Phytotaxa 265 (1): 067–072 http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/ Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press
Article
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.265.1.6
Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii (Primulaceae): a new subspecies from Arunachal Pradesh, India AMAL BAWRI1, PADMA RAJ GAJUREL1* & MOHAMMED LATIF KHAN2
Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed University), Nirjuli – 791109 (Itanagar), Arunachal Pradesh, India. Email:
[email protected], *Corresponding author E-mail:
[email protected] 2Department of Botany, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar - 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India. E- mail:
[email protected] 1
Abstract A new subspecies Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii, from Arunachal Pradesh is described and illustrated. The complete description with illustrations and colour plate is provided for easy identification. Its conservation status is assessed as Critically Endangered as per IUCN. Key words: Critically endangered, India, Primula
Introduction The genus Primula L. (1753: 142–144) belonging to the Primulaceae is one of the largest genera of the Angiosperms. Worldwide, it comprises 430 species divided into six subgenera and 38 sections (Richards 2003). In the northern hemisphere it is widely distributed in temperate and cold regions as well as in tropical mountains (Richards 2003, Basak et al. 2014). The Himalayan region is a major center of diversity for the genus, with almost 75% of the species occurring in this area (Richards 2003). The temperate and alpine vegetation of Eastern Himalayan region in India is particularly rich in Primula species: out of the 106 Indian species, about 80 have been reported from the region (Basak et al. 2014). To explore taxonomic diversity, ecology and threat status, the authors have undertaken an extensive study in the Eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh (Bawri et al. 2013, 2014, 2015). Based on morphological and ecological divergence, one of the collections from West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is recognized as a new subspecies of P. calderiana Balf. f. & R.E. Cooper (1915: 7), which is described and illustrated below. To facilitate identification, comparative morphological characters, illustrations and colour photographs are provided (Table 1, Figs 1, 2). A conservation assessment based on IUCN categories and criteria (IUCN 2001) is also presented.
Taxonomy Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii A. Bawri, Gajurel et Khan subsp. nov. (Fig. 1 & 2) Type:—INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh: West Kameng district, Naga GG, 27º17’04.8’’N, 92º10’54.9’’E, 3598 m, 25th May 2013, A. Bawri 76; (Holotype CAL!, Isotype ASSAM!).
Description:—Perennial herb. Basal bud scales ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–5.5 × 1–1.5 cm, yellow farinose. Leaves in a rosette; petiole broadly winged, nearly as long as leaf blade or 3–10 cm long; leaf blade broadly obovate, 5–10 × 1–5 cm; base cuneate; margin sharply denticulate, surface dark green, not farinose, lateral veins 8–12 pairs, opposite or alternate, prominent in beneath surface. Scapes 10–30 cm, farinose toward apex; umbels 4–19 flowered; bracts green, lanceolate, 0.5–1 cm, farinose. Flowers heterostylous. Pedicel 1.5–5 cm, sparsely cream-yellow farinose or glandular. Calyx campanulate, 0.5–0.8 cm, glandular, parted ½ of the length; lobes triangular; apex acute. Corolla bright yellow; Accepted by Zhi-Qiang Zhang: 10 May 2016; published: 9 Jun. 2016
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FIGURE 1. Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii A. Bawri, Gajurel et Khan subsp. nov.: A. Habit; B. Entire plant; C–D. Adaxial and abaxial surface of leaf; E. Bract; F. Calyx; G–H. Corolla (pin and thrum morph); I–J. Pistils (pin and thrum morph).
tube 1.0–1.5 cm; limbs ca. 1.5–3.5 cm wide; petals lobes broadly obovate, deeply emarginate. Anthers oblong to elongate with obtuse appendage, 0.2–0.3 cm long. Pin flowers: stamens near middle of corolla tube; style exerted up to 1.0–1.5 cm. Thrum flowers: stamens toward apex of corolla tube; style as long as calyx or up to 0.8 cm. Capsule included in calyx. Diagnosis:—Similar to P. calderiana subsp. strumosa in, basal bud scale being farinose and scape as well as in flower colour, but exhibiting differences in morphology of leaves, bracts, calyx and petals (Table 1).
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FIGURE 2. P. calderiana subsp. bawaii A. Bawri, Gajurel et Khan subsp. nov.: A. Habit; B. Bract; C. Calyx; D–E. Corolla (pin and thrum morph); F–G. Pistils (pin and thrum morph); H. Anther.
Etymology:—The epithet honors Prof. Kamaljit S. Bawa, Distinguished Professor of Biology, University of Massachusetts-Boston for his contribution to the conservation of the Eastern Himalayan flora and his special interest in Himalayan Primulas. Ecology and phenology:—Grows in forest margins associated with Rhododendron L. (1753: 392) species at the elevation of 3900 m. Plants flowering from April to May. Additional specimen examined:––Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng, Baishakhi, 20 May 2014, A. Bawri 260 (NERIST). Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii (Primulaceae)
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FIGURE 3. Primula calderiana subsp. calderiana: A. Habit; B. Entire plant; C–D. Adaxial and abaxial surface of leaf; E. Bract; F. Calyx; G–H. Corolla (pin and thrum morph); I. Pistils (Ii. pin and Iii. thrum morph).
IUCN preliminary threat assessment:—Currently only known from two small areas within the type locality in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The total known population is estimated to consist of less than 100 mature individuals. The extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2 and we also observed a steady decline in the quality and size of habitat during the last two years. Major threats include overgrazing by Yaks (Bos grunniens), anthropogenic disturbance relating to resource collection and infrastructure development. Based on this information we assess this taxon as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab (iii) under the IUCN’s Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2001, 2012). Immediate conservation efforts are necessary to prevent its extinction.
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FIGURE 4. Primula calderiana subsp. strumosa: A. Habit; B. Entire plant; C–D. Adaxial and abaxial surface of leaf; E. Bract; F. Calyx; G–H. Corolla (pin and thrum morph); I. Pistils (Ii. pin and Iii. thrum morph).
Discussion:––Prior to this work, two morphologically variable subspecies have been recognised in P. calderiana (Richards 2003: 117). Primula calderiana subsp. calderiana is extremely wide spread in Eastern Himalaya including Arunachal Pradesh (Fig. 3). Our new subspecies differs from the typical subspecies in its floral and leaf morphology. It is likely that the new subspecies is more closely related to subspecies strumosa (Fig. 4) (Richards 2003: 117), which is distributed in the altitudinal range 4000–4500 m in Eastern Himalaya. As shown in Table 1, subspecies bawaii may be distinguished from subspecies strumosa by differences in the leaves, bracts, calyx and petal morphology.
Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii (Primulaceae)
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TABLE 1. Comparative morphology of subspecies of P. calderiana. Characters Leaf
P. calderiana subsp. calderiana Shape oblanceolate, 5−20 × 1−5 cm; base attenuate; margin crenate; dark green, efarinose
P. calderiana subsp. strumosa Shape oblanceolate, 5–20 × 1−2.5 cm; base attenuate; margin crenate, light green, abaxially yellow farinose
Petiole length Lateral veins Pedicel length Bract Calyx
3–3.5 cm 10−12 pairs ca. 1.5−3.5 cm Tinged with purple Green, tinged with purple; tube parted to1/3 of the length of calyx; lobes ovate to ovate-oblong; apex obtuse Deep purple; petal lobes broadly obovate-orbicular and slightly emarginate; ca. 1.5−4.5 cm wide Ovary and style purple 3000−3900 m
Light yellow; petal lobes orbicular and with mostly entire or rarely emarginate; ca. 1.5−3.5 cm wide Ovary and style green 4000−4500 m
Corolla
Gynoecium Altitudinal distribution
P. calderiana subsp. bawaii Broadly obovate, 5−20 × 1−5 cm; base cuneate; margin sharply denticulate, surface dark green, efarinose 3−7 cm 3−10 cm 6−8 pairs 8−12 pairs ca. 1.5−3.5 cm ca. 1.5−5 cm Green Green Green; tube parted to1/3 of the length Green; tube parted to1/2 of the length of calyx; lobes ovate to ovate-oblong; of calyx; lobes triangular; apex acute apex obtuse Bright yellow; petals lobes broadly obovate with always deeply emarginate; ca. 1.5−3.5 cm wide Ovary and style green 3500−3900 m
Acknowledgments We sincerely acknowledge the help and supports of forest officials and staffs, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh during field survey and collections. Authors are thankful to the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Eastern Himalayas Office, Darjeeling and MacArthur Foundation, USA for the financial assistance. We thank Prof. John Richards, Department of Botany, Newcastle University for his comments in identification of the specimen. The authors sincerely acknowledge Dr. Philip Thomas, Scientific Officer, International Conifer Conservation Programme, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK for his critical reading of the manuscript and useful comments which have improved the quality of the manuscript.
References Balfour, B. (1915) New species of Primula. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 9 (41): 1–62. Basak, S.K., Maiti, G. & Hajra, P.K. (2014) The genus Primula L. in India (A taxonomic revision). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, 526 pp. Bawri, A., Gajurel, P.R. & Khan, M.L. (2013) Record of Primula waltonii Watt ex I.B. Balfour (Primulaceae) from Arunachal Himalaya with taxonomic notes. Pleione 7 (1): 262–265. Bawri, A., Gajurel, P.R. & Khan, M.L. (2014) Primula lacerata (Primulaceae) - a rare species and addition to the flora of India from East Himalayan region. Rheedea 24 (1): 63–66. Bawri, A., Gajurel, P.R. & Khan, M.L. (2015) Rediscovery of Primula polonensis. Kew Bulletin 70 (4): 56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12225-015-9605-6 IUCN (2001) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland & Cambridge. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/ (accessed 19 July 2015) IUCN (2012) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, 41 pp. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum 1. Stockholm, 560 pp. Richards, J. (2003) Primula. BT Batford, London, 326 pp.
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