assam: study of Pabitora wildlife sanctuary. Indian. Jour. Trad. Know.9 (1): 191-202. Day publishing House, Delhi. TAKHTAJAN, A.L. 1997. Diuersity ond ClassifiCHEN, S.C., T. KOYAMA & S.Y. LIANG 2OOO. cation of Flowering Plants. New York: ColumSrnilax L. and Heterosmilax Kunth. In: Wu, bia University Press. Z.Y. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) Flora of China. 231 J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. VoL J8.l/o. 1 (2014) /SSM 2050-9768 NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDOF GARCINIA INDICA (THOUARS)CHOISY FOR ASSAMAS WELL AS THE NORTH. EASTERN PART OF INDIA J. SARMAI*, S. BARUAH2& S.K. Bontsexunz tLogging Diuision, Tinsuhia-7861 25, Assam.,Ind.ia 2Depa,tment of Botany, Gauhati (rniuersity, GuwahatiTg10 14, Assam,Ind,ia E mail :\anj ibb aruahg@gmail.conr(Correspond,ingauthor) ABSTRACT Garcinia indica. (Thouars) Choisy (Clusiaceae) is collected from the Eastern part of Karbi Anglong district of Assam and is reported as a new record for Assam as well as the Northeastern part oflndia. The nomenclature, detailed description and photographs are provid.ed to facilitate its easy identification in the paper II{TRODUCTION Garcinia L. belongs to the family Clusiaceae found throughout the tropical region of the world. The genus has about 200 species native to the South Asia ranging southern parts of Thailand and the peninsular Malaysia to Indonesia, distributed in the South East Asian region (Sharma ef a/. 1993; Mabberley 200b; Stevens 2001). In peninsular Malaysia there are 4g Garcinia species out of 350 species estimated worldwide (Whitemore, 1973; Stevens, 2001). In India, 30 species were reported by T. Anderson in Flora of British India (1824) and subsequently, Sharma & Sanjappa (1gg3) included 35 species in the Flora of India. Among the 35 species reported by Maheshwari (1964), 15 species are shown to be found in the North-East India. Kanjilal et at. (19J440) reported 9 speciesfrom undivided Assam. Kar et aI. (2008) reported 8 species from the Sonitpur district of Assam. The members of the genus Garcinia L. are potential, high value medicinal plants and have antinicrobial activity (Anonymous 2002). G. indica is an important medicinal plant distributed mainly in peninsular India (Sutar et al. 2012). The rind of the fruit contains Hydroxy Citric Acid (HCA), garcinol and the colouring pigment anthocyanin. HCA, which is claimed to have fat-reducing properties, is often used to reduce obesity (Lopes 2007). The plant has been mentioned in Ayurveda for treatment of liver disorders, dysentery, sunstroke, crncer and heart 121 Sarrna.Baruah& Borthahur (Thouars) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 621. 1831. diseases etc. (Deore et uI. 2011)" Garcinict "Theleera" purpurea G. Don, Gen. Hist. I: 621. Stalagmitis by speciesare commonly known as 1 8 3 1 . Assamese people in Assam and have rich Local name'.Prangso-arong(Karbi) traditional uses (Baruah & Borthakur 2012). Trees, to 1-5m height, bole buttressed, bark During freld explorations in Karbi pale brown, very thin, smooth, rather shiny; of for collcction Anglong district of Assam, drooping young branches sub-terete, branchlets Garcinia species,the authors havc collected striate. Leaves simple, opposite, iregu.larly some interesting herbarium materials. After decussate,estipulate;petiole 5-12 mm long, slender, critical, thorough study and scrutiny of glabrous; lamina 6.5-11 x 1.5-4 cm, lanceolate or literatures (Gamble 1915; Hooker 1886; obovate-oblong, base attenuatc, apex acute or Sharma & Sanjappa 1993) the collected acuminate, margin cntire, glabrous, shining, specimenswere identified as Gurcinia indiccr' membranous; lateral nerves 7-18 pairs, parallel, (Thouars) Choisy a species hitherto not slender, prominent, intercostae reticulate. Flowers male flowers:4-8 in axillary and reported from Assaneas well as the NE India. polygamodioecious; However" Hooker (1886) mentioned its tcrminal fascicles; pedicels 6 mm long; sepals 4, pinkish-orange, coriaceous, distribution as Western Pcninsula, Ghats of yellowish-orange to outer ones 3-4.5 mm long, inner rotundate, ovateConcan and Canara. Sharma & Sanjappa 4.5-5 mm long; petals 4, 5-6 mm long, thick; ones (1993) had mentioned its distribution in stamens many, inserted on a hemispheric subWestern Ghats, Maharashtra, Goa, Karna- quardate torus; filaments short; anthers oblong, taka. Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Scrutiny of truncate, loculi laterally inbrorse; rudimentary literature relating to the flora of Assam as pistil absent or a few equalling the stamens; female well as of the Northeast India (Kanjtlal et al. {lowers: solitary, terminal; pedicels 3 mm long; 1934-40;Deb 1981, 1983;Balakrishnan 1981; sepalsand petals as in male flowers; staminodes10Joseph 1982; Haridasan & Rao 1985, 1987; 18, in 4 unequal, 2 to 3 seriate phalanges Chauhan et aL 1996; Hajra 1996; Singh ei cl. alternating with petals, 1-3 mm long; ovary rayed, 2000; Singh et aI.20O2) and the herbarium superior, 4-8 locular, subglobose;stigma 4-8 2-seriate' often rays tuberculate, coronate, convex, materials deposited in the ASSAM HerbaFruit a berry,2.5-4 cm across,4-8loculed,purple or rium, Botanical Survey of India, Shillong wine brown, surrounded by persistent calyx; pulp revealed that the species has not been whitish red; seeds5-8, compressedin acidicpulp. reported either from Assam or from other Fl & Fr: November-APril North-eastern states of India earlier. The Habitat: Semi evergreen forests to Moist specimens on which the present report is forests. Deciduous based have been preserved following stanI)istribution: INDIA: ASSAM, Central and dard herbarium techniques (Jain & Rao Western Ghats, cultivated elsewhere Northern 19?7) and the voucher specimens are depoStatus: Endemic to India (Sharma & sited in the Hcrbarium of Botany Department, Gauhati University (GUBH) for future Sanjappam1993) Specimen examined; Mayaguez, Agricultural reference. experiment station, United States, s.n. Jun' 1925, Gorcinia ind.ica (Thouars) Choisy in DC', T. B. Mcclelland 0'[Y-01053482) (New York Prodr. 1: 561.1824;Hook.f-, F]. Brit. India 1: Botanical Garden); (Diphu, Larulangso, Chowki261. L874;Gamble,Fl. Pres. Madras 73(53).hola, Eastern part of Karbi Anglong district, Assam, 1915;Singhin Sharma& Sanjappa,Fl. Ind. 3: Dec,2Ol2; April, 2012, J. Sarma & S. Baruah, 432, 113. 1993.Brindonia indica'l}i'ouars'Dict. Sci. 420 (GUHB). Nat. 5: 340. 1804.Garciniapurpurea(G. Don) Roxb.,Fl. Ind. 2: 624. 1832.Stalagmitis indica 122 J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Vol.38 No. 1 (2014) Plate 1. Figs Fruits bearing plant, B-E, Fruits, C-T.S.of the fruits, D- Bark, E-Seeds Sarma, Baruah & Borthahur KANJILAL, U.N.; P.C. KANJILAL & A. DAS 1934-1940. Flora of Assam. V-I. Published (Raw Expart Book Agency.Delhi. 103-110. Periodical India of The wealth 2000. ANOMIUOUS materials), First Supplement Series, Vol. V, KAR, A.; S. BORKAKOTI, & S.K. BORTI{AKUR NISCOM CSIR Publication, New Delhi. 2008. Extended distribution of the genus Garcinia L. in Sonitpur district, Assam. BALAKHRISNAN, N.P. 1981.Flora of Jowai.Yol. Pleione. 2(2): L65-L7O. 1. Botanical Survey of India, Howarh. BARUAH, S. & S.K. BORTHAKTIR 2012. Studies LOPES, B. 2007. httpil lBzine&tticles.com.2 expert - Bruno Lopes. on morphology and ethnobotany of Six species of Garcinia L. (Clusiaceae) found in the MABBERLEY, D J. 2005. The plant Book-A Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India. J. 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