Notes on Taxonomic Identity, Distribution and Ecological Status of the Genus Ceropegia L. in Western Ghats of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India

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1 American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 15 (10): , 2015 ISSN IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: /idosi.aejaes Notes on Taxonomic Identity, Distribution and Ecological Status of the Genus Ceropegia L. in Western Ghats of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India B. Subbaiyan, S. Jagatheskumar, A. Venkatachalapathi, V. Aravindhan, P. Samydurai and V. Thangapandian 1 Department of Botany, Kongunadu Arts and Science College [Autonomous], Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Institute of Forest Genetic and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract: The present study was made to assess the morphological identification, distribution, ecological status of the genus Ceropegia in Western Ghats of Coimbatore district Tamil Nadu, India. A taxonomic survey was conducted during and a total of 8 species of Ceropegia (Ceropegia bulbosa, C. bulbosa var. lushii, C. juncea, C. candelabrum, C. pusilla, C. intermedia, C. omissa and C. elegans) were collected. Their taxonomic identification was confirmed on critical appraisal and authentication of herbarium specimens. The present paper deals with their correct taxonomic identity, distribution and ecological status. Key words: Ceropegia Western Ghats India Threat status Conservation INTRODUCTION Presently the genus is represented by 50 species of which about 38 species were recorded in Western Ghats. The genus Ceropegia L. belongs to the plant family Out of these 38 species of Ceropegia in Western Ghats Asclepiadaceae, is an old world tropical genus and is one about 15 are narrow endemic and all of them are highly of the largest genus in the tribe Ceropegieae. The genus threatened [5, 6]. The level of endemism suggests the consists of about 200 species and is widespread along the Western Ghats as one of the centers for evolution and margin of the Indian Ocean [1]. It has always been a diversification of Ceropegia L. Several species of fascination to the botanists because of various reasons Ceropegia L. are facing different threats and are narrow like their distinct diversity in reference to habit, habitat, endemics while 16 species are recorded under different flower structure and ecological adaptations. Attractive categories in Red Data Book [7]. flytrap flowers [2], flower design, corolla size, shape and The species of Ceropegia as a whole are under coloring pattern etc are some special characters of this threat, owing to either destructive collection or habitat genus. degradation. They are not only genetically depleted but The maximum diversity of Ceropegia L. occurs in also are scarcely available. The genus Ceropegia is South Africa followed by Kenya and Madagascar. Its included under the Plants and the Indian Wildlife species diversity eastwards diminishes in Arabia where [Protection] Act The Director General of Foreign only 10 species were recorded and only one species in Trade prohibits the export of Ceropegia species under Pakistan. However, most of the species of Ceropegia 'Negative List of Exports and Import Policy, [8]. have a restricted distribution only in certain regions. They occur in a wide range of habitats from equatorial Ansari [3] reported 44 species of Indian Ceropegia of forest to semi-desert, but are not found in true deserts. which 28 are said to be endemic. Karthikeyan et al. [4] The rootstock is often a cluster of fleshy [fusiform] reported about 56 species, two subspecies and three roots, a discoid tuber, occasionally an elongated tuber or varieties for India. rhizome, or only has fibrous roots. The stems range from Corresponding Author: B. Subbaiyan, Department of Botany, Kongunadu Arts and Science College [Autonomous], Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 2021

2 Fig. 1: Study area herbaceous to extremely succulent. The root tubers active against diarrhoea and dysentery [10]. The contain starch, sugar, gum, albuminoids, fats and crude present paper not only gives the taxonomic description fiber and are valuable constituents in many traditional but also describe the unusual morphological medicinal systems in India [9]. Active principle of differences showed by different species collected in the tuberous root contains an alkaloid Ceropegine which is study region. 2022

3 Study Area: The various tribal inhabits in Coimbatore Subcontinent [India and Pakistan]: district is a part of Southern Western Ghats. The Maharashtra: Pune, Raigad, Satara, Thane following areas of Coimbatore district were selected for Karnataka: Belgaum, Hassan, S. Kanara study area: Madhukarai, Palamalai, Maruthamalai, Tamil Nadu: Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Velliangiri hills and Siruvani hills (Fig. 1). Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram and Coimbatore. Andhra Pradesh [Cuddapah, MATERIALS AND METHODS Khammam, Visakhapatnam], Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Orissa [Angul] and West Frequent field surveys were carried out in around Bengal. Coimbatore hilly regions during various seasons in 2012 Uses: Raw tubers eaten for enhancing ladies to The ethnobotanical data and local name, habitat, fertility and vitality, decoction taken to get flowering, ecological status and medicinal uses were rid of urinary bladder stone, paste applied on observed. The collected specimens were identified the inflammation of skin. taxonomically using The Flora of Presidency of Madras 2. Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Graham) Hook. f., [11]; The Flora of Tamil Nadu and Carnatic [12] and the Fl. Brit. India 4: ; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras following reference authors [13, 14]. The enumerated 857(602) A fleshy, twiner, Leaves 6-8 x cm, plants were documented by Botanical name, Local name, linear-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base acute; petiole to 1 habitat, family, ecological status and medicinal uses cm. Cymes axillary, umbellate; peduncle to 1.5 cm; bracts (Table 1). Voucher specimens have been deposited in the 3 mm, linear; pedicel 5 mm; calyx 5-lobed, to 5 mm, beaked, Herbarium, Department of Botany, Kongunadu Arts and dark purple, tube yellow with dark blotches; pollinia 3, Science College [Autonomous], Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, obovoid-circular, caudicle minute, receptacle small; outer India. corolla ca 1mm, cupular, membranous, inner corona 5, ca 2 mm, spathulate, connivent. Enumeration: Flowering & Fruiting: July-October 1. Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. Pl. Cor. 1: Habitat: Occasional in moist deciduous forests. 11.t & Fl. Ind. 2: ; FBI 4: Specimen examined: Madukkarai hills, B ; Gamble 2: 857[602] Subbaiyan BS: 017 [ ]. S. Jagathes Kumar SJ: 0163 [ ]. A fleshy, twiner, with a round depressed tuber. Stems Distribution: Karnataka: N. Kanara; Kerala: very slender, glabrous. Leaves fleshy, variable, lower Palakkad; Tamil Nadu: Cuddalore, orbicular, upper ones elliptic-oblong or obovate, x Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Madurai, cm, chartaceous when dry, glabrous, base obtuse, Salem, Thiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, subacute or subcordate, margin entire, apex acutely Viluppuram and Coimbatore. apiculate. Flowers small, greenish in lateral, pedunculate Uses: Tubers are used to treat the urinary umbellate, 3-7-flowered cymes. Peduncles cm long, disorder and stomach pain. arising from between the petioles. Calyx 5-partite, with 3. Ceropegia candelabrum L. Sp. PI glandular scales within, divided to the base; sepals 1753; FBI 4: ; FPM ; lanceolate, acute. Corolla lobes valvate in bud, connate at FTC 3(2); ; Huber in Dassan. & their apices, purplish within. Corolla tube with base Fosb., Handp. Fl. Ceylon 4: ; inflated, lobes shorter than tube. Corona double, arising M.Y. Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: ; from the staminal column. Pollen masses erect, attached to FTN 2: ; Nicols. et al., Interp. Hort. the pollen carriers by very short caudicles. Follicles Malab C. ellitii Hook.f., Fl. Brit. cylindric, glabrous, tapering towards an acute apex. India 4: Twining climber. Leaves by Habitat: Very rare, in dry deciduous forests cm, elliptic-ovate, acuminate at apex, acute at base, Flowering & Fruiting: September - October. entire at margins, glabrous, membranous, Flowers in Specimen examined: Tamil Nadu: axillary racemose cyme. Calyx-lobes 5, 0.5 cm long, narrow. Madukkarai hills, B. Subbaiyan BS: 015 Corolla-tube c 2.5 cm long; lobs 5, c 0.5 cm long, hairy ( ). S. Jagathes Kumar SJ: 0159 within. Corona double; outer lobes 5, hairy; inner lobes 5, ( ). spathulate, c 0.2 cm long. Follicles 7-8 cm long, narrowly Distribution: It is confined to Indian attenuate. 2023

4 Table 1: Distribution, ecological Status and medicinal uses of Ceropegia species in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India S.No. Botanical Name Ecological Status Common/ Tamil name Distribution Parts used Medicinal uses Source 1 Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb VU/EN Chatimuti Kizangu Madhukarai hills, Leaves and tubers Maruthamalai and were used for urinary Palamalai Leaves and tuber disorder and anti- diabetic activity. IUCN Ceropegia juncea Roxb. R Pulichankodi Maruthamalai, Aerial parts Aerial parts are used Palamalai and Madhukarai hills for anti- diabetic activity and control gastrointestinal disorders. Karuppusamy et al., Ceropegia candelabrum L. R Perunkodi Madhukarai hills, Leaves and Paste of leaves is Been et al., Siruvani, Velliangiri Tuberous root applied on forehead to cure the headache and Promote fertility. 4 Ceropegia intermedia Wight. E - Velliangiri, Siruvani Leaves and Leaves were used Murthy et al., Tuberous root as Skin Diseases and edible. 5 Ceropegia omissa H.Huber. E/Possibly extinct - Velliangiri Tuberous root - IUCN, 1997; Murthy et al., Ceropegia elegans Wall. E Perungilangu Siruvani Root The roots were Krishna Reddy chewed at the time and Pullaiah, of the snake bite 7 Ceropegia pusilla Wight & Arn. EN/E - Velliangiri Leaves and Tuber Tubers were used as a Murugaesan, 2005; Snake bite and Suresh and edible purpose. Paulsamy, Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii Hook.f. R Chitlankodi Madhukarai hills Leaves and tuber Tubers are used to treat Henry et al., urinary disorder and stomach pain Flowering & Fruiting: September-November Follicles paired, 20 x 1 cm, linear-lanceolate, hooked at Habitat: Moist deciduous forests and scrub jungles. apex. Specimen examined: Tamil Nadu: Ramanathapuram, V. Balasubramaniam VB: 2199 [1991]. Velliangiri hills, B. Flowering & fruiting: October-January Subbaiyan BS: 016 [ ]. Velliangiri hills, S. Jagathes Habitat: Rare in dry deciduous forests and scrub jungles. Kumar SJ: 0184 [ ]. Specimen examined: Ramanathapuram, V. Distribution: Kerala: Palakkad, Kasaragode, Balasubramaniam VB: 2244 [1991]. Kollam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Madukkarai hills, B. Subbaiyan BS: 020 Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, [ ]. Maruthamalai, S. Jagathes Kozhikkode, Thrissur; Tamilnadu: Kumar SJ: 0170 [ ]. Coimbatore, Nilgiris Distribution: Maharashtra: Satara; Uses: Paste of leaves is applied on forehead to cure the Karnataka: Chikmagalur, Dharwar, Hassan, headache and promote fertility. Mysore, N. Kanara; Kerala: Idukki; Tamil 4. Ceropegia juncea Roxb., Pl. Cor. t. 10. Nadu: Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, 1795; Wight, ic. t. 1260, 1848; FBI 4: 68. Kancheepuram, Puddukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvallur, 1883; FPM ; FTO (3)2: ; Tiruchchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Huber in Dassan. & Fosb., Rev. Handb. Fl. Tiruvannamalai and Viluppuram. Ceylon 4: ; M.Y. Ansari, Fasc. Fl. Uses: In folk medicine the extract of the India 16: ; FTN 2: plant is used for treatment of for the treatment of liver disorders and also in Twiner, leafless, sap watery, stem striated. Cymes hypotension, ulcerative condition, fever, axillary; peduncles 1 cm; pedicels 1 cm long. calyx 5-lobed, topically used as anesthetic agent [Jagatap 5 x 1 mm, lanceolate; corolla basally inflated, curved, tube and Singh, 1999]. 2.5 cm long, widened at mouth, lobes 5, 3 cm long, fused 5. Ceropegia pusilla Wight & Arn. in at apex, inside with brown hairs; outer corona 5, with 2-fid Wight, Contrib ; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. lobes, 3 mm; inner of 5 subulate lobes; pollinia erect, India 4: ; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras pellucid along margins; ovaries 2 mm, stigma truncate. 856 [601]

5 Erect tuberous herbs, to 15 cm tall; tuber 3-5 cm Twiners. Leaves 8-11 x 2 cm, lanceolate, apex acute, across, depressed globose. Leaves to 8 x 0.4 cm, linear, base obtuse, membranous; petiole 1.3 cm. Cymes axillary; acute, base narrowed into a short petiole. Peduncle 8-10 peduncles 1.5 cm; pedicels 1.5 cm; flowers purplish; calyx mm long. Flowers greenish, 3-5 together, 3.5 cm long; 5-lobed, 3.5 mm, linear lanceolate; corolla curved, base sepals 4 x 1 mm, subulate, puberulus; corolla tube 1.6 cm bulbous, tube 2.3 cm, lobes fused at apex, lobes 8 mm, long, dialated below; lobes 1.5 x 0.4 cm, oblong, obtuse, ciliate; outer corona cupular, 5-lobed, 1 mm, inner 2 mm, base revolute, auricled; outer corona 2 mm across, spathulate. divided, lobes obtuse; inner corona 4.5 mm long, oblong, obtuse, connate. Flowering & Fruiting: September-December Habitat: Rare in scrub jungles and evergreen forests. Flowering & Fruiting: September - December Specimen examined: Velliangiri hills, B. Habitat: Very rare in open grassland. Subbaiyan BS: 022 [ ]. S. Jagathes Specimen examined: Velliangiri hills, M. Kumar SJ: 0101 [ ]. Murugesan MM: 594 [2005]. B. Subbaiyan Distribution: Kerala: Idukki, Palakkad BS: 019 [ ]. S. Jagathes Kumar SJ: Tamil Nadu: Dindigul, Tirunelveli and 0217 [ ]. Coimbatore. Endemic to Western Ghats. Distribution: Karnataka: Mysore Kerala: Idukki Tamil 8. Ceropegia elegans Wall. in Curtis, Bot. Nadu: Coimbatore, Nilgiri, Theni. Endemic to Southern Mag. 57: t ; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Western Ghats. India 4: ; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras Uses: Tubers were used as a Snake bite and 857[602] edible purpose. 6.Ceropegia intermedia Wight, Ic. t Twiners. Leaves to 4 x 3 cm, ovate, lanceolate, apex 1848 emend. Huber, Mem. Soc. Bro. 12: 61. acute, base slightly cordate, membranous; petiole 1.5 cm. t. 2. f ; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: Cymes axillary; peduncles 1.5 cm; pedicels 1 cm; calyx ; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 858 [603] mm. Linear; corolla base bulbous, mouth broadly widened, tube, 1.8 cm long, curved, lobes 5, 1 x 0.6 cm, triangular, Glabrous twiners. Leaves to 10 x 2 cm, lanceolate, ovate, obtusely apiculate; outer corona lobes 5, deeply 2- acute to acuminate, base rounded or acute; nerves 3 or 4 fid, 2 mm; inner lobes 5, 2 mm, linear. pairs; petiole cm long. Flowers purple, to 3 x 1 cm, few to many together, in axillary racemes; pedicels 15 mm Flowering & Fruiting: June-December. long; sepals 4 x 0.6 mm, linear; corolla tube 2 cm long, Habitat: Occasional in evergreen and semi-evergreen prominently dialated at base, narrow above; lobes 10 x 3 forests. mm, ovate, pubescent inside; gynostegium 4 x 0.9 mm; Specimen examined: Siruvani hills, B. outer corona shallowly lobed, lobes blunt; inner corona Subbaiyan BS: 023 [ ]. S. Jagathes lobes spathulate, connate above. Kumar SJ: 0110 [ ]. Distribution: Karnataka: Chikmagalur, Flowering & Fruiting: June-December Hassan, Mysore, Shimoga Kerala: Idukki, Habitat: Rare in semi-evergreen forests and scrub jungles. Kannur, Kollam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Specimen examined: Velliangiri hills, B. Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Nadu: Subbaiyan BS: 021 [ ]. S. Jagathes Coimbatore, Dindigul, Nilgiri, Theni, Kumar SJ: 0110 [ ]. Tirunelveli, Tiruvannamalai. Distribution: Karnataka: Coorg, Mysore, Uses: The roots were chewed at the time of Shimoga Kerala: Idukki, Palakkad Tamil the snake bite. Nadu: Coimbatore, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Namakkal, Nilgiri, Theni, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Tirunelveli. Endemic to Peninsular India. Uses: Leaves were used as skin diseases and The results of the study revealed that a total of also edible. 8 species Ceropegia L. belonging to the family 7. Ceropegia omissa H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Asclepidiaceae were distributed in the different places of Brot. 12: ; M.Y. Ansari, Fasc. Fl. Coimbatore District. The overall study focused on the Ind. 16: collection and identification of Ceropegia species, the 2025

6 Fig. 2: Habit and Flower of Ceropegia species in Coimbatore district A. Habit of Ceropegia bulbosa, B. Flower of C. bulbosa, C. Habit of C. juncea, D. Flower of C. juncea, E. Habit of C. intermedia, F. Flower of C. intermedia Fig. 3: Habit and Flower of Ceropegia species in Coimbatore district. A. Habit of Ceropegia elegans, B. Flower of C. elegans, C. Habit of C. candelabrum, D. Flower of C. candelabrum, E. Habit of C. bulbosa var. lushii, F. Flower of C. bulbosa var. lushii 2026

7 maximum numbers of plants were observed in Madhukarai Thangapandian, Associate Professor Dept. of Botany, hills [C. juncea, C. bulbosa, C. bulbosa var. lushii] Kongunadu Arts and Science College (Autonomous), and followed Velliangiri [C. candelabrum, C. intermedia, Coimbatore, for his exemplary guidance, monitoring and C. omissa and C. pusilla] Marudhamalai [C. juncea, constant encouragement throughout the Paperwork. We C. bulbosa], Siruvani [C. candelabrum, C. intermedia, also admire the help provided by Botanical Survey of C. elegans]. In Palamalai region, two species were India, Southern Circle (Coimbatore) in identification of collected such as C. juncea and C. bulbosa (Fig. 2 & 3). plant species. Thanks are also due to Professor and Head, The present investigation also observed the Department of Botany, Kongunadu arts and Science population of Ceropegia L. species in Coimbatore district; College (Autonomous), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for it s very low in various study area, because of their providing necessary facilities and encouragement. habitat, bad environmental condition, irregular collection of plant parts like, leaves, tuberous root and bulb, low REFERENCES seed formation, poor seed germination, animal disturbance, mode of preparation and consumption by 1. Bruyns, P.V., Three new succulent species of local people. The distribution of this species is very much Apocynaceae (Asclepiadoideae] from southern restricted and the existing population is under threat, Africa. Kew Bull., 58: species such as C. bulbosa, C. pusilla and C. elegans 2. Percival, M.G., Floral Biology. Pergaman Press, collected during the study belong to the category Oxford, pp: possibly extinct so we treat to conserve the through 3. Ansari, M.Y., Asclepiadaceae: Genus different type of propagation methods. Ceropegia - Fascicles. In Flora of India. Botanical In recent years, many research articles mentioned Survey of India, Calcutta, 16: about the Ceropegia species went to RET category 4. Karthikeyan, S., M. Sanjappa and S. Moorthy, due to their over exploitation from their natural habitat, Flowering plants of India., Dicotyledons C. juncea [15], C. elegans [16] and C. intermedia [17] [Acanthaceae - Avicenniaceae], 1: Botanical were endemic to Southern India. C. candelabrum, [18] Survey of India, Calcutta. was Rare in different parts India. C. bulbosa [19] and 5. Ahmedulla, M. and M.P. Nayar, Endemic plants C. pusilla [20-22] were endangered and endemic in India. of the Indian region Peninsular India, BSI Flora of The tuberous roots of many Ceropegia species are edible India Ser., 4(1): [23], whereas those of C. bulbosa and C. candelabrum 6. Jagatap, A.P. and N.P. Singh, Fascicles of Flora have medicinal properties [24]. of India Fasc. 24: Periplocaceae and Asclepidaceae, CONCLUSION 7. pp: Nayar, M.P. and A.R. Sastry, Red Data Book of Indian Plants I-III (BSI) Calcutta. The study observed that all the collected species 8. Reddy, C.S., K.N. Reddy and S.N. Jadhav, was known from only a single location in the study Threatened (Medicinal) Plants of Andhra Pradesh, region, which is under high biotic pressure such as cattle Medicinal Plants Conservation Centre, Hyderabad. grazing, tourism and trampling, land use changes, etc. In 9. Kirtikar, K.R. and B.D. Basu, Indian medicinal view of this, detailed field studies were conducted for plants Vol. 3. M/s Bishen Sing Mahendrapal Singh, gaining more information regarding its status and trends New Delhi, India, pp: in the wild. The CITES Authorities of India have indicated 10. Nadkarni, K.M., Indian Materia Medica. that habitat destruction and collecting of tubers for local Popular Prakashan, Bombay, India, 1: consumption are the major threats. It is noticed that most 11. Gamble, J.S. and C.E.C. Fischer, Flora of of the species reported in the was already included in the the Presidency Madras. Vol. I-III. Adlard & Co. IUCN Ret list categories and therefore, In-vitro London [Reprinted 1956]. Botanical Survey of India, conservation studies should be taken up to overcome the Calcutta. extinction rate of such species. 12. Matthew, K.M., The Flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic. The Rapinat Herbarium, St. Joseph s ACKNOWLEDGEMENT College, Tiruchirapalli, India. 13. Henry, A.N., G.R. Kumari and V. Chitra, Flora of I take this opportunity to express my profound Tamilnadu, India, Series 1: Analysis Botanical Survey gratitude and deep regards to my guide Dr. V. of India, Southern Circle, Coimbatore. 2027

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