Heteropogon contortus (Linnaeus 1753:, 1045) P. Beauv. ex Roemer & Schultes, 1817

Drisya, Valiyaparambil & Pradeep, Ayilliath Kuttiyeri, 2020, On reinstating Heteropogon allionii (Poaceae: Panicoideae), Phytotaxa 429 (2), pp. 157-166 : 161-164

Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roemer & Schultes (1817: 836). ( Figs. 3 & 4 )

Andropogon contortus Linnaeus (1753: 1045) ( “ contortum ”).

Lectotype (designated by Cope in Nasir & Ali 1982):— Plukenet (1692: Tab. 191. f. 5).

Heteropogon hirtus Persoon (1807: 533) , nom. illeg. superfl; based on Andropogon contortus Linnaeus (1753: 1045) .

Perennial, 30–60 cm high. Nodes glaucous, glabrous; internodes 3.5–8.5 cm long. Leaf sheath 4–7 cm long, greenish, pinkish towards base and margins, covers 2/3 rd length of the internodes; blade 8–13 × 0.3–0.4 cm, adaxial surface hispid with tubercle based hairs on lower 1/4 or 2/4 but densely hispid when young, abaxial surface densely scabrous, hairs less than 1 mm long. Ligule membranous. Inflorescence 3.5–5 cm long, hairy, single spike or a group of spikes arising together. Peduncle 11–14 cm long. Spikelets in the lower half male or neuter, 6–14 pairs. Lower sessile spikelet 6–6.5 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly elliptic. Lower glume 5–6 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly ovate-narrowly elliptic, cymbiform, chartaceous, dorsal surface tubercle based hairy, hairs hyaline, 1–2 mm long, ventral surface glabrous, 16–17-nerved, nerves not conspicuous. Upper glume 5.5–6 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly ovate-narrowly elliptic, cymbiform, membranous, 3-nerved. Florets 2; lower floret epaleate, empty; upper floret paleate or epaleate, male. Lower lemma 4.5–5.5 × 0.8–1 mm, narrowly elliptic-cymbiform, membranous, 1-nerved. Upper lemma 4–5 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly elliptic-narrowly obovate, membranous, margins infolded at upper 1/3 rd, apex aristate, arista small, ca. 0.5 mm long, brownish, 1-nerved. Upper palea 1–1.5 × ca. 0.3 mm, narrowly ovate-linear, membranous. Stamens 3. Lodicules 2. Lower pedicelled spikelet 5–6 × 1–2 mm. Pedicel 3 mm long. Lower glume 5–6 × 1–1.5 mm, narrowly ovate-cymbiform, chartaceous, dorsal surface tubercle based hairy, ventral surface glabrous, nearly 9–14-nerved. Upper glume 5–5.5 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly ovate-cymbiform, membranous, apex acute, glabrous except keel and margins, 3-nerved. Florets 2, both epaleate; lower floret empty; upper floret male. Lower lemma 4–5 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly ovate-narrowly elliptic, cymbiform, membranous, glabrous, 1-nerved. Upper lemma 4–4.5 × 0.5–1 mm, narrowly elliptic-narrowly obovate, membranous, apex obtuse-aristate, arista small, brownish, ca. 0.3 mm long, 1-nerved. Stamens 3. Lodicules 2. Spikelet at upper half 7–9 pairs. Callus obtuse-pungent. Upper sessile spikelet 4–6 × ca. 1 mm, awned. Lower glume 4–5 × 0.9– 1 mm, narrowly elliptic, coriaceous, golden yellowish-brownish, dorsal surface densely scabrous-scabridulous, ventral surface glabrous, 4-nerved. Upper glume 4.5–5 × ca. 0.5 mm, oblong-linear, cartilaginous, pale yellowish, dorsal surface scabrous on median hump, ventral surface glabrous, nerves faint. Florets 2, both epaleate; lower floret empty; upper floret female. Lower lemma 2–2.5 × ca. 0.5 mm, narrowly elliptic-linear, or narrowly ovate, membranous. Upper lemma reduced to hyaline base of the awn, 3–4 mm long. Awn 6–6.5 cm long, geniculate, brownish, scabrous. Ovary ca. 1 × ca. 0.7 mm, ovate-oblong; style 2, 2.5–3 mm long; stigma 2, 4–5 mm long, feathery. Stamens not seen. Upper pedicelled spikelet 6.5–7 × 1–1.5 mm, male. Pedicel 1–1.5 mm long. Lower glume 5.5–7 × 1–2 mm, ovate-narrowly ovate, coriaceous, greenish, dorsal surface densely tubercle based hairy, hairs hyaline, 2–3 mm long, ventral surface glabrous, 12–14-nerved. Upper glume 6–8 × ca. 1 mm, narrowly ovate-narrowly elliptic, cymbiform, membranous, glabrous, few tubercle based hairs towards apex on dorsal surface, hairs 3–4 mm long, 3-nerved. Florets 2; lower floret epaleate, empty; upper floret paleate or epaleate, male. Lower lemma 4–6 × ca. 1 mm, elliptic-narrowly elliptic, membranous, glabrous, midnerve prominent. Upper lemma 4–6 × 0.5–1 mm, narrowly elliptic, membranous, apex aristate, arista small, brownish, ca. 0.3 mm long, glabrous, 1-nerved. Upper palea ca. 1 × 0.3–0.5 mm, narrowly ovate-linear, membranous, glabrous. Stamens 3. Lodicule 2. Caryopsis 3–3.5 × ca. 0.5 mm, oblong, ventral surface 2-grooved, dorsal surface striated, stigma persistent.

Flowering and fruiting:— September–May.

Distribution and habitat:— Its distribution extends to tropical and subtropical regions of the World ( Bor 1960, GeoCAT 2011). In India, it is widely distributed in almost all states from coastal plains to hills. Usually found growing in dry, open or exposed areas.

Specimens examined:— INDIA. Andhra Pradesh: Guntur district, Dullipalam, 11 October 2017, V. Drisya 157111 ( CALI), Kondaveedu Fort , 12 October 2017, V. Drisya 157117 ( CALI) ; Visakhapatanam district, Araku Valley, Foot hills of Galliconda , 16 October 2017, V. Drisya 157139 ( CALI), Galliconda Hill, 16 October 2017, V. Drisya 157135 ( CALI), Sunkarametta, 15 October 2017, V. Drisya 157130 ( CALI) . Karnataka: Bagalkot district, Badami , 3 December 2017, K. Shinoj & V. Drisya 157758 ( CALI) ; Dakshina Kannada district, Mangalore , s. d., R.F. Hohenacker 301 (K) . Kerala: Kannur district, Kurisumala near Ezhimala , 12 November 2017, V. Drisya 157713 ( CALI), Madayippara, College-Fort side, 18 December 2010, Pramod C. 126641 ( CALI), Nileswar, 29 January 1979, V.J. Nair & R. Ansari 59986 ( CAL) ; Kollam district, near Sasthamkotta lake , 15 November 2017, V. Drisya 157739 ( CALI) ; Malappuram district, Calicut University Botanical garden, 2 September 2000, Jayasree S. 74310 ( CALI), Calicut University Campus , 4 February 2003, Tomson Mani 90713 ( CALI), Calicut University Campus , 28 February 2018, V. Drisya & A.K. Pradeep 157843 ( CALI) ; Palakkad district, Silent valley , near watch tower, 6 November 2012, Remya J. 74559 ( TBGT) . Madhya Pradesh: Ujjain district, Vikram University Campus , 6 November 2017, V. Drisya 157844 ( CALI) . Maharashtra: Kolhapur district, Rajaram Talav , 10 November 2006, K.V.C. Gosavi 2722 ( SUK) ; Satara district, Kas , 19 September 2003, M.M. Lekhak 280 ( SUK) . Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore district, Maruthamalai , 4 December 2017, V. Drisya 157756 ( CALI) ; Nilgiri district, Kodanad, 27 July 2012, Remya J. & Prasanna R. 73826 ( TBGT), Pykara , Ootty , 24 February 2018, V. Drisya 157838 ( CALI) ; Tiruchi district, Thuraiyur taluk, Pachamalais , Sobanapuram , near rest house, 12 December 1977, K.M. Matthew S.J. 10414 ( RHT) .

Notes:— Linnaeus (1753) described Andropogon contortus [= Heteropogon contortus ] as “ Spica solitaria , floribus inferioribus muticis ” and provided two references in the protologue “Pluk. alm. 173. t. 191. f. 5 ” and “ Moris. hist. 3. p. 180. s. 8. t. 4. f. ult ”, of which, Plukenet’s plate (Phytogr. Tab. 191. Fig. 5.) was [because Morison (1699) gives a reference to Plukenet drawing and both the images are similar but not the same] designated as the lectotype by Cope in Nasir & Ali (1982).

Conservation status:— Least Concern (LC). Conservation status of H. contortus is given by a rapid assessment method using GeoCAT (2011).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.: A. Lower spikelet pair; B. Lower glume; C. Upper glume; D. Lower lemma; E. Upper lemma; F. Upper palea (B–F: Lower sessile spikelet); G. Lower glume; H. Upper glume; I. Lower lemma; J. Upper lemma (G–J: Lower pedicelled spikelet); K. Upper spikelet pair; L. Lower glume; M. Upper glume; N. Lower lemma; O. Upper lemma (L–O: Upper sessile spikelet); P. Lower glume; Q. Upper glume; R. Lower lemma; S. Upper lemma; T. Upper palea (P–T: Upper pedicelled spikelet); U. Caryopsis. Drawn from V. Drisya & A.K. Pradeep 157843 by V. Drisya

FIGURE 4. Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.: A. Habit; B. & C. Inflorescence; D. Lower spikelet pair; E. Lower glume; F. Upper glume; G. Lower lemma; H. Upper lemma; I. Upper palea (E–I: Lower sessile spikelet); J. Lower glume; K. Upper glume; L. Lower lemma; M. Upper lemma (J–M: Lower pedicelled spikelet); N. Upper spikelet pair; O. Lower glume; P. Upper glume; Q. Lower lemma; R. Upper lemma (O–R: upper sessile spikelet); S. Lower glume; T. Upper glume; U. Lower lemma; V. Upper lemma; W. Upper palea (S–W: Upper pedicelled spikelet). Photos by V. Drisya.