Lophopogon kingii Hooker f. (1896: 149) Lophopogon tridentatus (Roxburgh, 1820) Hackel, 1889

Landge, Shahid Nawaz & Shinde, Rajendra D., 2023, Taxonomic note on the endemic genus Lophopogon (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) from India, Phytotaxa 630 (2), pp. 99-111 : 100-103

Lophopogon kingii Hooker f. (1896: 149) .

Lectotype (designated by Tiwari et al. (2017)):— INDIA. Monghir , October 1894, Mokim 1408 ( K barcode K000943467 !, isolectotypes CAL barcodes CAL0000002378 !, CAL0000002379 !, CAL0000002380 !, DD No. 45080, K barcode K000943468 !, US barcode 04244230! ).

Note on the type specimen:—While searching for the type specimens of Lophopogon kingii , we found one of the duplicates of “ Mokim 1408” housed at the US herbarium (barcode 04244230). This specimen was not seen by Tiwari et al. (2017) who lectotypified the name. The specimen is considered one of the isolectotypes.

Synonym

= Lophopogon prasannae K. Prasad, Nagaraju, A. Naray., A. M. Reddy, Sankara Rao & B. R. P. Rao (2021: 234) [syn. nov.] Fig. 1 .

Habitats:—According to Chandramohan et al. (2016) and Prasad et al. (2021), Lophopogon species are typically found in rocky crevices, sandy and red soil on hills, and in open grasslands within dry deciduous forests. This information is also based on observations made from the herbarium specimens and on the field.

Distribution: — Bihar, Odhisa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states (Hooker f. 1896, Chandramohan et al. 2016, & Prasad et al. 2021). ( Fig. 3 ).

Note:—Way before Chandramohan et al. (2016) published their findings on Lophopogon kingii , this species had already been collected in 1976 from the state of Karnataka based on “ N. P. Singh 142179” ( Fig. 1 ). However, the specimen was misidentified as L. tridentatus at the BSI herbarium. This identification must have evaded the attention of later workers who could care less about verifying the specimens. The distribution of L. kingii , as supported by (Hooker f. 1896, Chandramohan et al. 2016, & Prasad et al. 2021), is known to include the eastern states of India.

To determine the distribution of the species, it is recommended to conduct searches in the state of Telangana and the eastern parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where it is likely to occur in suitable habitats. It is suggested to utilize statistical models such as Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) to predict the potential suitable habitats based on multidimensional datasets. This approach would enable a more comprehensive assessment of the species’ distribution and facilitate the IUCN Red List assessment.

Since there is currently no available data on the population of the species, it is classified as Data Deficient (DD) following the guidelines of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (2019). Further research and data collection are necessary to obtain a better understanding of the species’ population status and ecological requirements.

Specimens Examined

The specimens of Lophopogon kingii

INDIA. Andhra Pradesh state *, Nigdi forest, Anantapur district, 21 October 2018, K. Prasad 5230 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0018690 holo! & BSID0018691 iso!]. Gutturu, Anantapur district, 07 November 2009, B. Ravi, Prasad Rao & P. Priyadarsini 37142 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0001959].

Bihar state, Monghir, October 1894, Mokim 1408 (Lectotype (designated by Tiwari et al. 2017) K barcode K 000943467!; isolectotypes: CAL barcodes CAL 0000002378!, CAL 0000002379!, CAL 0000002380!, K barcode K 000943468!, US barcode 04244230!).

Karnataka state *, Mysore near Manasagangotri, 13 November 1963, s. coll. 27 ( BSI) [ BSI 0000047293]. Yemmegudda [Yemmegundi], S. R. Gauribinnur [Gauribidanur], 7 January 1976, N. P. Singh 142179 ( BSI) [Barcode: BSI 0000047286].

Odhisa [Orissa] state, Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, 18 October 2015, Chandramohan 7061 (BSID) [Barcodes: BSID0011047 & BSID0012786].

*Represents new distributional records for the states in Peninsular India.

The specimens of Lophopogon tridentatus

INDIA. Andhra Pradesh state. Batrepalli, Anantapur district, 15 November 2014, R. K. Swamy HJCB-E-238 (JCB).

Karnataka state. Dharwar district, 1 November 1889, W. A. Talbot 2016 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86428]*. Station above Morihal, Belgavi [Belgaum] district, 28 October 1944, James Sinclair 3777 ( US) [Barcode 04244221]*. Just before Arsikere, Hassan district, 20 June 1969, C. J. Saldanah 13824 ( US) [Barcode 04244220]* [on this sheet three specimens are present; none but the specimen on the right hand side possesses basal indumentum and thus could be L. kingii . It is highly recommended to study this specimen in particular]. Nagpuri, Hassan district [erstwhile Mysore district], 8 October 1969, C. J. Saldanah 15209 ( US) [Barcode 04244219]*. 10 Km before Arsikere town, on TipturArsikere road, Hassan district, 2 December 1970, C. J. Saldanah & T. P. Ramamoorthy HFP1125 ( US) [Barcode 04244218]*. Tumkur district, 24 October 1979, S. R. Ramesh & S. B. Manohar 9766 (JCB).

Kerala state. Malabar Concan, s.d., Stocks Law s.n. ( P) [Barcode P 02044023]*, (L (now in NHN)) [Barcode L.1274048] & ( K) [ K 000943470].

Madhya Pradesh state. Near Piplode, Khandwa district, 10 December 1888, J. F. Duthie 8490 ( US) [Barcode 04244228]**. Near Siwal, Khandwa district, 22 December 1888, J. F. Duthie 8490 (E) [Barcode E00393970]** & ( K) [Barcode K 000943469]**.

Maharashtra state. Near Ahmadnagar, s.d., Miss Shattuck s.n. ( US) [Barcode 04244229]; Rahuri, Ahmadnagar district, February 1920, Nana A80 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86423]*. Bhusaval [Bhusawal] Khandesh, Jalgaon district, December 1916, s. coll. 5459 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86424]*. Deolali, Nasik district, September 1917, s. coll. 9610 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86427 & 86430]* 2 preparations. Igatpuri, Nasik district, September 1917, Nana 4572 (BLAT) [Accession no. 101779]*. Nandgaon, Nasik district, May 1986, Rajendra Shinde 678 (BLAT) [Accession no. 101779]*. Agriculture College compound [Pune district], 29 August 1908, R. K. Bhide s.n. (BLAT) [Accession no. 86423]**. Ibid, [Pune district], 29 August 1908, R. K. Bhide 9621 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86413]**. Poona [Pune district], 20 August 1917, Moses Ezekiel 9622 (BLAT) [Accession no. 86426]**.

Tamil Nadu state. Base of Kambakam Hill, Chengalpattu [Chingleput] district, 17 February 1901, Bourne 2474 ( US) [Barcode 04244226]*. Tiruchi, Tiruchirappalli district, 27 November 1978, K. M. Matthew & V. S. Manickam 19357 (NHN) (Barcode L.1274046)***.

Telangana state. Mannanur, 21 September 2013, L. Rasingham & Sankara Rao 3699 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0016395]*. Jalpadai, 21 October 2016, L. Rasingham & J. Swamy 7385 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0016691]**. Umamaheshwaram hill top, 25 October 1996, S. R. Srinivasan 108812 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0001960]*. Way to Myssamma temple, Mahabubnagar, S. R. Srinivasan 108628 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0001961]*. Chillimamidi [Chilemamidi], Medak district, 11 November 2000, G. V. S. Murthy 111914 (BSID) [Barcode: BSID0017394]**.

Uncertain localities in India: India Orientalis Central Provinces, s.d., J. F.Duthie s.n. ( US) [Barcode 04244225]**. Central Provinces, 10 December 1888, J. F. Duthie 8490 (WU)**&*. Southern Maratha Country and North Canara, s.d., A. P. Young s.n. ( US) [Barcode 04244227]* (NHN) (Barcode L.1274047)*. Delhi [Bombay?]. s.d., Jaquemont s.n. ( P) [Barcode P 02044022]**.

[Decumbent habit (*), Erect habit (**) and Intermediate(***)].

Figures

FIGURE 1. A specimen of Lophopogon kingii from the state of Karnataka (based on N. P. Singh 142179 [Barcode: BSI0000047286] at the BSI herabrium). (© The Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata).

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Lophopogon kingii Hook f. in India based on the specimens housed at BSI, BSID, CAL and K herbaria. (Abbreviations: AP: Andhra Pradesh state; BI: Bihar state (Monghyr, a type locality); KA: Karnataka state; OD: Odisha [Orissa] state).