ISBN : 978-93-5067-867-1 Systematics of Flowering Plants 167 MORPHO-ANATOMICAL STUDY ON THE GENUS LIPOCARPHA R. BR. (CYPERACEAE) OF WEST BENGAL Mousumi Mukhopadhyay and G G. Maiti Abstract The genus Lipocarpha R. Br. is one of the important genus of the family Cyperaceae having about 8 species distributed in tropical and warm region of the world. In India it is represented by 3 species only of which in Eastern India it is represented by 2 species. The morphology, anatomy and SEM study of floral parts have been done for better utilization of character as well as for identification of species. The anatomical features of leaves and culm under transverse section, morphological features of flower, glumes, SEM of dermal features of nutlet, etc. are presented for the delimitation of species. Key words : Lipocarpha, Morphology, Anatomy, SEM study, India Introduction The genus Lipocarpha R.Br. is one of the important genus of the family Cyperaceae. It is represented by 35 species, distributed in tropical warm region of the World of which 5 species are in North America( Mabberley, 2008) In India it is represented by 3 species (Karthikeyan et a/., 1989) and in Eastern India only 2 species are recorded(Rao and Verma,1982). The genus is characterized by the presence of tufted stem, trigonous to rounded culms; leaves one quarter to half or as long as the culm; inflorescence terminal to sub- terminal with 2-10 subequal globose to oblong-ellipsoid spikes; glumes spirally arranged, 6-3, broadly obovate to spathulate; stylar base passing gradually into the ovary but not swollen at base; nuts obovoid to truncate at base but narrow-topping at apex (Plate 1 & Fig. 1). The genus is related and close to with Scirpus L. and Fuirena Rottb. by morophological features but by anatomical characters it bears similarities with Cyperus L. Scirpus L. is separated by undivided, linear, rarely oblong hypogynous 0-6 bristle and Fuirena Rottb. is with linear segment of hypogynous 6 bristles, divided at base. In the recent taxonomic revision on the genus Lipocarpha R.Br. by Goetgheuber and Borre (1989) another two genera e.g. HemicarphaNees. and Rikliella J. Raynal are included or merged within Lipocarpha R.Br.In this context, the genus Lipocarpha sensu lato, a member of the tribe Cypereae consists of about 35 species and in India it is with 8 species (Karthikeyan et al., 1989). Singh and Srivastava(2001) have presented the reappraisal of this genus Lipocarpha R.Br. in India with an enumeration of 8 species. The anatomical study of Lipocarpha was done by Metcalfe (1971) for 4 species namely L. albiceps, L. atra, L chinensis and L. triceps. The present study is on two species Lxhinensis (Osbeck) Kern and L sphacelata (Vahl) Kunth from the collection from West Bengal, India. The morphological features of inflorescence, SEM of dermal feature of nutlets, anatomical features of culm are presented in details. These characters are emphasized as the Indian species that are not studied for their anatomical features as well as details of floral biology. This present study also provides the features for the delimitation of species. Materials and Methods The specimens were collected and identified based on the dissections and with the help of the J.D. Hooker's book, "Flora of British India" as presented by Clarke (1893-1894). The list of species, collection locality, etc. are presented in table 1. All the voucher specimens along with dissected parts were kept as herbarium of the Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani Nada, W. B. 168 International Seminar on "Multidisciplinary Approaches in Angiosperm Systematics" The anatomical study was done as to describe the features in transverse sections and the permanent preparations were made. The morphological features of different organs are presented under as camera lucida drawings. A comparative study of both the morphological and anatomical features are presented in tables 2,3 and 4 Artificial key to the studied specimens is provided both for morphological and anatomical features. Observations Present observations are concentrated on the study of inflorescence, flowers, fruits and the anatomical features of leaves and culms. Flowers In Lipocarpha each flower is subtended by a single glume. Glumes with floral organs are spirally arranged on the axis of rachilla. The detailed observed characters of glumes, stamens, carpels and nuts are presented in table 2 (Fig. 1; PI. 1). Anatomy of leaves and culms Anatomy of lamina of two observed species of Lipocarpha is basically same, although they have many differences of characters. Culm anatomical features of these two species are different. The observed features of leaves and culms of two studied species of Lipocarpha are described below in comparison in tables 3 and 4 (Fig. II). Key to the studied species of Lipocarpha by morphological features : Spikelet 2-4, globose- ovoid; glumes of the flowers with acute apex and triangular lateral expansion; nut surface with warty bodies. L. chinensis Spikelets 4-6, ovoid-oblong; glumes of the flowers obovate- spathulate with tridentate obtuse apex; nut surface with cellular reticulation L.sphacelata Key to the studied species of Lipocarpha based on anatomical features : Culm circular in outline and the vascular bundles with the distinct but differences in size in different circle, presence of sclerenchymatous patches on both abaxial and adaxial sides of lamina; air cavities absent in lamina. --»L. chinensis Culm triangular in outline with a notch at one face and the vascular bundles having gradual differences in size towards centre and scattered; presence of sclerenchymatous patches only on adaxial side of lamina; air cavities present in lamina. L.sphacelata Literature cited Clarke,C.B. 1893-94. Cyperaceae in J.D. Hooker,7%e Flora ofBritish India. 6 : 585-672; L. Reeve & Co., London. Goetgheuber, Paul and Borre, A. Vanden, 1989. Studies in Cyperaceae 8: A revision of Lipocarpha including Hemicarpha Wag. Agri. Union. Papers. 89 (1) :l-87. Karthikeyan, S.; Jain,S. K.; Nayer. M.P.; Sanjappa, M.1989. Florae Indicae Enumeratio : Monocotyledonae. (Flora of India, ser. 4: l-435),Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. Mabberley, D. J. 2008. Mabberley 's Plant Book - A Portable Dictionary of Plants, Their Classification and Uses. Cambridge University Press,Cambridge. Metcalfe, C. R. 1971. Anatomy of the Monocotyledons: II. Cyperaceae. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Rao,A.S. and Verma, D.M.I 982. Cyperaceae of North-East India. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. Singh.N.P. and Srivastava, R.C.2001.Reappraisal of the genus Liphocarpha R. Br. (Cyperaceae) in India. Phytotaxon 1: 18-20. Table 1 List of Studied Species CD z Serial No. Names of the species 1. Lipocarpha chinensis(Osbeck)Kem Collection No Lipocarpha.sphacelata(VahijK.uiAh G.G. Maiti 322 M.Mukheijee 445 G.G. Maiti 111 Locality of Collection NO VI Cossy river belt, near Cossy Railway halt; Midnapur, W. B. Rundung, Darjeeling, W. B. Carpels Nuts < >• ' in -h 1,filament persistant at Style sledder;stigma 3, Narrowly oblong- ovoid, mature flower usually half as long as style trigonous, apiculate, sometime with small remnant of stylar base, under higher magnification with longitudinal rows of warty bodies throughout the surface, cellular structure not visible lowering Plants Lower 1-2 sterile, spathulate, concave with a short erect triangular tip and expanded edge, mid rib conspicuous; fertile glume long spathulate, 1 -nerved Lipocarpha.sphacelata Lower 1- sterile, spathulate with one (Vahl)Kunth midvein and 4 lateral veins; fertile glumes 4, outer two, oblong ovoid with one mid vein with two lateral veins, inner two, ovate acute tip and prominent midvein Stamens I : Lipocarpha chinensis(Osbec k)Kern Glumes VI oo o* vl Systema 2. Name of the species o Santinekatan, Bolpur, Birbhium, W. B. Table 2 Comparison of characters of floral parts of studied two species of Lipocarpha R. Br. Serial No. 1. CO I oo I 1-2, filament not Style slender, stigma3, as Nut ovoid to subellipsoid, but persistant at mature long as style trigonous, apiculate with reticulate surface flower o\ o Name of the species Outline 1. Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) Kern Flat, linear convolute margin with acute apex; midrib not prominent Flat linear with deeply convolute at both the edges Absent Patches present on the adaxial side, below the epidermis against larger vascular bundles Present in rows, numerous rectangular to tetrangular, alternate to vascular bundles,separating by 2-4 cell layers along with vascular bundles Numerous, arranged in single row, some larger some smaller, rounded to ovoid, all bundles enclosed by 2- layer layers of bundle sheath, outer parenchymatous but inner fibrous; Numerous, arranged in single row, some larger some smaller, separating by air cavaties, larger bundles ensheathed by two layers of bundle sheath; inner parenchymatous outer fibbous .1 o 3 CC a 33 O f1 3" aW 5" • Z g 03 3 8- ics" All the vascular bundles provided with adaxial and abaxial patches; adaxial patches semicircular to tetragonal;abaxial patches tetragonal to pentagonal to variously shaped; patches consisting of 3015 cells. Vascular bundle gio spe Profuse, confine to and around the vascular tissue, cells 5-6to polygonal, more uniform with smaller cells and compact toward abaxial sides, larger cells loosely arranged to the adaxial sides Adaxial epidermis 1 Profuse cell- layered thick ; uniform cells regular, barrel chlorenchyma shaped to 4-5-6poly tetragonal; abaxial gonal interrupt epidermis 1 cell- to form rows of layered thick, cells air cavities to regular barrel- alternate shaped more or less vascular equal to adaxial bundles one; both the epidermis median to thickly cuticularised. Sclerenchyma Air cavities i Approac Lipocarpha.sphace lata (Vahl)Kunth Abaxial 1 celllayered thick; cells barreled shaped, rectangular to tetrangular, cells above sclerenchyma patches smaller than other; adaxial 1 cell layered thick, mostly 5-gonal larger than abaxial cell; thinly to medianly cuticularised. Mesophyll i "Multidi 2. Epidermis ;rnati SI no. ips Table 3 Comparison of some anatomical features of leaves of studied two species of Lipocarpha R. Br. (A GO z Table 4 Comparison of some anatomical features of culms in transverse section (t.s.) of the studied two species of Lipocarpha R. Br. ^1 00 I VO CO I <J1 O o> v• l l 00 o* Serial no. Name of the species Outline Lipocarpha chinensis(Osbeck)Kem Circular to rounded Lipocarplra.sphacelata(yah\)Kunit\Triangular in outline with a deeply notch Epidermis Air cavities Vascular bundle Sclerenchyma Ground tissue 1 cell-layered thick; cells irregular, tetragonal to rectangular to variously shaped, cells above parenchymatous patches smaller than above, thick to medianly cuticularised Two distinct cavities present at hhe centre of the culm; cavities oblong in outline Arranged in two rows, outer numerous, smallrrer rounded, enclosed bytwo layers of bundle sheath; cells inner parenchymatous ,outer fibrous; inner 9 in number, lrger viod with distict protoxylem caviry,bundles enclosed by 3-layered sheath cells, outer and fibrous and inner parenchymatous Discrete sclerenchymatous patches present above the outer or peripheral circles of vascular bundles, patches consisting of 1520 cells Differenciated into 2 distinct zones; outer compactly arranged, smaller cells, 4-5-6- to poly-gonal, chlorenchymatous; inner of loosely arranged larger 45-polygonal, thin walled. 1 cell-layered thick; cells rectangulartetragonal to variously shaped; cells above parenchymatous patches smaller than above, median to yhinly cuticularised Absent Numerous pheripheral vascular vascular bundles comparatively smaller, inner bundles bundle scattered throughout the culm, comparatively larger, ensheathed by two layers of bundle sheath, outer Discrete sclerenchymatouu patches present above the larger vascular; patches tetra-pentagonal in outline, consisting of 20-25 cells Undifferenciated; cells loosely arranged, thinwalled, thinwalled, 4-5-6-to polygonal. fibrous inner parenchymatous in - * • » 3 $ oin f o 3 172 International Seminar on "Multidisciplinary Approaches in Angiosperm Systematics" Figure 1 lmm 1A4 Fig. I. Comparative morphology of habit, spikelets,flower, glume, style &stigma: \A.Liphocarpha chinensis IA1 Habit, IA2 Spikelets, IA3 Glumes IA4Flowers IA5Seed \Miphocarpha sphacelate I B l Habit, IB2 Spikelets, IB3 Glumes. IB4 Flowers . ISBN : 978-93-5067-867-1 Systematics of Flowering Plants 173 Figure 2 Anatomical features of Liphocarpha spp. : IIA. Liphocarpha chinensis I I A l . T.S. of lamina (diagrammatic); IIA2T.S. of lamina(portion magnified); MAS. T.S. of culm( diagrammatic); IIA4. T.S. of culm (portion magnified); IIAB Liphocarpha sphacelata MB 1. T.S. of lamina (diagrammatic); IIB2T.S. of lamina (portion magnified); IIB3. T.S. of culm( diagrammatic); IIB4.T.S. of culm (portion magnified); 174 International Seminar on "Multidisciplinary Approaches n. Angiosperm Systematics" Plate Lipocarpha chinensis :l.Hab\% 2. Inflorescencs magnified; 3.Scanning Electron micrograph of nut: 3a. Nut, 3b.Nut surface (portion magnified).