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Rediscovery, systematics and proposed Red List status of
Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale and S.R. Rahangdale
nom. nov. (Asparagaceae) - an endemic species from the
Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India
Article
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online)
ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
OPEN ACCESS
Savita Sanjaykumar Rahangdale 1 & Sanjaykumar Ramlal Rahangdale 2
1
Department of Botany, B.J. Arts, Commerce & Science College, Ale, Pune District, Maharashtra 412411, India
Department of Botany, A.W. Arts, Science & Commerce College, Otur, Pune District, Maharashtra 412409, India
1
savitarahangdale7@gmail.com, 2 rsanjay2@hotmail.com (corresponding author)
2
Abstract: A new name in the genus Ledebouria Roth is validated for Scilla viridis Blater & Hallberg [non Scilla viridis (L.) Salisbury]. It
is rediscovered ater about 85 years of its irst and only report. It is also redescribed on the basis of morphology, anatomy, cytology
and assigned the name Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily
Hyacinthoideae. As this is a species endemic to the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, it is studied for threat status as per IUCN criteria
& guidelines and assigned the status Criically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). Ideniicaion keys for the genera and species of subfamily
Hyacinthoideae reported from India are prepared on the basis of reported and observed characters.
Keywords: Asparagaceae, cytology, Criically Endangered, endemic, Hyacinthoideae, India, IUCN Red List assessment, Maharashtra, Nomen
novum, systemaics, Western Ghats.
Marathi Abstract: SatavarI kuLatIla laoiDbaaoiryaa p`jaatImaQaIla ‘]nmaadkMd’ ikMvaa ‘puYpayaitkMd’ mhNajao isalaa ivhirDIsa bla^Tr va halabaga- *yaa jaatIsaazI naivana vaanasaSaas~Iya naava AiQakRt krNyaat
Aalao Aaho. hI vanasptI itcyaa p`qama va ekmaova naaoMdInaMtr 85 poxaa jaast vaYaa-MnaI punaSaao-iQat krNyaat AalaI Aaho. saaobatca itcyaa baa*yaaMgaÊ AMtrMgaÊ p`jananaÊ tsaoca kaoiSakIya vaanasaSaas~Iya AByaasaanaMtr punava-iNa-t
k$na laoiDbaaoiryaa jaunnaroMisasa esa.esa. rhaMgaDalao va esa.Aar. rhaMgaDalao Asao navanaamaaMkrNa kolao Aaho. hI vanasptI maharaYT/atIla ]%%ar piScama GaaTamaQyao sqaanabad\Qa AsalyaamauLo itcaa Aaya.yau.saI.ena. caI
AaMtrraYTIya maanako va maaga-dSa-k t%vaaMnausaar saKaola AByaasa k$na *yaa vanasptIsa ‘AtIBayaga`st’ jaatI mhNaUna p`maaiNat krNyaat yaot Aaho. saaobatca *yaa kuLatIla Baartat AaZLt Asalaolyaa laoiDbaaoiryaa ³KajakMd´
saar#yaa [tr p`jaatI va %yaatIla jaatIMcaI AaoLK pTivaNyaasaazI AaoLK ikllaI sadr SaaoQainabaMQaat doNyaat AalaI Aaho.
DOI: htp://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jot.2167.8.2.8421-8433
Editor: N.P. Balakrishnan, Retd. Joint Director, BSI, Coimbatore, India.
Date of publicaion: 26 February 2016 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms # 2167 | Received 20 July 2015 | Final received 03 February 2016 | Finally accepted 05 February 2016
Citaion: Rahangdale, S.S. & S.R. Rahangdale (2016). Rediscovery, systemaics and proposed Red List status of Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale and S.R.
Rahangdale nom. nov. (Asparagaceae) - an endemic species from the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(2): 8421–8433; htp://
dx.doi.org/10.11609/jot.2167.8.2.8421-8433
Copyright: © Rahangdale & Rahangdale 2016. Creaive Commons Atribuion 4.0 Internaional License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this aricle in any medium,
reproducion and distribuion by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publicaion.
Funding: None.
Conlict of Interest: The authors declare no compeing interests.
Author Details: Savita Sanjaykumar Rahangdale holds a PhD in Angiosperm taxonomy with special reference to impact of anthropocentric developmental
aciviies on lorisic composiion from Agharkar Research Insitute, Pune and works as Assistant Professor in Botany. She is Fellow of Indian Associaion for
Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT) and Indian Associaion of Biological Sciences. Sanjaykumar Ramlal Rahangdale holds PhD in classical Geneics from Agharkar
Research Insitute, Pune and works as Associate Professor & Head, Department of Botany. Presently, he is working on Pteridophytes of northern Western Ghats,
Maharashtra. Also works with State Department of Forests for assessment and conservaion of plant diversity.
Author Contribuion: SSR contributed in the taxonomic part of the study materials, while SRR dealt with cytology, anatomy and comparisons with the other
species. The paper was writen jointly by both the authors with equal contribuion.
Acknowledgements: Authors sincerely thank Dr. Brita Stedje, University of Oslo, Norway and Dr. Bohumil Trávniček, Palacky University, Czech Republic for providing
valuable literature and suggesions. Criical suggesions and support from Dr. Aparna Watve of Tata Insitute of Social Sciences, Tuljapur Campus are also gratefully
acknowledged. The thanks are due to Hon. Editor Dr. N.P. Balakrishnan for his valuable suggesions about nomenclature and Dr. Sanjay Molur for the help in IUCN
analysis. The help extended from Botanical Survey of India, Western Circle, Pune; Agharkar Research Insitute, Pune and Blater Herbarium, St Xavier’s College,
Mumbai is also being acknowledged with sincere thanks. We also thank the Department of Forests, Government of Maharashtra for support during the ield work
and the Management authoriies and Principals of DGM’s B.J. Arts, Commerce and Science College, Ale and PDEA’s A.W. College, Otur for faciliies.
8421
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
INTRODUCTION
The genus Ledebouria Roth of the family
Asperagaceae, subfamily Hyacinthoideae is distributed
in tropical Africa and Asia including India. The genus was
described on the basis of the type species L. hyacinthina
Roth from India in 1821 (Venter 2008). The species
was later placed in the genus Scilla L. under the secion
Ledebouria involving many species of genus Scilla by
Baker (1870). Ater the study of South African bulbous
Liliaceae collecions, Jessop (1970) reinstated the genus
Ledebouria, on the basis of bulb with deciduous leaves,
erect/laccid inlorescences, pair of basal ovules in
each locule and sipitate ovary. A revision of the genus
Ledebouria for South Africa and sub-Saharan collecions
was done by Venter (2008), comprising more than 60
species. Based on his observaions, he stated that, there
may be more than one species of this genus in India.
Speta (1998a) revised the family Hyacinthaceae and on
the basis of morphological, anatomical, developmental,
and biochemical characters delimited a total of 65 genera
of the family under ive subfamilies, viz.: Chlorogaloideae
Speta, Oziroeoideae Speta, Urgineoideae Speta,
Ornithogloideae Speta and Hyacinthoideae Link.
According to her the genus Ledebouria comprising
about 50 species and Fessia Speta comprising about 10
species are represented by 1 or 2 species in India, while
the genus Scilla L. (sensu stricto) comprising about 30
species is naturally distributed in European, south-west
Asian and Mediterranean regions but does not occur in
India as well as south of the Sahara. Speta (1998a) also
commented that sexual reproducion is predominant;
besides this, agamospermy and vegetaive reproducion
by bulbils may also occur in some taxa. Lenski (1958)
reported that, some species of Ledebouria produce
bulbils on the leaf ips. The phylogeneic linkages of the
taxa in family Hyacinthaceae were studied by Pfosser
& Speta (1999) on the basis of plasid DNA sequences.
They placed the genus Scilla in Scilla clade, Fessia with
two species complexes: (1) the S. hohenackeri Fischer &
Meyers group and (2) the S. bisotunensis Speta group in
Fessia clade and Ledebouria in Massonieae clade. On
the basis of phylogeneic and molecular characters it has
been shown that the genus Scilla is not monophyleic and
divided into several smaller genera, viz.: Zagrosia Speta,
Prospero Salisbury, Othocallis Salisbury, Nectaroscilla
Parlatore, Fessia and Scilla (Pfosser & Speta 1999).
Further, Stedje (2001) emphasized the use of qualitaive
morphological characters for generic delimitaion of
Hyacinthaceae and the molecular or quanitaive data as
supporive informaion. Thus, on the basis of the above
8422
facts it is clear that the Indian taxa treated under the
genus Scilla need criical observaions and revision to
resolve the taxonomic ambiguity.
In older Indian loras (Hooker 1892; Cooke 1958)
genus Scilla L. has been treated under the family
Liliaceae. In India, only three species of this genus
were recorded: S. hohenackeri Fischer & Meyers, S.
hyacinthina (Roth) J.F. McBride, and S. viridis Blater
& Hallberg (Deb & Dasgupta 1981; Karthikeyan et al.
1989). The Indian species tradiionally placed in the
genus Scilla L., are now segregated into three disinct
clades (i.e., the Massonieae clade, Fessia clade and
Scilla clade) and taxonomically treated as Ledebouria
revoluta (L.f.) Jessop (Syn. Ledebouria hyacinthina Roth,
Scilla hyacinthina (Roth) J.F. McBride, S. indica Baker)
(Lebatha et al. 2006; Venter 2008; Govaerts 2013);
Fessia hohenackeri (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Speta (Syn. Scilla
hohenackeri Fischer & Meyers) (Govaerts 2013); and
Scilla viridis Blater & Hallberg. Recently, a new species,
Ledebouria hyderabadensis Ramana, Prasanna & Venu
with erect leaves, without blotches on leaves, penicillate
sigma and 1 or 2 lobed capsules, was described from
Hyderabad and surrounding areas having a close ainity
to L. revoluta and was added to the Indian lora (Ramana
et al. 2012).
Of these, S. viridis Blat. & Hallb. is endemic to
Maharashtra (India) and considered to be ‘possibly
exinct’ (Mishra & Singh 2001). The species was
collected for the irst ime from ‘Khandala’ [Centre of
‘Khandala’ Village 1800’N & 73023’E (as per Santapau
1958)] by McCann in vegetaive state in September 1918.
It was planted in St. Xaviers’ College, Mumbai, where it
bloomed in the month of March 1919 and based on this
lowering it was described as a new species with the
Holotype-14500 (BLAT!) by Blater & Hallberg (1921).
The original protologue of the species comprises only
descripion in the Lain and type specimen, without any
igure, geographic coordinates, elevaion or ecological
notes. Santapau (1958) did not record the species from
‘Khandala’ in his ‘The Flora of Khandala on the Western
Ghats of India’. Subsequent atempts by diferent
taxonomists were also unfruiful in collecion of the
species from Khandala, the type locaion or elsewhere
(Mishra & Singh 2001). Only the Holotype - 14500
(BLAT!) is the proof for its occurrence in India (Blater
& Hallberg 1921; Santapau 1958). Therefore, Nayar &
Sastry (1987) included it in the Red Data Book under
Endangered category and also by Sharma et al. (1996).
While doing a reassessment of threatened lowering
plants of Maharashtra, Mishra & Singh (2001) were
also unable to re-collect the species and it was declared
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
‘probably exinct’. The Plant List placed it in the category
of ‘unresolved taxa names’ because of deiciency of
informaion on the taxon and also non-availability of the
authenic specimens (The Plant List 2015).
In the year 2005 during the month of June, the
present authors collected interesing specimens, which
were disinct from commonly occurring Ledebouria
revoluta, from Durgawadi-Pimparwadi area of Taluk
Junnar, District Pune, Maharashtra State. The vegetaive
and reproducive characters of the specimens resulted
in their ideniicaion as S. viridis Blat. & Hallb.
(Rahangdale 2008). Moreover, as there are eco-morphs
and cytological variaions in L. revoluta, and S. viridis was
considered to be possibly exinct, it was decided that,
the specimens needed further conirmaion on the basis
of criical observaions, comparison with specimens of
other species and detailed study.
The homonymy in the species remained unnoiced
for a long ime and Karthikeyan et al. (1989), Sharma
et al. (1996), and Mishra & Singh (2001) considered the
taxa, S. viridis and S. hohenackeri as accepted names
in their works. In the Flora of Maharashtra (Almeida
2009), S. viridis was transferred to the genus Ledebouria
Roth as a new combinaion Ledebouria viridis (Blat. &
Hallb.) S. Data and P. Harvey based on the holotype
McCann, Blater 14500, with descripion in English
on the basis of the original Lain protologue and Scilla
viridis Blat. & Hallb. as a synonym. Interesingly, in the
original protologue and the descripion in the Flora of
Maharashtra (Almeida 2009) there is no comment on
the leaf characters. Unil the year 2015, the species
was placed as an ‘unresolved taxon’ on the databases
of The Plant list (2015) and IPNI (2015) (both accessed
on 22 June 2015); while S. hohenackeri as a synonym of
Fessia hohenackeri (The Plant list 2015). On 14 August
2015 the status of the taxon under study, at IPNI was
revised by Prof. K.N. Gandhi and named Ledebouria
viridis S.R. Data & P. Harvey ex Almeida with the remark,
‘The protologue shows Ledebouria viridis as a new
combinaion’ (IPNI 2015; assessed on 03 January 2016).
On searching the literature, it was found that, the
name Scilla viridis Blater & Hallberg is a later homonym
of Scilla viridis (L.) Salisbury, [Prodr. Sirp. Chap. Allerton
243. 1796; with the synonyms Lachenalia viridis Soland.
in Ait. Hort. Kew, v.1, p: 462 and Hyacinthus viridis L.
Sp. Pl. ed. 2, p: 554]. The types are also diferent for
both these homonyms. Therefore, according to ICBN
Aricle 53.1 (McNeil et al. 2012) Scilla viridis Blat. &
Hallb. becomes an illegiimate name. Later, the species
was transferred to the genus Ledebouria Roth as
Ledebouria viridis (Blat. & Hallb.) S. Data & P. Harvey
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
and validly published as per ICBN Aricle 41.8. It is a
new combinaion based on the illegiimate name Scilla
viridis Blat. & Hallb. and its only type. Thus, the new
combinaion also becomes illegiimate as per ICBN
Aricle 58.1 (Ex.1.) and Aricle 11.4 (For any taxon below
the rank of genus, the correct name is the combinaion
of the inal epithet of the earliest legiimate name of
the taxon in the same rank with the correct name of the
genus to which it is assigned). Therefore, a new name is
required for the taxon.
As the species has been re-collected ater about
85 years since its irst and only collecion, its IUCN
categorizaion was also needed. Hence, ater a criical
study during the period 2005 to 2014 with respect
to morphology, phenology, anatomy, cytology and
reproducion, it was assigned a new name. The IUCN
status has also been assigned and the ideniicaion keys
for the genera and species found in India are prepared
and presented in this paper.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant Materials
Specimens of the species under study were collected
from Durgawadi Pimparwadi area, Taluk Junnar,
district Pune, and for comparison the specimens of
Ledebouria were also collected from diferent locaions
in Maharashtra state comprising the Western Ghats,
Konkan, Pune, Marathwada and Vidarbha regions
in subsequent years (Table 1). The plant specimens
were observed in their natural habitat as well as under
culivaion ill date for phenology of the specimens, fruit
set, and other characters. The herbarium specimens
at Blater Herbarium (BLAT!), St. Xavier’s College,
Mumbai; Agharkar Herbarium Maharashtra Associaion
for Culivaion of Sciences (AHMA!), Agharkar Research
Insitute, Pune; and Herbarium of Botanical Survey
of India, Western Regional Centre (BSI!), Pune were
Table 1. Plant specimens collected for the present study.
Species
Locaions of collecion
Year of collecion
1
L. junnarensis
nom. nov.
Durgawadi area, Pune
2005, 2012
2
L. revoluta
Ratnagiri
2008
3
L. revoluta
Junnar, Pune
2005, 2008
4
L. revoluta
Kas, Satara
2009
5
L. revoluta
Deogiri, Aurangabad
2012
6
L. revoluta
Gondia
2014
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
8423
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
referred to for comparison and conirmaion of idenity
of the collected specimens.
Ledebouria junnarensis
S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale, nom. nov.
Methods
The cytological observaions were made using root
ips treated with an aqueous soluion of Colchicine
(0.02%) for one hour to arrest the metaphase in dividing
root ip cells and in the separaion of chromosomes.
The root ips were then ixed using Carnoy’s Fluid II and
then squashed and stained with aceto-carmine. The
observaions were made under a microscope using
100×10 objecive to eyepiece magniicaion (Dnyansagar
1986).
The observaions of anatomical characters were
made using Lawrence & Mayo Stereo-zoom microscope
for micro-morphological characters and Research
microscope atached with micro-photographic set up
with a Nikon Coolpix 6000 digital camera.
The ideniicaion keys for genera and species
recorded from India are prepared on the basis of
literature, observed characters of specimens and the
online herbarium specimens of the Royal Botanic
Gardens Kew, England available on the website www.
kew.org/science-conservaion/collecions/herbarium at
apps.kew.org/ herbcat/navigator.do. (RBG Kew 2015).
For threat status assessment, the number of
individuals was recorded at each visit to the locaion and
the geo-coordinates were obtained using hand-held GPS
(Garmin etrex vista HCX). The primary and secondary
informaion required as per IUCN Red List Categories
and Criteria version 6.2 were collected, following the
guidelines for assigning the criteria (Standards and
Peiions Working Group IUCN 2006).
Replaced synonyms
Scilla viridis Blat. & Hallb. in J. Indian Bot. 2: 52
(1921), nom. illeg.;
Ledebouria viridis (Blat. & Hall.) S. Duta & P. Harvey
in Almeida, Fl. Mah. 5A: 187 (2009) nom. illeg.;
non. Scilla viridis (L.) Salisbury in Prodr. Sirp. Chap.
Allerton 243 (1796). Deb & Dasgupta in Bull. Bot. Surv.
India 14: 45. (1975) 1978 & Fasc. Fl. India 7: 15 (1981);
Karthikeyan et al. in Florae Ind. Enum. Monocot. Flora
India ser. 4: 101. (1989); Sharma et al., in Fl. Mah. State,
Monocot. 40-41. (1996); Mishra & Singh in End. Threat.
Fl. Pl. Mah. 240-241. (2001).
Type
Holotype: 14500 (BLAT!), September 1918, Khandala,
Pune District, Maharashtra, India, 1800’N & 73023’E,
elevaion 536m, coll. McCann.
Paratypes: 22190, 22191 (AHMA!), 18.vi.2005,
Durgawadi, Junnar Taluk, Pune District, Maharashtra,
India, 19011’42.10”N & 73043’43.69”E, 990m, coll. S.B.
Nagarkar (now S.S. Rahangdale); 235, 236, 237, 238
(Herbarium of B.J. College, Ale), 25.vi.2012, Inglun
Ghat (Durgawadi), Junnar Taluk, 19011’42.10”N &
73043’43.69”E, 1068m, coll. S.S. Rahangdale.
Etymology of the epithet
The epithet ‘junnarensis’ is derived from the locality
of the present specimens, falling under the tehsil
Junnar in Pune District, Maharashtra State, India. The
re-collecion of specimens from the original locaion
Khandala was unfruiful and considered to be exirpated
from there.
RESULTS
The present study leads to the ideniicaion of the
specimens as S. viridis Blat. & Hallb. nom. illeg., which
could not be used. As per the current taxonomy, the
species its in the genus Ledebouria Roth and should be
named accordingly. The epithet ‘viridis’ also could not
be used as per ICBN Aricle 11.4, therefore, the species
is renamed as:
8424
Descripion
Perennial bulbous scapigerous herbs. Bulb without
bulblets, tunicate, tunic brown, lustrous on inner side,
ca. 4.2 × 2.5 cm, ovoid, solid; roots arising from the basal
disc of bulb, roots thick, branched. Bulb scales of three
vegetaion periods with one scape per year, imbricate,
2 in one ring. Leaves radical, thickened in the middle,
without conspicuous veins, 3–4 in number in one
vegetaive period, hysteranthous, ca. 14–45×1.5–2.1
cm, length increases ater lowering, linear; canaliculate
towards ip, apex acute with blunt, leshy, pink ip;
leaves pinkish-green when young, fully develop ater
lowering, spots on lamina vinaceous, disappear at
maturity; the leaf ip always produces one or rarely two
bulbils maturing into a plantlet at the compleion of the
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Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
B
A
C
F
E
I
J
K
D
G
H
L
Image 1. Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale.
A - Habit; B - Single plant at full growth on graph paper; C - Canaliculate leaf with leshy ip; D - Bracts; E - Cross secion of bulb showing scale
leaves of 2–3 vegetaion period with single scape per vegetaion period; F - Leaf margin; G - Cross secion of leaf margin; H - Flower; I - Carpel;
J - TS & VS of ovary; K - Fruits with persistent perianth; L - Muliplicaion through bulbils produced at leaf ips (series of developmental stages).
(Photographs and diagrams by S.R. Rahangdale)
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
8425
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
vegetaion period (Image 1). Scape single from each
bulb, ca. 18–40cm long, pinkish-purple when young,
erect, glabrous. Inlorescence lax raceme, from upper
half of scape, 15–30 lowered. Flowers purplish-green,
0.8–1.2 cm in diameter, stellate, on 1.0–1.5 cm long
pedicels with two unequal bracts of ca. 0.1–0.2 cm long,
glabrous. Perianth relexed, tepals 6, purplish, ca. 0.5cm
long each with a single prominent green vein, perigone
forming very short tube at base. Stamens 6, epitepalous,
outer 3 longer than inner; ilaments dark pink to purple,
glabrous, anthers purple, small, oblong, dorsiixed,
pollen grains yellow. Ovary tricarpellary, sipitate,
forming a dome, trilocular, subtrigonous, green, style ±
equal to the length of ilament, purple, ovules 2 or 3 in
each locule on axile placenta, ovules not side by side.
Fruit set rarely. Perianth persistent at fruiing. Seeds
ellipsoidal, dark brown, shiny with polygonal reiculaion
on testa.
Phenology
Plants emerge ater the pre-monsoon showers as
inlorescence and 2 or 3 leaves in the month of May–
June. The leaves grow very fast ater the lowering and
atain a length of 30–45 cm. Fruits develop and mature
in June-July, but the number of mature fruits per plant is
very low (about 1–3 fruits). The same lowering period
has been observed for the specimens under culivaion.
The plants remain dormant from September to mid May
in the form of underground bulbs.
Ecology
The populaion occurs on strong slopes of wellaerated deep soil rich in humus accumulated from grass
biomass. The habitat is shared by other ephemerals, viz.:
Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker, Crinum laifolium L. var.
laifolium, Cyanois tuberosa (Roxb.) J.A. & J.H. Schult.,
Euphorbia fusiformis Buch-Ham. ex D. Don, Habenaria
grandiloriformis Blat. & McCann, and Iphigenia
magniica Ansari & Rolla Rao and Iphigenia pallida
Baker. The average annual rainfall is about 200–250
cm with a cool climate from June to October, and misty
climate with saturaion of relaive humidity from July to
September. The annual air temperature ranges between
150C and 360C.
Cytology
The mitoic metaphase cell plates of root ip squash
revealed that the cells contain 2n=70 chromosomes.
This chromosome number is the highest and not yet
reported from any of the Ledebouria species (Image 2).
8426
A
B
C
Image 2. Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale
A - Somaic metaphase chromosomes in root ip cell 2n=70;
B - Starch grains with concentric striaions and Silica crystals;
C - Stoma on leaf epidermis. (Photographs by S.R. Rahangdale)
Leaf Anatomy
The leaf anatomy revealed that the margin of
the leaf is single cell in cross secion. Epidermal cells
are rectangular on both the surfaces. Leaves are
amphistomaic; stomata paracyic with two small
reniform subsidiary cells parallel to both the guard cells
(Image 2). Cataphyll cells contain acicular silica crystals
and ellipsoidal starch grains with concentric striaions.
Diagnosic characters
Bulb tunicate, scales imbricate, scales of three
vegetaion period, silica crystals in cells of scale leaves
acicular, starch grains ellipsoidal with concentric
striaions. Leaves hysteranthous, linear, canaliculate
towards ip, margin ending in single cell thickness.
Leaves amphistomaic, stomata paracyic with two
disinct subsidiary cells. The scape is a single per
vegetaion period, inlorescence lax raceme, ca. 30
lowered, pedicels relaively longer than that in L.
revoluta, bracts two minute, deltoid, lowers pinkpurple, perianth purplish with green midrib, relexed,
ovary sipitate, green, trilocular, 3 lobed, 2 or 3 ovules
per locule, on axile placenta, bulbils at the leaf ip leshy,
producing plantlets.
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Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
Ideniicaion keys
For the ideniicaion of genera and species found in
India the genus and species keys are prepared using the
literature and characters of specimens studied.
DISCUSSION
The species is conirmed on the basis of
morphological, anatomical, and cytological characters.
A comparison in the characterisics of this species with
other three species reported from India is given in Table
2. The leaves in Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov. are 2
or 3 per vegetaion period, linear, canaliculate with leshy
ip always producing bulbils and plantlets, upto 45cm
long, scape single, inlorescence lax raceme, bracts two,
ovary forming a dome, placenta axile, 2 or 3 ovules in
each locule, chromosomes 2n=70, smaller silica crystals
and ellipsoidal starch grains with concentric striaions. L.
revoluta has larger silica crystals and irregularly shaped
large starch grains without concentric striaions. The
epidermal cells and stomata are larger than that of L.
revoluta, therefore, stomatal density is relaively less in
the species under study. The stomatal index is also less.
Floral parts, viz., scale, pedicel, perianth and stamens
are pink/purple in L. junnarensis, whereas they are pale
greenish-pink in L. revoluta. The lowers are smaller in
later species.
Cytology
The mitoic metaphase cell plates of root ip squash
revealed that the plants contain 2n=70 chromosomes.
This chromosome number is the highest and not yet
reported from any of the Ledebouria species. Rao
(1956) had ideniied three cytological variables diploids, triploids and tetraploids of L. revoluta (S. indica)
populaions into two natural morphological groups.
One morphological group comprises diploids (2n=30)
and tetraploids (2n=60); while the other morphological
group of triploids (2n=45). Unfortunately, detailed
morphological characterizaion is not clear for triploid
as well as the tetraploid forms. More importantly, the
triploid form studied by him was collected from the
Coromandel Coast from Machilipatanam (in Andhra
Pradesh) to Chennai (Madras) while, prevalence
of diploids and tetraploid forms is in Maharashtra,
paricularly in the Mumbai area (Rao 1956). Though
the triploid form of L. revoluta, which has linear leaves
and without or very rarely with seed set, is diferent in
chromosome number, i.e., 2n=45 when compared to L.
junnarensis nom. nov. A specimen at Kew - K000802739
collected by Wight in October 1835 from Tamil Nadu,
India (RBG Kew 2015) had long linear leaves without
scape and bulbils which might be a triploid form of L.
revoluta. Comparison of the cytological evidences and
present observaions of the cytology strongly suggest
that the specimen under study is a disinct species and
not the triploid form of L. revoluta. The chromosomes
recorded here are 2n=70; are irst observaions and the
highest known 2n chromosome number in the genus.
Speta (1998a) reported that the genus Ledebouria has
species with chromosome numbers 2n=20, 24, 26,
28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 44, 45, 46, 54, 58, 60, and 66. The
observaions of the present study also conirm a larger
number of metaphase chromosomes in the genus,
further supporing the disinciveness of the taxon. L.
junnarensis also shows ainiies with F. hohenackeri
which has linear leaves and axile placentaion; however
they difer in having a dome shaped, sipitate, green
ovary and stellate non-blue lowers with cup shaped
perigone and the chromosome number is also diferent;
2n=10 in later species (Rao 1954).
Key for the genera of the subfamily Hyacinthoideae considering the species reported from India.
1.
1.
2.
2.
Tepals disinctly relexed, perigone with a short tube; ovary green, sipitate, gugelhupf (dome/torus) shaped; anthers
and style at least parially vinaceous; capsule wall papery; seeds without elaiosomes ................................... Ledebouria
Tepals not relexed, perigone free; ovary otherwise, not sipitate, globose or botle shaped; anthers and style otherwise;
capsule wall succulent; seeds with/without elaiosomes .................................................................................................. 2
Ovary botle shaped,locules many ovulate;seeds with elaiosomes ........................................................................... Scilla
Ovary globose/oblong, locules 2-7 ovulate;seeds without elaiosomes .................................................................... Fessia
Key for the species of Ledebouria in India.
1.
1.
Bracts 2, leaves hysteranthous; placenta axile ............................................................................. L. junnarensis nom. nov.
Bract 1, leaves synanthous; placenta basal ....................................................................................................................... 2
2.
2.
Leaves linear; inlorescence 10–25 lowered; sigma triquetrus penicillate; ovule 1 per locule ................ L. hyderabadensis
Leaves variable; inlorescence >40 lowered; sigma simple; ovules 2 per locule ............................................... L. revoluta
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Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
Table 2. Comparison of the characters of four taxa of Hyacinthoidae reported from India.
Characters
Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Ledebouria revoluta
Ledebouria hyderabadensis
Fessia hohenackeri
Distribuion
Restricted in one locaion in
Sahyadri, northern Western Ghats,
Maharashtra at 990–1095 m.
Widely distributed in India in
low elevaion plains below
800m.
Hyderabad and surroundings
Andhra Pradesh, India at
533m.
Drier western parts of India
from Gujarat, Kashmir, Western
Himalaya, Pakistan, Afghanistan
around 660–1500 m.
Habitat
Grassy hill slopes with gravelly soil
rich in humus
Grassy plains and open fallow
lands on varied soil types
Open fallow land on gravelly
soil and rock boulders
Hills on rocky sides or crevices
as well as grassy fallow ields
on hill side
Bulb
Tunicate, brown, bulb leaves
imbricate, of 3 vegetaion period,
with single scape / year, scales
compactly arranged
Tunicate, brown, bulb leaves,
imbricate, of 3 vegetaion
period, 2 or 3 scapes / year,
scales relaively loosely
arranged
Tunicate, dark brown, single
scape/year
Imbricate, white, more than one
scape/ year
Leaves
Leaves 3 or 4 per vegetaion period,
hysteranthous, linear, canaliculate,
ip leshy, always producing single
(rarely two) bulbil(s), vinacious
spots present when young, vanish
towards maturity, 30–45 cm long
3 or more, synanthous,
variable from ovate to
spathulate, not canaliculate,
without leshy ip, some forms
may produce bulbils but not
always, 10–20 cm long
2–6, synanthous, linear,
without spots, not
canaliculate, acute at ip,
without bulbils, 5–10 cm long
4–6, linear - lorate, synanthous,
without spots, not canaliculate,
without bulbils, 10–32 cm long
Scape
Single, terminal, up to 40cm long,
lax raceme with upto 30 lowers,
Two to three, axillary and
terminal, dense raceme up to
100 lowers.
Single, 8–14 cm, 10–25
lowered raceme.
Single, lateral, scape 15–45 cm
with few lowered lax raceme.
Bract
Two, minute, enire, deltoid,
caducous
One, biid, with serrate margin
One, lunate, enire, with
semicircular notch
Two, enire, lanceolate
Perianth
Purplish, relexed with green midrib
Greenish-pink, relexed
Pinkish-green, relexed
Blue, not relexed
Ovary
Sipitate, trilocular, subtrigonus,
forming a dome
Sipitate, ovoid, trilocular, 6
lobed
forming a shallow cup
Sipitate, trilocular, globose,
disinctly 3 lobed
Globose - oblong, deeply
trilobed
Sigma
Simple, with club shaped papillae
Simple
Triquetrous, penicillate
Simple
Morphology
Placenta
Axile
Basal
Basal
Axile
No. of ovules
2 or 3, not side by side
2, side by side
Single
3–6
Seed
Rare, single seed / locule, dark
brown with reiculaion on shiny
testa
1 or 2 seeds / locule, obovoid,
brown
Single seed / locule, obovoid,
brownish, smooth
3 or 4 seeds / locule. Obovoid,
brownish-black, dull, maturing
diferently in diferent locules
Muliplicaion
Rarely by seeds, and mostly
through terminal single bulbil per
leaf, essenially forming a plantlet
Seeds
Seeds only, bulbils absent
Seeds only, bulbils absent
Leaf margin
Tapering to single cell
Extended & thickened with at
least two cells
NA
NA
Epidermal cells
Rectangular, av. size 23µ × 249µ
(5727µ2)
Rectangular, av. size 17.5µ ×
278µ (4865µ2)
NA
NA
Stomata
Amphi-stomaic, Paracyic
Amphi-stomaic, Paracyic
NA
NA
Stomatal Index
Upper surface = 14.29
Lower Surface = 22.43
Upper surface = 15.92
Lower Surface = 25.14
NA
NA
Stomatal
Density/mm2
Upper surface = 52.99
Lower Surface = 97.83
Upper surface = 93.76
Lower Surface = 187.52
NA
NA
Variable:
Diploids - 30,
Triploids - 45
Tetraploids - 60
Aneuploids - 44, 46, 58
NA
10
Starch grains
(in bulb scale
cells)
Mostly ellipsoidal & spherical with
concentric striaions, ca. 2.5–15µ
× 5–25µ with average diameter of
14.6µ.
Irregular shaped (oval,
triangular, ellipsoid irregular,
semicircular, lanceolate)
without concentric striaions,
ca. 5–20µ × 7.5–45µ with
average size of 15 × 24µ.
NA
NA
Silica crystals
(in bulb scale
cells)
Acicular, pointed to both ips,
present in bundles in cells, ca 2.5µ ×
60–95µ with average length of 32µ.
Acicular, pointed to both ips,
present in bundles in cells, ca
5µ × 75–170µ with average
length of 56µ.
NA
NA
Anatomy
Cytology
2n
Chromosome
No. (root ips
mitosis)
70
NA - Data not available
8428
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Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
Phenology
During the present study, the lowering is observed
from May to June and later fruiing has been recorded.
The same lowering & fruiing period has been observed
for the specimens under culivaion. The lowering
period reported in the literature as March (Blater &
Hallberg 1921; Santapau 1958; Deb & Dasgupta 1975,
1981) and from September to March (Sharma et al.
1996; Mishra & Singh 2001) is found to be dubious as
later workers referred to the type specimen, which
was reported to lower in March. Moreover, the
plants are monsoon ephemeral and become dormant
by September. The lowering in the month of March
reported for the type specimen may be due to drying up
ater collecion and then warm weather with watering
can induce lowering due to breaking of the dormancy
of the bulb. A similar phenomenon was also observed in
a plant under culivaion.
IUCN ASSESSMENT
The present locaion is on the hill slopes of the
Sahyadri in the northern Western Ghats, in Pune District.
The Pimparwadi-Inglun Ghat (Durgawadi), is the locaion
of the single present populaion of the species. The
geographic posiion of the locaion is 19011’42.10”N
& 73043’43.69”E, with an elevaion range of 990–1095
m. The present populaion is of about 680 individuals
(in 2013) in a very small area (AOO) of 0.52km2 (Image
3) along the grassy hill slope between 990–1095 m
in associaion with Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker,
Crinum laifolium L. var. laifolium, Cyanois tuberosa
(Roxb.) J.A. & J.H. Schult., Euphorbia fusiformis BuchHam. ex D. Don, Habenaria grandiloriformis Blat. &
McCann, Iphigenia magniica Ansari & Rolla Rao and
Iphigenia pallida Baker. The species has been recorded
for the irst ime from the region. Extensive surveys by
the authors from 2005 to 2014 comprising Maharashtra
State including the Western Ghats, especially Pune
District and type Locality ‘Khandala’ did not result in the
observaion of specimens similar to the present one.
The populaion is more or less stable and maintained by
the plantlet formaion by bulbils and rarely by seeds.
The present locality is a steep slope and surrounded
by privately owned lands on the upper plateau as well as
the lower slope. Landslides due to tree felling, and heavy
grazing are the major threats. The major populaion is
along the cut edges of the road approaching Durgawadi
Plateau, and road widening is a major threat to the
populaion. Thus, deterioraion of the habitat is a criical
Image 3. Distribuion of Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale &
S.R. Rahangdale in Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India.
problem to the present populaion of the species.
On communicaion with local people, it came to
light that the plant is not presently being used for any
purpose. As locals do not ind any applicaion, they are
not interested in conservaion of the plant at present.
As the plants are amidst the grasses, grazing by goats
and catle cause eliminaion of terminal bulbils, which
are a major means of muliplicaion. Therefore, grazing
is also one of the most potent causes of destrucion of
the populaion.
The type locality ‘Khandala’ around 1800’N & 73023’E
and with an elevaion of about 536m is situated about
60km away towards the southwest of the present
locaion. Repeated atempts by taxonomists in the past
and by the present authors to re-collect the species from
the type locality have been unsuccessful. While working
for about 12 years from 1940 to 1951 on the Flora of
Khandala, Santapau was unable to collect any specimen
of the species and reported it only on the authority of
irst descripion (Santapau 1958), and the same was
followed by subsequent researchers (Deb & Dasgupta
1981; Nayar & Sastry 1987; Karthikeyan et al. 1989;
Sharma et al. 1996). Based on these reports the taxon
was declared as ‘possibly exinct’. Thus, it is clear that,
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8429
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
one locaion is lost forever. The AOO of this locaion is
not known.
An important reason behind the eliminaion of plants
from their type locaion may be rapid anthropogenic
developmental aciviies that took place at the hill staion
‘Khandala’. To understand this, one must consider the
following facts: (i) the year of reporing of the specimen
is 1921; (ii) the irst atempt to re-collect the specimen
by Santapau, from 1940 to 1951 was about 30 years
ater the irst descripion; (iii) another 30 or more years
are taken for subsequent unfruiful atempts to recollect the specimen by other taxonomists; and (iv) very
rapid developmental aciviies and construcion of farm
houses and residenial complexes. The present situaion
is that there is hardly any space for natural populaions
of plants in the hill town and the slopes of the valleys are
almost unapproachable.
Informaion collected during this study indicates that
L. junnarensis nom. nov. fulils the necessary criteria to
place it in the ‘Criically Endangered’ category (IUCN
2015) as it faces a high risk of exincion. The EOO is
approximately 60km2 considering its type locality and
the new locality under present study. It is very important
that, specimens could not be found at the type locality,
thus the original locaion is lost for the taxon. This fact
has reduced the EOO to almost 50% or more. Even if
both the locaions are considered for EOO, it is less than
100km2 and the species saisies the condiion B1.
The AOO of the taxon at the present locaion is about
0.52km2, which is far less than 10km2. Considering the
lost populaion at type locaion there is sure reducion in
the AOO also. Therefore it saisies condiion B2a.
The EOO and AOO have declined and the quality of
habitat is showing a coninuous decline. These facts
saisfy the criteria for the categorizaion of the taxon as
Criical Endangered (CR) under criterion B of IUCN.
It is evident from the literature that the species was
spread over a larger area but now reduced to only one
locaion. This locaion also has a small populaion of
<1000 individuals. The emphasis should also be given
to the mode of reproducion through bulbils at the ip
of each leaf. A single plantlet results from each bulbil.
Considering the average leaves per vegetaion period
3–4 (av. 3.5) each plant can produce 3.5 plantlets per
vegetaion period. But this is not actually observed;
instead the populaion shows more or less a stable
number of individuals. The main reason behind this
phenomenon is the grazing by catle, which eliminate
leaf bulbils while grazing and the plantlets could not be
produced.
The present populaion of the species is subjected
8430
to heavy grazing, trampling by grazers and catle. The
threat of road widening and landslides are added ones.
The lack of dispersal of plantlets due to the mode of
reproducion is very important and also a threat to the
species. The locals are unaware about the species and
so are not interested in conserving it in the absence of
any usage value to it. It is also noted by the authors
that the visitors from neighbouring areas are increasing
yearly for pilgrimage and tourist aciviies at Durgawadi
Plateau. The transport faciliies are likely to be improved
in the very near future, which is primarily in the form of
road widening. Thus, the fate of the species is unknown.
The above measured and quaniied facts and
observaions clearly indicate that the species fulils
both the condiions B1 & B2 of Criterion B to qualify
for CR category. Therefore, the status of Ledebouria
junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale is
assigned as Criically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) with
jusiicaion (Appendix 1).
CONCLUSION
The taxon which was declared as ‘possibly exinct’
ater unfruiful atempts to re-collect it from its type
locaion and other locaions by several taxonomists has
now been rediscovered ater about 85 years. The taxon
has been studied with respect to vegetaive and loral
anatomy, cytology and the idenity has been conirmed.
The taxon is assigned to the new name in the present
systemaics framework as, Ledebouria junnarensis S.S.
Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale nom. nov.
It is also evaluated for threat status as per IUCN
criteria and guidelines Version 6.2 and categorized as
‘Criically Endangered’ vide condiion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
The populaion at the type locaion is lost due to
anthropogenic aciviies and the present locaion is
supporing the only surviving populaion of the species.
This locaion is also under threat of grazing, habitat
degradaion, landslide and road widening, beside the
propagaion restricion of formaion of plantlets from the
leaf ip bulbil and very rarely through seeds. Therefore,
in situ, as well as ex situ conservaion measures should
be prioriized. It can be introduced in other similar and
safer habitats in the Western Ghats ater evaluaion as
per the guidelines of the IUCN Reintroducion Specialist
Group. It is evident from the experience of authors that
the plant thrives well under pot/bed culivaion and also
muliplies. It is a beauiful ephemeral whose purple/
pink lowers and blotched leaves have an ornamental
potenial. Therefore, ex situ conservaion is also possible.
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
8431
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
Appendix 1. IUCN Red List Assessment: Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Tracheophyta
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Genus: Ledebouria
Species: junnarensis
Authority: S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale
Common name: Unmad kand, Pushpayai kand (The names are based on Sanskrit meaning youthful blooming,
which relates to the sudden and short lived blooming of the plants ater 1 or 2 irst pre-monsoon showers).
Taxonomic notes: The species was described by Blater & Hallberg (1921) from Khandala in the Western Ghats,
in Pune District, Maharashtra with holotype McCann 14500 deposited in BLAT!. It is rediscovered from another
locaion in Pune District by Rahangdale & Rahangdale and assigned the new name Ledebouria junnarensis S.S.
Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale.
Assessment information
Red List Category and Criteria (Version 6.2): Criically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Jusiicaion: Ledebouria junnarensis is assessed as Criically Endangered as it is restricted to only one locaion
with the extent of occurrence less than 100km2 and the area of occupancy less than 1km2. The populaion size is
also very small comprising of about 680 mature individuals. The species has not been re-collected from its type
locality even ater many eforts by diferent taxonomists since 1918 and is conirmed to be locally exirpated.
Vegetaive propagaion from bulbils on leaf ips and low seed seings severely limit the populaion. The external
threats for the species are high, including heavy grazing, loss and degradaion of habitat due to landslides, road
widening and growing tourism. Thus, the species is likely to be lost in the near future if adequate measures are
not taken to protect and conserve it.
Geographic Range / Distribution information
Range descripion: The species is restricted to the northern Western Ghats in Pune District of Maharashtra, India
(Image 3).
Countries of occurrence: Naive to India (Maharashtra State).
Extent of Occurrence (EOO): EOO is approximately 60km2 considering the present populaion at Inglun Ghat Hill
slope and the exinct populaion at type locality ‘Khandala’ of the species. The present populaion is at about
60km in aerial distance away from the type locality on the Western Ghats in north-east direcion.
Area of Occupancy (AOO): AOO is esimated to be less than 1km2 (0.52km2) considering the extant populaion at
Inglun ghat. The AOO of exirpated populaion is not known.
Number of locaions: The species is currently restricted to only one locaion. The species is exirpated from its
type locality and no other populaions have been observed since the type descripion.
Range map: Distribuion of the taxon is given in Image 3.
Population Information
Populaion: The species is esimated to have less than 1000 mature individuals, of which 680 individuals are
restricted to Inglun ghat.
Populaion trend: The populaion appears to be more or less stable at present. Over the last 10 years landslide
and road widening has caused some damage to the populaion. Populaions in one of the two locaions have been
exirpated.
8432
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
Rediscovery of Ledebouria junnarensis nom. nov.
Rahangdale & Rahangdale
Habitat and Ecological Information
Habitat and ecology: The populaion occurs on the steep slope with well aerated, deep soil, rich in humus
accumulated from grass biomass. The habitat is shared by other ephemerals viz., Habenaria grandiloriformis
Blat. & McCann, Crinum laifolium L. var. laifolium, Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker and Euphorbia fusiformis
Buch-Ham. ex D. Don. The average annual rainfall is about 250cm with a cool climate from June to October, and
misty climate with saturaion of relaive humidity from July to September. The average annual air temperature
ranges between 150C and 360C. The alitudinal range is 992–1095 m. Though there are similar habitats in the
neighbouring areas it is not found elsewhere.
The plants lower from May-June ater at least two showers of rain of suicient quanity. The same lowering
period has been observed for the specimens under culivaion. The leaves grow very fast ater the lowering
ataining a length of 30–45 cm. Fruiing is observed rarely, producing dark brown seeds.
Information on Threat
Threats: The main threats to the remaining populaion are from heavy grazing by catle, trampling by grazers,
livestock and developmental acivity. The grazing eliminates many of the leaf ip bulbils through which the
species muliplies. The present available populaion is on the hill slopes and the road widening may cause severe
damage to the populaion. The trees are cut down by locals for irewood and other usage which increases the
chances of landslides.
Addiional threats: An increased number of tourists and pilgrims to the Durgawadi plateau need wider roads
and the road widening aciviies will surely eliminate a major chunk of the populaion. A road to the plateau and
associated development aciviies in the near future will increase the threat to the populaion.
Use and Trade information
Use: Local people do not collect the species as there is no usage value for the plant.
Livelihoods and sustenance: Communiies are not dependent on this species for their livelihoods or sustenance.
Trend in of take from the wild: Not yet observed.
Trend in of take from culivaion: It is not culivated, but has potenial as an ornamental ephemeral.
Commercial value: The species has no known local, domesic, naional or internaional commercial value.
Information on Conservation Actions
Conservaion acions: The species is not in any systemaic conservaion programme. The site of the present
populaion on Inglun Ghat is a forest area which generally does not imply conservaion of the species. The species
does not occur in any formal protected area. An urgent conservaion acion is needed to protect the species from
anthropogenic threats as well as site protecion.
Research in place: There is no systemaic research in place other than casual surveys.
Research needed: Systemaic surveys, monitoring, propagaion studies, efects of threats on populaion, and
introducion of specimens in similar habitats in nature and development of culivaion pracices are some of the
much needed research acions on the species.
Monitoring in place: There is no monitoring of the species, populaion or habitat in place.
Monitoring needed: Populaion and site monitoring is essenial and must be implemented at the earliest.
Educaion in place: No formal or informal educaion about the species is in place.
Educaion needed: Outreach programmes about the species to local communiies and forest department are
crucial.
Threatened Taxa
Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2016 | 8(2): 8421–8433
8433
OPEN ACCESS
All articles published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa are registered under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License unless otherwise mentioned.
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by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online); ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
February 2016 | Vol. 8 | No. 2 | Pages: 8421–8540
Date of Publicaion: 26 February 2016 (Online & Print)
DOI: 10.11609/jot.2016.8.2.8421–8540
www.threatenedtaxa.org
Aricle
Rediscovery, systemaics and proposed Red List status of
Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale and S.R. Rahangdale
nom. nov. (Asparagaceae) - an endemic species from the
Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India
-- Savita Sanjaykumar Rahangdale & Sanjaykumar Ramlal
Rahangdale, Pp. 8421–8433
Communicaions
Populaion studies of Lowe’s Monkey (Mammalia: Primates:
Cercopithecidae: Cercopithecus lowei Thomas, 1923) in
Kakum Conservaion Area, Ghana
-- Edward D. Wiafe, Pp. 8434–8442
Numerical taxonomy of Berlinia species (Caesalpinioideae:
Leguminosae) and their distribuion in Nigeria
-- Emmanuel C. Chukwuma, Abiodun E. Ayodele, Michael O.
Soladoye & Deborah M. Chukwuma, Pp. 8443–8451
Data Paper
Flora of Fergusson College campus, Pune, India: monitoring
changes over half a century
-- Ashish N. Nerlekar, Sairandhri A. Lapalikar, Akshay A. Onkar,
S.L. Laware & M.C. Mahajan, Pp. 8452–8487
Short Communicaions
Tangled skeins: a irst report of non-capive maing behavior
in the Southeast Asian Paradise Flying Snake (Repilia:
Squamata: Colubridae: Chrysopelea paradisi)
-- Hinrich Kaiser, Johnny Lim, Heike Worth & Mark O’Shea,
Pp. 8488–8494
Esimaing the density of Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
(Galliformes: Phasianidae) in the tropical forest of Similipal
Tiger Reserve, eastern India
-- Himanshu S. Palei, Hemanta K. Sahu & Anup K. Nayak,
Pp. 8495–8498
The efect of dayime rain on the Indian Flying Fox
(Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae Pteropus giganteus)
-- S. Baskaran, A. Rathinakumar, J. Maruthupandian, P. Kaliraj
& G. Marimuthu, Pp. 8499–8502
An observaion on the Odonata fauna of the AsansolDurgapur Industrial Area, Burdwan, West Bengal, India
-- Amar Kumar Nayak & Utpal Singha Roy, Pp. 8503–8517
Three interesing wood roing macro-fungi from Jharkhand,
India
-- Manoj Emanuel Hembrom, Arvind Parihar & Kanad Das,
Pp. 8518–8525
Notes
Descripion of a new species of Oligosita Walker
(Hymenoptera: Trichogrammaidae) from Punjab, India
-- Mohsin Ikram & Mohd. Yousuf, Pp. 8526–8527
Range extension of Lestes nodalis Selys, 1891 (Odonata:
Zygoptera: Lesidae) in southern India
-- K.G. Emiliyamma & Muhamed Jafer Palot, Pp. 8528–8530
Report on the genus Herdonia Walker (Lepidoptera:
Thyrididae) in Karnataka Western Ghats, India
-- P.R. Shashank, Pp. 8531–8532
Long-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Teigoniidae) in
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India
-- Sunil M. Gaikwad, Yogesh J. Koli, Gopal. A. Raut, Sadashiv H.
Waghmare & Ganesh P. Bhawane, 5pp Pp. 8533–8537
Intrusion of devil weed Chromolaena odorata, an exoic
invasive, into Kinnerasani and Eturnagaram wildlife
sanctuaries, Telangana, India
-- Sateesh Suthari, Ramesh Kandagatla, Sarede Geetha,
Ajmeera Ragan & Vatsavaya S. Raju, Pp. 8538–8540
Threatened Taxa
Sanjaykumar Rahangdale