A Revision of The Genus Cyanotis D. Don (Commelinaceae) in India

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A Revision of the Genus Cyanotis D. Don (Commelinaceae) in India
Article in Taiwania · December 2014

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2014.59.4.292
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Taiwania, 59(4): 292– 314 , 2014
DOI: 10.6165/tai.2014.59.4.292
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A Revision of the Genus Cyanotis D. Don (Commelinaceae) in India

Mayur D. Nandikar1*and Rajaram V. Gurav2
1. Department of Botany, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa, India 403 206.
2. Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India 416 004.
* Corresponding author. Email: mnandikar@gmail.com
(Manuscript received 13 October 2013; accepted 9 November 2014)
ABSTRACT: The genus Cyanotis D. Don in India is taxonomically revised. Thirteen taxa of Cyanotis have been recognized with
their updated nomenclature. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and geographical distribution have been provided. Cyanotis
glabrescens (C. fasciculata var. glabrescens) and C. axillaris var. cucullata (Cyanotis cucullata) are new combinations and status
proposed, notes on the complex of C. arachnoidea, C. burmaniana and C. tuberosa have been given, while some taxa warranting
typifications have been lectotypified.
KEY WORDS: Cyanotis, Commelinaceae, India, nomenclature, taxonomy.
INTRODUCTION while changing the name. Therefore, genus Zygomanes

Salisb. was just a nomen nudum and Hasskarl (loc. cit.)
The family Commelinaceae consists of 41 genera published valid but illegitimate superfluous substitute
and about 650 species worldwide (Faden, 2000). The for Cyanotis (Rao and Kammathy, 1966).
genera like Commelina Plum. ex L., Aneilema R. Br., The genus Cyanotis is very distinct and falls under
Cyanotis D. Don and Murdannia Royle are widespread tribe ‘Tradescantieae–Hexandrae’ (Brückner, 1930) and
in Africa and Asia. The paleotropical genus Cyanotis D. subtribe ‘Cyanotinae’ (Faden, 1998). The genus is
Don (Commelinaceae) comprises c. 56 species characterized by compact cincinni, basally united petals,
worldwide (Govaerts and Faden, 2012), very diverse in six fertile moniliform bearded stamens, filaments and
Asia (Faden, 2000) and Africa. From India, 16 species style usually tumid at apex. The habitats of the species of
listed by Karthikeyan et al. (1989), however, 13 species Cyanotis are also ecologically diverse. It occurs in
from India documented in the present work. Earlier grasslands, undergrowth, in rock crevices, as a weed in
findings by Wight (1853); Clarke (1871, 1881); Hooker crops, along roadsides, in open scrub, forest edges, sand
(1894, 1898); Fischer (1931) and annotations during the flat, while few are strictly grow under shade, on forest
current study nearly conclude leading diversity in genus floors and near streams. Most of the species are annuals,
Cyanotis is confined to Western Ghats of India. but few species show perennial habit in continuous
The genus Cyanotis was described by Don (1825) water lodged conditions. Four species are truly perennial,
under the section Tradescantia L. based on one of the having fusiform tuberous or thick, elongated roots. In
common species of Eastern Asia viz. Cyanotis vaga India, out of thirteen species, four species (Cyanotis
(Lour.) Schult.f. [=Cyanotis barbata D. Don]. The arcotensis, C. fasciculata, C. glabrescens and C.
history of the genus Cyanotis started with Cyanotis tuberosa) and one variety (Cyanotis axillaris var.
axillaris. Van Rheede (1690) in his Hortus Malabaricus cucullata) proved to be restricted to peninsular India.
had first cited C. axillaris as “Nir–pulli”, which was the As a part of a revision of the Commelinaceae of
first citation of genus Cyanotis from India. After a long India, the authors have carried out extensive field studies
gap, Salisbury (1812) raised the Linnean Commelina during the years 2008–2014. Species descriptions were
axillaris L. (1753) as a distinct genus and named it drawn up using a variety of materials, including
Zygomanes axillaris, but did not describe Zygomanes as literature, herbarium specimens, living plants, preserved
a new genus. Afterwards, Hasskarl (1867) adopted flowers and inflorescences and separately collected
Salisbury’s Zygomanes for four African species of capsules and seeds. Images of plants were taken with an
Cyanotis (sensu stricto), and described Zygomanes as a Olympus SP 550 uz digital camera. Microphotographs
new genus. In his consideration, Zygomanes was were taken with a JEOL-JSM 6360 Scanning Electron
published earlier than Cyanotis D. Don (loc. cit.) but he Microscope. Digital images were edited and assembled
has misquoted the year of publication for Zygomanes by on plates using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (San Jose, CA,
Salisbury, in addition he failed to give the justification USA). During this work the specimens in herbaria
292
December, 2014 Nandikar & Gurav: Revision of genus Cyanotis in India
ASSAM, BLAT, BSI, CAL, CALI, DEV, MH and SUK 7b. Stem and leaves variously puberulous or glabrous, but never
cobwebby; stamen filaments bearded with uni-coloured moniliform
were examined. The photographs of Herbarium sheets
hairs .................................................................................................8
(types and other herbarium specimens) were examined 8a. Bracteoles (surface & margin) bearded with cobwebby
digitally through JSTOR Global Plants hairs ………………………………....……..………C. glabrescens
(http://plants.jstor.org/) and other herbaria webpages C, 8b. Bracteoles glabrous or variously puberulous, ciliate at margins….9
9a. Bracts much longer than inflorescences, glabrous; stamen filament
E, G, K, LINN, NY, P, PRE, US and W. The living
not tumid at apex...………………………….………..….C. cristata
specimens of the perennials are maintained in the 9b. Bracts not much exceeding from inflorescences, puberulous;
Botanical Garden, Department of Botany, Shivaji stamen filament tumid at apex…………………………..…..….. 10
University, Kolhapur from 2008 until the present and the 10a. Inflorescences subsessile, peduncle < 0.5 cm long ……C. villosa
10b. Inflorescences pedunculate, peduncle >0.5 cm long …………..11
herbarium specimens were deposited at SUK, few
11a. Plants without definite base; leaves strictly lanceolate, densely
duplicates were sent to BSI, BLAT, CAL and MH. appressed silky pubescent to sparsely pilose beneath… C. racemosa
11b. Plants with definite base; leaves ovate to elliptic to linear to
TAXONOMIC TREATMENT lanceolate, variously pilose or hirsute………..……….….…….12
12a. Leaves linear to lanceolate, pointed or rounded at base,leaf
sheaths 0.8–1 cm long, ciliate at margins, otherwise glabrous;
Cyanotis D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 45: 1825, nom. cons.; anthers yellow…….…………………………..……....C. arcotensis
Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. 12b. Leaves ovate to elliptic to linear to lanceolate, cuneate at base,
Bombay 2: 791. 1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. leaf sheaths 0.1–0.5 cm long, puberulous to velutinous, anthers black
with yellow dot............................................………C. burmanniana
Enum. Monocot. 28: 1989; Faden in Dassanayake,
Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 139, 2000. TYPE:
1. Cyanotis adscendens Dalzell, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew
Cyanotis barbata D.Don
Amischophacelus R.S.Rao and Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc.,
Gard. Misc. 4: 343. 1852. TYPE: India, Karnataka,
Bot. 59: 305. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Belgaum, July, Dalzell s.n. (lectotype: K! sh.
Monocot. 23.1989. TYPE: Commelina axillaris L. no.795570), designated here.
Zygomenes Salisb. Trans. Hort. Soc. London 1: 271. 1812; Cyanotis sarmatica Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 33. t.
Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25 (2): 187. 1964. 2087. 1853. TYPE: same as for C. adscendens Dalzell
TYPE: Zygomenes axillaris (L.) Salisbury. Cyanotis tuberosa var. adscendens (Dalzell) C.B.Clarke in
DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 249. 1881; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind.
Annual or perennial herbs; inflorescences terminal 6: 386. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 793. 1908;
and axillary or axillary only, each cincinnus or group of Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931;
Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27: 1989.
cincinni usually subtended by a foliaceous bract, or
Fig. 10 A
inflorescences closed in the leaf sheaths (Cyanotis
axillaris); flowers sessile to sub-sessile; sepals 3, Perennial herbs with basal rosette leaves, roots
sub-equal; petals 3, united below forming a tube, apex fusiform, tuberous; flowering shoots lateral, adscendens,
acute; stamens 6, filaments usually with a sub-apical 7–35 cm long, occasionally rooting at the nodes and
swelling, bearded with moniliform hairs, anthers with giving rise to new plants by vegetative means; rosette
longitudinal dehiscence but pollen usually released from leaves spirally arranged, sheaths 0.1–2.5 cm, densely
base of anther sacs; style usually with a sub-apical pubescent, lamina linear to linear–lanceolate 8–15 ×
swelling, bearded or glabrous; capsule ciliate at apex, 0.5–1 (–1.5) cm, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded
tri-locular; seeds 1–2 per locule, embryotega terminal, to cuneate, upper surface glabrous to pilose, lower
hilum punctiform. 2n = 16–78 (Faden, 1998). sparsely to densely pilose or pubescent, margins
undulate, ciliate; cauline leaves distichous, lamina ovate
Key to the species of Cyanotis in India
to lanceolate, slightly to strongly falcate, 5–10 × 1.5–4
1a. Herbs with basal rosette leaves ……………….……..….…..…….2 cm, margin ciliate, sparsely pilose to glabrous on the
1b. Herbs without basal rosette leaves …………………........……….6 surface; inflorescences with terminal and axilary cincinii,
2a. Roots fibrous or thickened fibrous ...…………….…….…..……..3 bract foliacious, ovate, exceeding the cincinni;
2b. Roots of fusiform tubers ………………...……….……………….5
bracteoles falcate; sepals 3, lanceolate–oblong, 0.4–0.6
3a. Plants with cormous base ……………………...………...….…....4
3b. Plants without cormous base …………….....……..……. C. pilosa × 0.1–0.2 cm, pilose; petals 3, united at base, pink to
4a. Rosette leaves oblong to oblanceolate or elliptic to lanceolate; purple, lobes with white tips, reflexed apices; stamens 6,
seeds obscurely pitted, variously striated.…….……C. arachnoidea filaments with sub-apical swelling, densely bearded with
4b. Rosette leaves linear to linear–lanceolate; seeds finely
pink to lavender moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; style
reticulate ……………………………………….……….…………
…. C. vaga sub-equal to the stamens, with a sub-apical swelling,
5a. Flowering shoots adscendent ………….....……...…C. adscendens bearded below the swelling; capsules 2.5–3 × 2 mm,
5b. Flowering shoots sub-erect …………………….….......C. tuberosa puberulous in distal half; seeds 2 per locule, ovoid to
6a. Inflorescences enclosed within the leaf sheaths .............C. axillaris
ellipsoid, 1.3–1.8 × 0.9–1.3 mm, testa orange brown,
6b. Inflorescences not enclosed within the leaf sheaths .......................7
7a. Stem and leaves covered with cobwebby hairs; stamen filaments shallowly and irregularly pitted or faintly striate, hilum
bearded with bi-coloured moniliform hairs..................C. fasciculata ensiform, embryotega terminal.
293
Taiwania Vol. 59, No. 4
Flowering and fruiting: August to December. Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 388. 1894. pro parte, excl.
Distribution and ecology: India: Andhra Pradesh, type.
Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Fig. 10 B
Bengal; Sri Lanka; grasslands, rocky crevices, along the
forest margins and ditches along the forest side. Annual or pernnial, rosette herbs; stems decumbent,
Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh: North glabrous, 15–70 cm long, sometimes rooting from basal
Dhena reserve forest, Kurnool, 13th Sept. 1984, Raju 2523 (CAL). nodes; roots fibrous; whole plant densely to sparsely
Assam: Assam, 1898, Jenkins s. n. (CAL). Bihar: Duars, Bihar (Fl. of coverd with cobwebby hairs; rosette leaves oblong to
West Duars), Sept. 1899, Haines 67 (CAL). Karnataka: Kupuli hills, oblanceolate, or elliptic to lanceolate, 8–35 × 1–3 cm,
Dharwar, 10th Aug. 1888, Talbot 1715; Bababudhan Hills, Mysore, 2nd
Oct. 1890, Talbot 2394; Badami, Sept. 1910, Meebold 11376; succulent, apex acute to acuminate or obtuse, base
Gundalpeth, Mysore, Oct. 1910, Meebold 11482; Kankapura to attenuate, margin entire densely ciliate with woolly hairs
Sangam, Bangalore, 19th July 1976, N. S. Ravindra 1560; Malabar and or ciliate with short hairs, sheaths 1–1.5 cm, in young
Konkan, Stocks and Law. s. n. (CAL). Kerala: Munnar to Pooparagad, plants sheaths bundled together forming a corm like
23rd May, 2011, Manudev and Nampy 4437 (DEV). Maharashtra:
Botanical Garden Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 9th Sept. 2012, M. D. structure (observed in some well-developed plants also);
Nandikar 1229 (SUK); Chatushringi Hills, Pune, July 1916, Moses cauline leaves linear–oblong or lanceolate, or elliptic,
Ezekiel 30390 (BLAT); Malwan-Kudal road, Sindhudurg, 8th Sept. ensiform, 1–6 × 0.5–1.5 cm, acuminate at apex,
2010, S. S. Kamble and Nandikar C10873 (SUK); Pimpari (Nigadi), attenuate at base to a leaf sheath, minutely silky
Pune, 3rd Sept. 2010, Manudev 3351 (DEV). West Bengal: Durgapur,
Burdwan, 17th July 1973, Mukharjee 18709 (BSA). pubescent (arachnoid) beneath; leaf sheath c. 1 cm long,
Note: Clarke (1881), Hook.f. (1894), Cooke (1908), ciliate; inflorescence composed of one to numerous
Fischer (1931) and Karthikeyan et al. (1989) treated it as terminal and axilary cincinni, pedunculate or sessile;
a variety of Cyanotis tuberosa. However, it differs from peduncle 0.5–1 cm long; bract foliacious, ovate to
C. tuberosa in smaller, weaker habit, inflorescence shoot lanceolate, exceeding the cincinni; bracteoles falcate,
laterally produced and repent, rooting at nodes and from minutely pubescent; flowers bisexual; sepals linear–
the nodes giving rise to new plants. lanceolate, c. 0.4 × 0.1 cm, ciliate at margin; petals
oblong, c. 0.3 × 0.2 mm; stamens 6, filaments bearded
2. Cyanotis arachnoidea C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. with blue or pink moniliform hairs, tumid at apex;
Phan. 3: 250. 1881; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 386. anthers yellow; style bearded, with tumid apex, stigma
1894; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. simple; capsules 2 × (1–)1.5 mm, oblong, densely pilose
1931; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26: apically; seeds 1–2 per locule, 1 × 1 mm, ovoid to
1989. TYPE: Peninsular India, Tamil Nadu, Pulney ellipsoid, obscurely pitted, variously striated, gray to
mountains, 1836, Herb Wight, 2839 (lectootype: K, brown, embryotega terminal, hilum punctiform.
sh. no. K000854110; other syntypes: Wight 2839 Flowering and fruiting: September to February.
(GH ), Wall. Cat. 8990B, C (K, sh. no. 854112), Distribution and ecology: India: Andhra Pradesh,
designated here. Bihar, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu; Sri
Cyanotis pilosa auct. Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 32, t. Lanka; in rocky crevices, slopes of grassland, partial to
2083. 1853, non Schult, 1830. fully exposed sun.
Cyanotis arachnoidea var. thwaitesii auct. (Hassk.) Rao and Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh:
Kammathy in Bull. Bot. Surv. India. 6: 2. 1964. excl. Sumkerimettha, Vishakhapattanam, 11th May 1956, S. K. Wagh 77032,
type. H. Santapau 77029; Paderu, Vishakhapattanam, 24th Sept. 1956, S. K.
Cyanotis nilagirica Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 127: 1870; Wagh 77030, 77031 (BLAT); Anantgiri, Vishakhapattanam, 25th Sept.
1961, N. P. Balakrishnan 820 ‘as C. fasciculata’ (CAL); Tirumala,
Hook.f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 389. 1894; Karthik. et al., Fl.
Chittor, 26th Dec. 1986, Ranga Charyulu 148288; Sumkerimetta,
India. Enum. Monocot. 26: 1989. TYPE: India, Nilgiri, Vishakhapattanam, 30th Aug. 1960, G. V. Sbbarao 21515; on the way
Perrottet 1811 (G, sh. no. 223653) syn. nov. to Sapparala Gedda, 975 m alt, Vishakhapattanam, 28th Oct. 1972, G. V.
Cyanotis obtusa (Trimen) Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 812. Subbarao 82417 (MH). Bihar: Patna, Oct. 1959, G. Panigrahi 20981
1898; Rolla Rao in Blumea 14: 349. 1966; Karthik. et al., (ASSAM). Maharashtra: Khandala?, Pune, 5th Sept. 1981, M. R.
Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989; Faden in Almeida 1000726 (BLAT). Kerala: Koomankundu, Silent Valley
Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 127. 2000. National Park, 16th Oct. 1982, T. Sabu 10833; way to north Walakkad,
TYPE: Sri Lanka: Doluwa Kande, near Kuru negala, Silent Valley National Park, 11th Nov. 1983, C. Satish Kumar 11548;
Chembra peak, Meppadi, Wayanad, 23rd Sept. 1984, R. T.
Trimen, s.n. (PDA) syn. nov.
Balakrishnan 40625; Silent Valley National Park, 17th Oct. 1984,
Cyanotis arachnoidea var. obtusa Trimen, J. Bot., British Mathew 166; Pongalapara, Trivendrum, 14th May 1988, N. Mohanan
and Foreign 23: 266. 1885. TYPE: Aug 1883, Sri Lanka, 9782; Koviltherimala, Trivendrum, 22nd Dec. 1987, N, Mohanan 9194;
Karagam, cultivated in Royal Botanic Gardens Athirumala, Trivendrum, 15th Oct., 1988, N. Mohanan 4453 ‘as C.
Peradeniya Trimen s. n. (holotype: K, designated by fasciculata’; Mangaladevi, 1400 m. alt, Periyar, 10th Dec. 1994, Jomy
Faden, 2000). Augustine 14121; Vellimala, Periyar, 12th Dec. 1994, Jomy Augustine
Cyanotis thwaitesii auct. Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. 13976, ‘as C. axillaris’ (CALI); Vagamon hills, Kottayam, 2nd Nov.
Monocot. 28.1989. non Hassk. 1870. 2002, Sibachen Thomas 860; Naduvattom, Malappuram district, 23rd
Feb. 2010, Nampy 175; Dodabetta, Nilgiri, 8th Oct. 2010, Nampy 146;
Cyanotis fasciculata (Roth) Schult.f. var. thwaitesii (Hassk.)
Dodabetta, Nilgiri, 24th Feb. 2010, Nampy 3409 (DEV). Odisha:
C.B. Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 254. 1881; Deomali Parbat, 6th Dec. 1962, G. V. S. Rao 29921 (ASSAM). Tamil
294
Nadu: Bodirange, Madurai, 15th Sept. 1961, K. M. Sebastine 12895 Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25(2): 185. 1964. pro.
(CAL); Shevaroy hills, Salem district, 10th Aug. 2004, A. K. Pradeep parte. non (Linn) Roem. and Schult.
93153 (DEV); Shevaroy hills, Oct. 1876, G. Bidie 73078; On the rocks
of Kodaikanal, Pulney hills, 19th July 1899, M. Chandrabose 52456;
Sirumalai, Madurai district, 23rd Aug. 1913, K. C. Joest 72084; Annual hirsute herb with fibrous roots; stem erect to
Hassanur, Coimbatore, 25th Aug. 1914, K. C. Joest 78081; Pulney hills, slightly decumbent, branched from the base, if
22nd March 1928, without coll. 78068; Ponmachi Betta, Kollegal, decumbent rooting sparsely from the nodes; leaf sheaths
Coimbatore, 7th Feb. 1930, V, Narayanswamy 78804; On the way to 0.8–1 cm long, ciliate at margins, leaves cauline,
Thekumalai, Courtallum, 15th Dec. 1957, K. Subramaniyan 9543;
Akkamalai to Anamalai, 12th Sept. 1961, J. Joseph 26445; distichous, 3–10 × 0.4–1 cm, linear to lanceolate, hirsute,
Kuthraivetti, Thulukkamparai, Triunelveli, 31 st Aug. 1963, A. N. apex acute, base pointed or rounded, margin entire and
Henry 39294; Near Pillar rocks, Kodaikanal, Madurai district, 27th July finely ciliate; inflorescence mostly terminal comprises
1965, K. M. Sebastine 49208; Mahendragiri slopes, Kanyakumari single to four cincinni, pedunculate, peduncle 1.5–6 cm
district, 30th July 1966, B. V. Shetty 54457; Cumbummedu, Ramnad,
14th March 1970, E. Vajravelu 65059; Muthukurzhivayal, long; bracts foliaceous; bracteoles ovate to acute or
Kanyakumari, 27th Aug. 1976, A. N. Henry 92803; near Papanashanam falcate, 1 × 1 cm, prominently curved at maturity (Rao,
falls, Tirunelvelly district, 27th Nov. 1986, Subraminayan 13609; 1966), margin ciliate; flowers many per cincinni; sepals
Longwood reserve forest, Nilgiri, s. d., E. Vajravelu 67942 (MH). white, ovate–elliptic, pubescent; petals fused basally,
Note: Cyanotis arachnoidea can be easily free at apices, blue to pink; stamens 6, filaments c. 1 cm
recognized by its arachnoid or cobwebby or silky long, bearded with blue moniliform hairs, tumid apically,
pubescent woolly, robust, perennial habit; rosette and anthers yellow; style slender, glabrous (Rao, loc. cit.), or
cauline, narrowly elongated, oblong–lanceolate, obtuse sparsely bearded; ovary hairy in upper half; capsule 3 ×
to acute leaves; terminal and axillary, more often sessile 2 mm, hairy above; seeds 2 per locule; seeds 1.5 × 1 mm,
spikes and dark foveolate to smooth seeds. This is one of ovoid to ellipsoid in outline, testa dark brown to gray,
the variable species, closely related with Sri Lankan warty or faintly reticulate, embryotega terminal, hilum
Cyanotis thwaitesii by having perennial rosettes, ovoid.
cobwebby pubescence, lanceolate leaves and floral Flowering and fruiting: October.
character that made it difficult to distinguish both the Distribution and ecology: Endemic to India: Tamil
species in a narrow context. A type specimen of C. Nadu; known to occur in alluvial and lateritic soil.
thwaitesii from Sri Lanka, was avaliable to screen placed Specimens examined: INDIA. Tamil Nadu: Srivilliputhur,
at CAL (Thwaites in C. P. 2433), but not found any Virudhunagar, 14th Nov. 1953, J. S. Rao 96439; Theppakadu,
peculiar character (apart from more linear and glabrous Mudumalai, 22nd Nov. 1963, Ramamurthy 34316; Jamnamrathur,
leaves) to conclude identity of Sri Lankan C. thwaitesii North Arcot, 10th Nov. 1985, M. B. Viswanathan 149338 (MH).
or its relation with Indian C. arachnoidea. More live and Note: Originally, the species collected from very few
herbarium specimens need to be studied to draw any localities of Sothern India in between year 1963–1964,
conclusion. Herbarium specimens placed at various all those collections deposited in different herbaria as
herbaria in India, were labeled like C. thwaitesii, C. different types by Rao (1966). After studying the
obtusa, C. arachnoidea var. thwaitesii, C. fasciculata holotype (Joseph 89886A– CAL!), isotypes (Joseph
var. thwaitesii, C. arachnoidea var. obtusa are now been 89886B– BSI!) and images of paratypes from E and K, it
found out to be C. arachnoidea only. was found that the species is more close to C.
Extreme morphological variations, has been burmaniana in its habit, pubescence, cincinni, flower
observed in live and herbarium specimens from different and seed characters while differs in long, narrow, more
populations, even within population, but it is within a hairy leaves and cincinni with long peduncles. No any
range of Cyanotis arachnoidea. Therefore, in the present qualitative difference found in C. burmannia and C.
investigation we treated C. arachnoidea in broader sense. arcotensis, but to confirm the proper identity of this
According to Faden (2000), the Sri Lankan plants of C. species, it needs further verification and have to see
thwetesii are distinct than the Indian C. obtusa [=C. more live specimens.
arachnoidea], but we strongly think that all Indian plants
tagged with C. obtusa, C. thwaitesii and various varieties 4. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) Sweet, Hort. Brit.: 430.1826;
belong to the same species. C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 244. 1881;
Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 56. 1861; Hook.f., Fl.
3. Cyanotis arcotensis R.S.Rao in Blumea 14: 345. 1967; Brit. Ind. 6: 388. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2:
Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 28: 1989. 794. 1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras,
TYPE: Tippukadu, Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, India, 1550. 1931.
10th Nov. 1963, Joseph 89886A (holotype: CAL!; Amischophacelus axillaris (L.) Rao and Kammthy in J. Linn.
Soc. Bot. 59: 306. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum.
isotypes: Joseph 89886B, BSI!). Monocot. 23: 1989.
Cyanotis papilionacea auct. C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr.
Tonningia axillaris (L.) O. Ktze., Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 721.
Phan. 3: 246. 1881; Hassk. Commel. Ind. 158. 1870;
1891.
Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384. 1894; Fischer in Gamble,
Zygomanes axillaris (L.) Salisb. Trans. Hort. Soc. London,
Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Rao and Kammathy in
1: 271. 1812.
295
Commelina axillaris L., Sp. Pl. 42. 1753. TYPE: Plukenet, sheath tubular’ while the cucullate leaf sheaths can
Phytogr., t. 174, f. 3. 1692 (lectotype designated by clearly seen in type. Further, they have given
Faden, 2000). “Nir–pulli” Rheede, Hort. Malb. 10: 28, t. justification that “the later (after Roth) plants are not
13, 1690. referable to Tradescantia cucullata Roth and it deserves
the name”. It is true that after Roth, no one has collected
Annual herbs; roots thin fibrous; stems erect or
the specimens with bearded filaments but it does not
creeping or scrambling and rooting at the nodes; much
mean that someone has to reduce the character like
branched from the base, 30–40 cm; leaves all cauline;
cucullate sheaths, which was used as epithet by Roth. (as
leaf sheath tubular to cucullate, leaf blade linear, 2–8(12)
cucullata) while describing the species.
× 0.5–0.8 cm, abaxially glabrous or sparsely pubescent,
Naik and Nirgude (1989) proposed var. depressa is
oblong to linear lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate,
under the genus Tonningia, which has been
base rounded to attenuate, margin entire, rarely ciliate;
synonymised in Cyanotis, therefore the var. depressa
inflorescence axilary enclosed within leaf sheaths
need to be treated as again a new combination as
(bract); bracteoles c. 1 cm, linear, inserted, cincinni 3–6
‘Cyanotis axillaris var. depressa’. However, in the
flowered; sepals free, linear–lanceolate, 0.6–0.9 × 0.5
original description Naik and Nirgude, omitted the
cm, sparsely to densely ciliolate; petals blue to bluish
unique character i.e. cucullate sheaths, from the type it is
purple, c. 1.2 cm wide; stamens 6, filament densely
clear that the species has cucullate sheaths. Therefore, to
bearded with moniliform hairs; style sparsely bearded,
avoid further misinterpretation, in present study, the
tumid at apex; ovary elliptic-ovate, sparsely pilose in
variable forms of Cyanotis axillaris are referred as var.
upper half; capsule shortly stipitate to sessile, beaked or
cucullata. Both the distinct verities are illustrated
with three projections (horned), obovoid or oblong–
bellow,
ellipsoid, 3–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous except the beak;
seeds 2 per locule, ovoid to ellipsoid, compressed, 1. Leaf sheaths tubular; capsule ellipsoid, stipitate,
truncate at base 1.5–3 × 1.8 mm, testa gray to gray beaked……………………………………..……....var. axillaris
brown, mottled, striate in between the deep reticulations – Leaf sheaths cucullate; capsule oboviod, sessile, with three red
projections at apex with depression or horn..……….var. cucullata
or with puncticulate from the scattered deep pits,
embryotega terminal, hilum punctiform.
var. axillaris
Flowering and fruiting: Throughout year.
Fig. 1; 10 C
Distribution and ecology: One of the common herbs
of wet places occurs throughout India, Sri Lanka to Annual herb of moist and wet areas; leaf sheath
northern Australia and West Indies. tubular (slightly bulged during flowering and fruiting
Note: Most distinctive species of the genus Cyanotis, but never cucullate); leaves long, lanceolate, not
beaked capsule and leaf sheath enclosed inflorescence succulent; capsule ellipsoid, sub-sessile or shortly
are the diagnostic characters. Chiefly found in aquatic, stipitate, beaked at apex without any depression;
marshy and wet habitat, within cultivation as a weed. seeds striate in between the deep striations.
Kammathy and Rao, 1964 and Rao and Kammathy, Flowering and fruiting: Throughout year.
1966 made two generic combinations, Zygomanes and Distribution and ecology: Occurs throughout
Amischophacelous based on some identical generic India, Sri Lanka to northern Australia and West Indies;
characters and on cytological evidences, but apart from commonly occurs in wet fields.
few similarities, no any convincing character to spill out Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh:
genus from Cyanotis. Addatigala, East Godavari, 16th Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77036;
Type specimen of C. cucullata [=Tradescantia Valley Gardens, Vishakhapattanam, 17th Oct. 1956, S. K. Wagh
cucullata Roth (India, Roth s. n.)] placed at B, was 77034; Shriharikotta, Nellore, 14th Jan. 1958, S. K. Wagh 77042
(BLAT). Karnataka: Khanapur, Belgaum dist., 26th Sept. 2009, M.
collected by Heynii, owed and described by Roth from
D. Nandikar C0903 (SUK); Karwar, North Kannara, Oct. 1919,
India and he stated, the species is distinct from C. Hall and McCann 77043, 77292 ‘as papilionacea’ (BLAT). Kerala:
axillaris, because of cucullate leaf spathe and glabrous Nedumkayam, Eravikulam, 27th Nov. 1980, P. Mathew 29182;
filaments. Afterwards, many of Indian workers followed Karimpuzha, Eravikulam, 2nd June 1982, P. Mathew 34322 (CALI);
Muthunga WLS, Wayanad district, 29th Nov. 2002, Joby Paul 892;
Roth’s portrayal, many of them given vague description
Nilambur forest, Malappuram district, 6th Jan. 2010, Nampy 2725
(like filaments are nearly glabrous, capsule hooded and (DEV). Maharashtra: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali,
all) to enumerate C. cucullata is a distinct species. In Mumbai, 26th Sept. 1953, H. Santapau 77055; Matunga, Mumbai,
1989, Naik and Nirgude proposed a new name with a Aug. 1925, R. D. Acland 77062, 63, 64; Dattatray road, Malad,
Mumbai, 4th Oct. 1957, G. L. Shah 7706 (BLAT); Ajara–Amboli
status change and made a variety as Tonningia axillaris
road, Kolhapur, 3rd Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar C0924 (SUK).
var. depressa. They were right in some circumstances Odisha: Koinjur to Kusadandi, 26th June 1900, s. coll. 73089 (MH);
like type of Tradescantia cucullata (B) having a naked Puri, Odisha, Bakkond WLS, 3rd Dec. 2011, Nampy and Sheeba
filaments. However, the other characters stated by them 4297 (DEV). Tamil Nadu: North Arcot, 12th Dec. 1958,
Subramanayan 14542; Chidambarnath, 31st Jan. 1958, K. M.
when proposing the new name were vague viz. ‘leaf
Sebastine 10138; Chingulpet, Coimbatore, Sept. 1958, K.
296
Subramanayan 14541; Bund side, Vedanthangal Sanctuary, 26th Annual herb of dry or semiarid situations; leaf
Jan. 1976, A. N. Henry 91658; South Arcot, 18th Jan. 1978, K.
sheath cucullate; leaves small, succulent; capsule
Ramamurthy 100644; Kanyakumari, 17th Oct. 1985, R. Gopalan
166855; Selugai, Ramnathpuram, 11th Nov. 1989, oboviod, sessile, with three red projections at apex
Balasubramanayan 146152 (MH). West Bengal: Plant of Gangetic with depression; seeds puncticulate from the scattered
trop., July 1841, Hook. f. and Thomson s. n. (MH). deep pits.
Flowering and fruiting: August to January.
var. cucullata (Roth) Nandikar and Gurav comb. et Distribution and ecology: Endemic to India:
stat. nov. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Fig. 10 D Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, species is more common
in Deccan peninsular India to Gujarat, East coast of
Tradescantia cucullata Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 189. 1821. India and Maharashtra; mostly along the cultivated
TYPE: India, 1814, Roth s. n. (holotype: B, sh. no. weeds and barren fields.
296350) excluding “filamentis imberbibus”. Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh:
Cyanotis cucullata (Roth) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 107. 1843; Osmania University campus, Hyderabad, Kammathy 73974 (BSI);
C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 245. 1881; Nagarjunsagar, Nalconda district, 13th Dec. 1959, K. M. Sebastine
Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 389. 1894; Fischer in Gamble, 9731 (CAL, MH). Gujarat: Behind station Rajkot, Saurashtra, 20th
Fl. Pres. Madras, 1550. 1931; Rao and Kammathy in J. Oct. 1953, H. Santapau 77209 (BLAT). Karnataka: Badami
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 59:1. 1962; Karthik. et al., Fl. plateau, Bagalkot, 11th Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar C1006 (SUK).
India Enum. Monocot. 28: 1989. Maharashtra: Diva Ghat, Pune district, Dec. 1917, Blatter and
Zygomanes cucullata (Roth) Rao and Kammathy in Notes McCann 77202; near bus stand Purandhar, Pune district, 11th Oct.
1950, H. Santapau 77201 (BLAT); Pandharpur, Solapur district,
Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25(2): 187. 1964.
26th Aug. 1912, Wiliam Butus 3476; near Veruba hill, 3 miles from
Amischophacelus cucullata (Roth) Rolla and Kammathy Atit, Satara district, Rolla Rao 73036 (BSI). Kankuri, Nashik
in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 59: 306. 1966. district, 31st Dec. 1964, Arora 1363 (CAL). Madhya Pradesh:
Tonningia cucullata (Roth) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 722. Abaidullahganj, East Bhopal, s. d., Wadhwa 59597 (BSI).
1891. Rajasthan: Banswara to Udaipur road, Banswara, 23rd Aug. 1976,
Tonningia axillaris (L.) Rafin. var. depressa Naik and V. Singh 2994 (CAL). Tamil Nadu: Near Marudamalai temple,
Nirgude in Asian J. Pl. Sc. 1: 75. 1989; Naik in Fl. of Coimbatore, 24th Nov. 2010, Nandikar and Gurav C1003 (SUK).
Marathwada 2: 883. 1998. syn. nov. excluding
description “leaf sheath tubular”. 5. Cyanotis burmanniana Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6:
34. t. 2089. 1853; Hassk. Commel. Ind. 158: 1870;
Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26: 1989;
Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14:
121. 2000. TYPE: India, Kerala, Kollam (Quilon),
Oct. 1835, Wight s.n. (lectotype: K, sh. no. 854122;
isolectotypes: K, sh. no. 854123), designated here.
Cyanotis papilionacea auct. Hook.f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 384.
1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 791. 1908; Fischer in
Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931, pro. parte. non
(L.) Roem. and Schult.
Cyanotis papilionacea var. burmanniana auct. (Wight)
C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 246. 1881; Hook. f.
Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 385. 1894, non (L.) Roem. and Schult.
Cyanotis vaginata Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 34. t.
2088. 1853; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 385. 1894. TYPE:
India, Malabar (Kerala), s.d. Wight s.n. (lectotype: K, sh.
no. 854120; isolectotype: K, sh. no. 854121) designated
here.
Cyanotis papilionacea var. vaginata auct. (Wight) Fischer
in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931. non (L.) Roem.
and Schult.
Cyanotis hispida Dalzell in Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard.
Misc. 3: 139. 1851. TYPE: India, Malwan (Bombay)
Dalzell 745 (lectotype: CAL!, isolectotype: NYBG),
designated here.
Cyanotis hirtella Miq. ex Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 112. 1870.
TYPE: India, Mangalore (North Kanara), 1847,
Hohenacker, R. F. 130 (lectotype: E, sh. no. 393349;
Fig. 1. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) Sweet A: Habit, B: Flowering shoots, isolectotypes: S, sh. no. S-G-8065, C, sh. no. 10009567),
C: Flower and stamen [image reproduced from “Nir–pulli” designated here.
Rheede, Hort. Malb. 10: 28, t. 13, 1690] Fig. 2; 10 E
297
violet, lobes free, reflexed; stamens exserted half of the

Erect to decumbent, procumbent or profusely corolla tube, filament densely bearded with blue to violet
branched, annual herb, 5–40 cm long or spreads; root moniliform hairs, below sub-apical swelling, anthers
fibrous; leaves cauline, distichous, sheaths 0.1–0.5 cm black with yellow dot; style bearded as in stamens,
long, puberulous to velutinous, lamina ovate to elliptic sub-equal to stamen filaments, sub-apically swelled;
or lanceolate, 0.5–10 × 0.4–0.8(–1) cm, apex acute, base capsule 2 × 2 mm, sparsely pilose at apex and along the
cuneate, lamina of both the surfaces are densely to ridges; seeds 1–2 per locule, 1–2 × 1–2 mm, ovoid to
sparsely pilose; inflorescence terminal and axillary, with ellipsoid in outline, testa brown, striate.
2–5 cincinni, cincinni pedunculate, peduncle (0.5–)1– Flowering and fruiting: September to January.
4(–6) cm long, tomentose; bract ovate to lanceolate, Distribution and ecology: Peninsular India and Sri
foliaceous, mostly shorter than the cincinni; bracteoles Lanka; common in grasslands of southern India during
ovate, margins ciliate, surface variously pubescent or monsoon, on barren rock (apparently lithophytic), along
rarely glabrous; flowers few–many per cincinni, sandy sea shore, low to high altitude lateritic plateaus.
bisexual; sepals lanceolate–oblanceolate, 0.4 × 0.5 cm,
sparsely to densely pilose; corolla blue to pale pink or
Fig. 2. Cyanotis burmanniana Wight, A: Habit, B: Flowering shoots, C: Inflorescences, D: Flower, E: Stamen, F: Pistil, G: Capsule, H:
Seeds dorsal and ventral view respectively. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from Gurav & Nandikar C1110 (BLAT).
298
Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh: Northern papillionacea, C. papillionacea var. burmaniana, C.
hump of the Island, Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram district, 23rd Dec. hispida and C. hirtella. Most of these names were
1960, V. A. Rao 603 (CAL). Goa: Ordofond, Butpal, 4th mile, 25th Aug.
synonymised earlier within C. burmaniana while C.
1963, K. C. Kanodia 89536 (CAL). Kerala: Waynad to Calicut road,
19th Sept. 2011, S. S. Kamble and Nandikar C1107 (SUK); Chikala– papillionacea dropped by Rao (1964) because he found
Chalakudy, Trichur, 9th Dec. 1965, K. M. Sebastine 26689 ‘as C. that it was based on a specimen of C. cristata.
papilionacea’; Chalakudy to Adirapally, Trichur district, 27th Sept.
1982, K. Ramamurthy 74881; Way to Kattapana, Iddukki, 5th Oct. 6. Cyanotis cristata (L.) D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 46:
1983, C. N. Mohanan 80008 (CAL); Alleppey (Alappuzha), Nov. 1910,
Meebold 12724; Muzhapplangad, Cannanore, 17th Aug. 1980, V. S. 1825; Hassk., Commel. Ind. 120. 1870; Wight, Icon.
Ramchandran 66999; on the way from Iddukki to Kattappana, Iddukki, Pl. Ind. Orient. 32. t. 2082. 1853; C.B.Clarke in DC.,
8th Nov. 1981, C. N. Mohanan 72416; Calvary Mountain, Erattayar, Monogr. Phan. 3: 247. 1881; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:
Iddukki, 14th Oct. 1982, C. N. Mohanan and V. S. Ramchandran 74622 385. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 793. 1908;
‘as C. fasciculata’; Beemanadi, 250 mt., Kasargod district, 27th Sept.
1982, R. Ansari 74343; Aruvanpara, Silent Valley National Park, 20th Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931;
Aug. 1982, Satish Kumar 10726; Malappara, Periyar, s. d., Jomy Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26: 1989;
Augustine 17175 ‘as C. fasciculata’; Vadapuram–Anapara, Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14:
Ervivullam, 31st Aug. 1989, P. Mathew 33479; Uallakkadavu, Periyar, 123. 2000.
9th Nov. 1996, Jomy A. 16900 (CALI); way to Kakkadampoil, 13th Nov.
Commelina cristata L., Sp. Pl. 1: 42. 1753, non Burm. Fl.
2009, Nampy and Manudev 1259 (DEV); Kannoth, Malabar, 5th Dec.
1913, s. coll. 52533 (MH). Maharashtra: Vengurla, Sindhudurg, 17th Ind. t. 7. fig. 1. 1768. TYPE: Illustr. in Hermann herb.
Sept. 2011, S. S. Kamble and Nandikar C1101; Dukanwadi, Kudal, used by Linnaeus, Fl. Zeyl. 13. 1747, to illustrate his
Sindhudurg, 2nd Oct. 2011, Gurav and Nandikar C1110 (BLAT, BSI, species 32; (BM), lectotype designated by Faden, Revis.
CAL, CALI, MH, SUK). Tamil Nadu: Poomachi, Anamalai, 10th Oct. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 123. 2000.
1908, C. A. Barber 3708; s. loc. Herb. Wight 1163; Alleppy, Cyanotis racemosa auct. C.B.Clarke, Commel. et Cryt.
Travancore, 13th Aug. 1913, M. Rama Rao 2221 ‘as C. vaginata’; Beng. 56, t. 36. 1874, non Heyne ex Hassk, 1870.
Calimere, Tanjavur, 17th Jan. 1961, J. Ellis 11751 (CAL). Tradescantia cristata L., Syst. Nat. (ed. 12) 233. 1767.
Note: Common and widespread plant fromwest TYPE: Uppsala, Sweden, s. coll., Linnean Herb. 406-6
coast and southern India, morphologically extremely (LINN).
variable, consist of 3 to 4 morphotypes depending on Cyanotis papilionacea (L.) Roem. and Schult., Syst. Veg. 7:
their habitats. However, under cultivation not retains 1151. 1830. nom. illeg.
natural habit. In India this species was described under Fig. 3; 10 F
different epithets and verieties viz. C. vaginata, C.
Fig. 3: Cyanotis cristata (L.) D.Don, A: Habit, B: Flower, C. Bracteole, D. Sepal, E. Stamen, F. Pistil, G. Capsule, H. Seeds dorsal and ventral
view. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar C1008 (SUK).
299
Branched to unbranched, annual herb with erect to near forest office, Raigad district, 10th Sept. 1959, N. A. Irani 77118;
Koyna Dam, Satara district, 12th Nov. 1960, P. Divakar 77182 (BLAT).
ascending or decumbent shoots; roots fibrous; stem if
Tamil Nadu: Perumal hills, Thuraiyur, Tiruchirappalli, 15th Aug.
branched, branched from the base, rooting at lower 1906, N. P. Murgesan 305 (Herb. Madras Christan College, Chennai);
nodes, glabrous or with line of cilia on internodes, Rawnad, 29th Jan. 1945, Daniel and Raju 88176; Trichurpalli, 29th Oct.
internodes 1–5 cm; leaves cauline, sheathes 0.1–1.8 cm 1958, K. M. Sebastine 13811; Tirunevelly, 12th Nov. 1962, J. Joseph
30104; Flora of Madras state without loc. 24th Nov. 1964, E. Vajravellu
long, with a line of hairs along the fused edges,
42981; Salem, 2nd Dec. 1964, A. V. N. Rao 44437; Ramnathapuram,
sometimes sparsely pilose elsewhere, ciliate at the apex, 29th Nov. 1977, N. C. Nair 101698; Jamnarmarathur, Jawadi Hills, 10th
lamina ovate-elliptic to oblong–lanceolate, 1–10 × 0.3–2 Nov. 1985, Viwanathan 152517; Ramnathapuram, 30th Dec 1987,
cm, acute or obtuse at apex, cordate or rounded base, Balasubraminam 146221 (MH). Tripura: Cherilam Reserve Forest,
Tripura, 27th August 1957, R. S. Rao 8853 (ASSAM).
ciliate at margin, surfaces glabrous; inflorescences
terminal and axillary, solitary, deeply recurved cymes, Note: This is the most common species of genus
pedunculate, peduncles 1–5, 0.5–8 cm long, with a line Cyanotis in India, easily distinguished by ovate to
of pubescence opposite the bract, otherwise glabrous; lanceolate, foliaceous bracts and bi-seriately arranged
bracts foliaceous, ovate–lanceolate, much exceeding the falcate bracteoles.
cymes, 1–6 cm long, glabrous, apex acuminate, margins
7. Cyanotis fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Schult.f. in
cilate or ciliolate, glabrous; bracteoles falcate, 0.5–1.5 ×
Roem. et Schult., Syst. Veg. 7: 1152. 1830; Dalz.
0.3–0.6 cm, glabrous on the margin, glabrous; flowers
and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 255: 1861; Hook.f., Fl. Brit.
blue to bluish purple; sepals oblong to narrowly
Ind. 6: 387. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2. 793.
oblanceolate, 0.2–0.6 cm long, sparsely pilose at the
1908; Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1550.
apex; petals not much exceeding from sepals, united
1931; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.
forming a tube, apices free, lobed, lobes ovate, apex
1989.
acute; stamen filaments twisted, densely bearded with Tonningia fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Kuntze in Revis.
moniliform blue hairs, anthers yellow or orange yellow; Gen. Pl. 2: 722. 1891.
style twisted, glabrous; capsule 2–3 × 1.2–2 mm, pilose Tradescantia fasciculata B. Heyne ex Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp.
at the apex; seeds 1–2 per locule, ovoid to ellipsoid in 189. 1821. TYPE: Indian Orientalis, Herb. Heyne.
outline, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm, testa brown, striated with 1– Cyanotis lawiana Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 32. t. 2086.
4, circular pits on dorsal side of the midline. 1853. TYPE: India, Karnataka, Belgaum, s.d., Law 89
Flowering and fruiting: Throughout year. (holotype: K, sh. no. 854099).
Distribution and ecology: Common, widespread Tradescantia rupestris J.S.Law ex J.Graham Cat. Pl.
throughout India; East Asia; an common herbaceous Bombay, 223. 1839. TYPE: Purusgur Fort, Near
Dharwad, North Kanara, India Herb. Stocks or Law s.n.
element of the wet soil, roadside ditches and banks, (lectotype: K, sh. no. 854216), designated here.
along the ghats, undergrowth of forests; sun exposed or Fig. 4; 11 A-B; 13 D-F
partial shade.
Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh: Ascending to creeping or erect, branched annual
Kondapalli, Krishna, 24th Aug. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77123; Mellavagu,
Guntur, 4th Sept. 1956, S. K. Wagh 77124 (BLAT); Tirupati, 12th Dec. herb with densely lanate young branches; roots fibrous;
1987, Ranga Charyulu 148234 (MH). Arunachal Pradesh: Aka Hills, stem purple or green; internodes 0.7–5 cm, sparsely
Aug. 1934, N. L. Bor 17263; Nongpoh, 29th July 1964, J. Joseph 37401 cobwebby; leaf heath 0.5–1.2 cm, cobwebby,
(ASSAM). Gujarat: Junagadh forest road, Junagadh, 28th Aug. 1952, overlapping in younger branches and lower nodes,
H. Santapau 77098 (BLAT). Karnataka: Madikeri, 26th Nov. 2010,
Gurav and Nandikar C1005; Badami plateau, Bagalkot, 11th Nov. mouth ciliate; leaves cauline, distichous, sometimes
2010, M. D. Nandikar C1008; Charmudi Ghat, 8th Nov. 2011, M. D. succulent, purple-green, lanceolate, 0.8–5(–6) × 0.3–1(–
Nandikar C1113 (SUK). Kerala: J. L. Hills, Sultan Battery, Calicut, 1.2) cm, base cuneate, margin ciliate, surface glabrous to
12th Aug. 1964, B. D. Naithani 48451; Kuttukanam, Kottayam, 21st densely or sparsely lanate, densely lanate in case of
Sept. 1964, K. Viveknathan 40017; Palghat, 19th July 1964, K. M.
Sebastine 39737; Thekkady, 17th Nov. 1975, K. Viveknathan 90953; younger branches, apex acuminate; inflorescence
Quilon, 26th July 1978, C. N. Mohanan 134005; Mukkali forest, terminal or axillary, peduncles up to 4 cm long, sparsely
Palghat, 11th Oct. 1979, N. C. Nair 125314; Tellicherry, Cannanore, cobwebby; bracts foliaceous, lanceolate-ovate, 0.2–0.4
16th Aug. 1980. V. S. Ramchandran 132626; Idukki, 23rd Sept. 1981, C. × 0.3–0.8 cm, margins ciliate, lower surface lanate, apex
N. Mohanan and Ramanujam 137579; Walyar. Malabar, s. d., S. R.
Raju and Ratnavelu 78073; Trichur, 26th Nov. 1982, R. Rajan 131534 acuminate; bracteoles purple, lanceolate, 0.2–0.6 mm,
(MH); Canoli, Eravikulam, 7th Nov. 1980, P. Mathew 29115; Neyyar, apex acuminate, margin ciliate, cobwebby; sepals pale
Trivendrum, 28th Sept. 1993, N. Mohanan 11557 (CALI) white, lanceolate, 0.1 × 0.5 cm, basally connate, margin
Karachkkaval, Periyar, s. d., Jomy Augustine 13936 (CALI); Vilanyad ciliate; petals blue to pink, 0.4 × 0.8 cm, united; stamenal
forest, Kozhikode, 26th Sept. 2003, Nampy and Joby 981 (DEV).
Maharashtra: Chatushringi, Pune, 20th July 1916, Moses Ezekiel filaments bearded with blue-purple and white
77277; Battery hill, Khandala, Pune, 5th Sept. 1943, H. Santapau moniliform hairs with subapical swelling; ovary,
77164; Marve road, Malad, Mumbai, 4th Aug. 1956, G. L. Shah 77129; ovate-oblong, apex ciliate; style blue, bearded as in
Tungar hills, Thane, 21st Aug. 1956, H. Santapau 77147; Aarey Milk stamens, with subapical swelling; capsule yellowish
colony, Goregaon, Mumbai, 6th Aug. 1958, S. C. Tavakari 77189;
Vihar Lake, Mumbai, 22nd Aug. 1959, H. Santapau 77136; Matheran
300
Fig. 4. Cyanotis fasciculata (B.Heyne ex Roth) Schult. and Schult.f. A: Habit, B: Inflorescence, C: Flower, D: Stamen, E: Pistil, F: Capsule,
G and H: Seeds dorsal and ventral view respectively. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar C102 (SUK)
brown, ovoid, 1 × 2–3 mm, apex hirsute; seeds deltoid or Badami plateau, Bagalkot, 11th Nov. 2010, M. D. Nandikar C1007
(SUK). Maharashtra: Shivaji University campus, Kolhapur, 12th Oct.
pyramidal, 0.5 × 1–1.5 mm, brown or grey with mid
2009, M. D. Nandikar 102 (SUK); Ganesh khind, Pune, Sept. 1908, G.
ventral ridge, testa rugose, hilum ventral, rounded, B. Patwardhan 1652; Junnar, Pune, 10th Oct. 1962, R. S. Rao 83577;
embryotega terminal. Khamdale, Chandgad, Kolhapur, 9th Aug. 1971, R. S. Rao 131572;
Flowering and fruiting: August to December. Katraj Ghat, Pune district, s. d., R. K. Bhide 1682 (BSI); Katraj, Pune,
6th Oct. 1957, G. S. Puri 25602; Seminary Hills, Nagpur, 1st Sept. 1959,
Distribution and ecology: Endemic to India: Andhra
Mukharjee 618; Khadakwasala, Pune, 15th Sept. 1960, R. S. Raghavan
Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, 64265 (CAL). Madhya Pradesh: Sundartekari, Indore, 9th Sept. 1986,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Khanna and Saran 37438 (BSA); Sanchi, Bhopal (Flora of Central
Nadu. It is found growing on exposed rock crevices and India), Sept. 1908, Meebold 9044 (CAL). Rajasthan: Bhawani
Mandir, Jhalawar, 26th Sept. 1964, B. M. Wadhwa (BSA, CAL);
soil pockets on rocky hills at an elevation of 600–1000
Canoor Ghat, Oct. 1910, Meebold 12006; Manigudi, Nilgiri district,
m. Nov. 1986, Gamble 18491; Amer, Jaipur, 20th Sept. 1964, S. Sharma
Specimens examined: INDIA. Andhra Pradesh: Sissini, 846 (CAL). Tamil Nadu: Hassanur, Coimbatore, 21st Aug. 1914,
NEFA, s. d., R. S. Rao 1433 (ASSAM); way to Pathalaganga, Kurnul s.coll. 10542 (MH); near Marudamalai temple, Coimbatore, 24th Nov.
district, 20th Oct. 1964, J. L. Ellis 22112 (CAL). Gujrat: Sasangiri 2010, Nandikar and Gurav C1002 (BSI, CAL, SUK).
(Gir), Junagadh, 22nd Aug. 1960, S. R. Rao 63875 (CAL). Karnataka:
301
Note: This is one of the common, widespread and margins finely hairy; inflorescences terminal and
variable species of Cyanotis in peninsular India. Clarke axillary, composed of 2–6 flowered cincinni, leaf
(1881) has made varieties based on variation in habit and opposed; peduncle (0.3–)0.5–4(–5) cm long, with a line
pubescence, these varieties can be recognized easily in of cilia; bract foliaceous, obovate–lanceolate, longer
the field and herbariums also, but most distinctive than (rarely equal to or shorter than) cincinni, (0.5–)1 ×
element from this complex is C. glabrescens which is 0.2–0.5 cm, margin entire, sparsely to densely hairy,
described below as a distinct speices. surfaces glabrous, apex acute; bracteoles falcate,
(0.3–)0.6 × 0.1 cm, sparsely to densely bearded on
8. Cyanotis glabrescens (C.B.Clarke) Nandikar and surface and margins with cobwebby hairs; flowers c. 1
Gurav comb. et stat nov. cm long; sepals 0.3–0.5 cm long, free, elliptic to
Cyanotis fasciculata (B.Heyne ex Roth) Schult. and Schult.f. lanceolate, basally densely bearded with cobwebby hairs,
var. glabrescens C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: glabrous above; petals 0.5–0.7 cm wide, fused to form a
253. 1881; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 388. 1894; Cooke, Fl. tube below, lobes spreading, blue; stamens 6, filaments
Pres. Bombay. 2: 793.1908; Karthik. et al., Fl. India.
Enum. Monocot. 26.1989. TYPE: India, Belgaum,
0.8 cm long, filiform, spirally twisted, usually with
Ritchie n. 746 (holotype: K!). subapical swellings, bearded apically with blue
Cyanotis karliana Hassk., Commelin. Ind. 146: 1870; moniliform hairs, anthers elliptic, c. 0.1 cm long, yellow
Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26.1989. to orange yellow; ovary 0.1 cm long with tuft hairs at
TYPE: Poonah (Pune) India, Hugel ? syn nov. apex, oblong; style 0.8 cm long with the subapical
Fig. 5; 11 C; 13 A-C swelling, glabrous or sparsely bearded with blue hairs;
stigma simple; capsule 3 × 2(–3) mm, oblong, tri-valved,
Erect to ascending, annual herbs; roots fibrous; stem dehiscent, apex densely covered with tuft, pointed hairs,
15–50 cm high, rooting at lower nodes; internodes 2.5– sparsely on the ridges; seeds 1–2 per locule (sometimes
10 cm long, green to purple, terete, ciliate on ridge; capsules are single seeded and indehiscent), elongate or
nodes swollen; sheath 0.2–1 cm long, margin with elliptical in outline, 1.5 × 1–1.5 mm, testa brown,
scattered hairs, densely hairy along the fused edges at striate, finely pitted dorsally; embryotega terminal;
base; leaves linear-lanceolate, (1.5–)5 × 0.5(–1) cm, hilum ventral, rounded.
glabrous, lamina entire, apex acute to acuminate,
Fig. 5. Cyanotis glabrescens (C. B. Clarke) Nandikar and Gurav A: Habit, B: Bract and bracteole with short peduncle, C: Bracteole, D:
Sepal, E: Stamen, F: Pistil, G: Capsule, H and I: Dorsal and ventral view of seeds. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar
096(SUK)
302
Flowering and fruiting: August to November. Clarke in 1871 doubted the existence of Wight’s
Distribution and ecology: Endemic to peninsular Cyanotis lawiana Wight (1853: 2086), C. rosea Wight
India. It commonly occurs in Konkan and North Kanara, (1853: 2086), C. sarmentosa Wight (1853: 2087), C.
in middle to high altitude lateritic plateaus of northern dichrotricha Wight (1853: 2087) and C. decumbens
Western Ghats at 800–1200 m. It grows in lateritic, red Wight (1853: 2088) as distinct species. He opined that
soil and on rock ledges; apparently look like lithophytes. all these species should be reduced to varieties of C.
Plants of Cyanotis glabrescens are frequently associated fasciculata and C. barbata D.Don (1825: 46). He also
with Murdannia nimmoniana (J. Graham) Bole & M. R. stated that the colour of petals and colour of filament
Almeida, Murdannia versicolor (Dalzell) Brückner, hairs are quite variable in the genus Cyanotis. In addition
Rotala densiflora Koehne and Flemingia nilgiriensis to this, characters such as habit, leaves, inflorescence,
Wight ex T. Cooke. seeds, etc. are also pinpointing the species complex
Specimens examined: INDIA. Maharashtra: Wilson Point, within genus, and such characters warranted distinct
Mahabaleshwar, 1958, H. Santapau 77220; Matheran, Aug.1924, R. D. species status e.g. Cyanotis sarmentosa and C. barbata
Acland 77246 (BLAT); Khandala, 22 Sept. 1902, G. A. Gammie 1691,
are recently synonymized in C. adscendens Dalzell and
1681 Cooke’s Herbarium; Panchgani, 24th Aug.1892, T. Cooke 1684,
1686, 1688, 1689; Khandala to Khopoli, 30th Aug.1902, R. K. Bhide C. vaga (Lour.) Schult.f. respectively.
1690; Sakarpathan Plateau, Lonavala, 29th Sept.1964, B. Venkata Note 2: Cyanotis glabrescens appears to be most
Reddi 98772, 100924; Lingmala, Mahabaleshwar, 15th Oct.1961, R. V. closely related to C. fasciculata, a widely distributed
Kammathy 32826; Table Land, Panchagani, 14th Oct.1961, R. V.
species throughout peninsular India, with which it shares
Kammathy 328021; Danoli, Ratanagiri District, 18th Sept.1964, R. D.
Pataskar 02127; Sinhagad, 2nd Sept.1966, M. Y. Ansari 104855 (BSI); some similarities in their succulent habit, inflorescence,
Shelap, Radhanagari, elev. 900-1100m, 18th Oct.2009, M. D. Nandikar and capsule shape and size. C. glabrescens is a
108; Morjai, Gaganbawda, 16th Sept.2009, M. D. Nandikar 096, 097; distinctive species characterized by glabrous habit with a
Radhanagari, 24th Sept.2010, M. D. Nandikar 336 (SUK). Karnataka:
line of cilia on the stem, linear-lanceolate leaves, 2–6
Belgaum, Ritchie n. 745 (E); Kankumbi, Belgaum, 26th Sept.2008, M.
D. Nandikar 043 (SUK); Hulical Ghat, 25th Oct. 1885, W. A. Talbot flowered cymes with long glabrous peduncles,
1351; Anmod, north Kanara, 15th Sept. 1891, W. A. Talbot 2603; Castle single-coloured moniliform hairs on filament and
Rock, north Kanara, Oct. 1908, Meebold 10678 (CAL); Belgaum, on elongate to elliptic, striate seeds with fine pits on the
the roadside rock, Ritchie 745 (E).
dorsal sides.
Note 1: Cyanotis fasciculata (B.Heyne ex Roth)
Schult.f. var. glabrescens C.B.Clarke (1881: 253), was 9. Cyanotis pilosa Schult.f. in Syst. Veg. 7: 1154. 1830;
based on a Ritchie’s collection from Belgaum, C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 251. 1881;
Karnataka state of India. Clarke (loc.cit.) recognized Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 387. 1894; Fischer in
three varieties under C. fasciculata (B.Heyne ex Roth) Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras, 1549. 1931; Karthik. et al.,
Schult.f.: C. fasciculata var. glabrescens C.B.Clarke, Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 26. 1989; Faden in
with linear, glabrous, minutely reticulate leaves, Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14: 129. 2000.
glabrous bracts and woolly bracteoles; C. fasciculata var. TYPE: India, 1800, Klein s. n. in Willdenow
rosea (Wight) C.B.Clarke, with sessile, ovate, obtuse Herbarium no. 6362 (holotype: B, sh. no.
leaves; Cyanotis fasciculata var. thwaitesii (Hassk.) B-W-6362).
C.B.Clarke, with its dense divaricate branches, was Cyanotis wightii C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 250
regarded by Clarke as intermediate between C. 1881; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 793. 1908. Replaced
arachnoidea C.B.Clarke and C. fasciculata. Cyanotis name for: Cyanotis longifolia Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind.
fasciculata var. thwaitesii is now recognized as distinct Orient. 6: 33, t. 2084. 1853, non Benth, 1849. nom.illeg.
species (C. thwaitesii Hassk.) because of its diagnostic TYPE: India, Tamil Nadu, Bolamputty, near
rosette leaves and perennial habit (Faden, 2000). Coimbatore, November 1852, Wight s.n. (lectotype: K,
However, C. fasciculata var. rosea needs further study sh. no. 854105; isolectotype: associated material with
Bolamputty, marked with arrow by Faden, 1978, pasted
to establish its identity and affinities. Subsequently, on sheet from Iyamallay, September 1852, Wight s.n. sh.
Hooker (1894) and Cooke (1908) followed the Clarke’s no. 854106, non sh. no. 854107), designated here.
depiction to articulate C. fasciculata var. glabrescens. In Fig. 6; 12 A
addition, Cooke examined Ritchie’s collection and
widened the distribution of C. fasciculata var. Robust perennial, rosette herb; root fibrous, thick;
glabrescens by adding his own collection (24 Aug. 1892, stems (flowering shoots) lateral, elongate, branched,
T. Cooke 1684, 1686, 1688, 1689 placed at BSI) from usually villous, ascending to erect, rooting at lower
Panchgani, Satara district, Maharashtra State, even nodes; internodes 2–10 cm long; rosette leaves spirally
though he might not have critically examined the arranged, sheaths 1–2 cm long, loose, pillose, ciliate at
characters and rather followed Clarke’s portrayal and margins, lamina linear to lanceolate, 8–60 × 0.5–1 cm,
this interpretation has generally been followed by apex acuminate, base cuneate, surface sparsely pillose,
subsequent workers.
303
Fig. 6. Cyanotis pilosa Schult. f., A: Habit, B–C: Inflorescence terminal and lateral view D: Flower, E: Stamen, F: Pistil, G: Capsule with
sepals, H: Dehisced capsule, I–J: Seeds dorsal and ventral view respectively. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar C1109 (SUK)
304
margin ciliate; leaves on flowering shoot arranged Annual to perennial, repent herbs, without definite
distally, ovate to linear-lanceolate, 4–20 × 0.5–1 cm, base; root fibrous; stem with 0.5–5 cm long internodes,
apex acute, base rounded, surface pilose; inflorescence with line of pubescence; flowering shoots much
composed of many, axillary and terminal cincinni, branched, erect; leaf sheath 0.2–1.5 cm long, sparsely to
pedunculate, peduncle variable in length; bracts ovate to densely pilose; leaves lanceolate, 3–12 × 1–2.2 cm, apex
lanceolate, foliaceous, usually longer than the cincinni; acuminate, base rounded to cuneate, adaxial surface
bracteoles falcate–ovate, acuminate, 0.4–0.8(–1.2) × 0.5 glabrous, abaxial densely appressed silky puberulous;
cm, margin ciliate; flowers blue; sepals oblong– inflorescences terminal and axilary, cincinni
lanceolate, 5 × 2 mm, acute, pilose; petals united pedunculate; peduncles 1–8 together; bracts lanceolate,
forming a tube, blue, lobes shorter than the tube; foliaceous; bracteoles 0.5–1.2 × 0.3–0.5 cm, ovate to
stamens exceeding the corolla, filaments apically tumid falcate, margin ciliate; flowers blue or purple or pale
and bearded below with blue moniliform hairs, anthers pink; sepals oblanceolate 0.5–0.7 × 0.1–0.2 cm, densely
yellow; ovary obovoid, style sparsely bearded as in pilose along the keel and apex, sparsely ciliate on the
stamens; capsules 2 × 2 mm, obovoid, obtuse and margins; petals blue to purple or pale pink, united to
hirsute at apex; seeds 1–2 per locule, ovate to elliptic in form a tube, lobes free; stamens exserted, filaments
outline, 1–2 × 1–2 mm, testa gray to brown, striate and apically tumid, densely bearded with blue to pale pink
irregularly pitted. moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; style apically tumid,
Flowering and fruiting: August to November. sparsely bearded with blue moniliform hairs; capsule c.
Distribution and ecology: India: Maharashtra, 2 × 2 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, sparsely to densly
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal; Sri Lanka; puberulous at apex; seeds 1–2 per locule, ovate to
one of the robust species of Cyanotis, rarely found in elliptic, 1–2 × 1–2 mm, testa brown, striate and
rocky crevices, grassland slopes, full exposed sun. variously pitted.
Specimens examined: INDIA. Kerala: Kodaikanal, Pulney hills, Flowering and fruiting: August to March.
29th June 1901, Bourne 1999; way to Valiyaparathodi, Silent Valley Distribution and ecology: India: Tamil Nadu; Sri
National Park, 12th Oct. 1983, C. S. Kumar 11290; Periyar Reserve
Forest, Wayanad, 25th Aug. 1984, R. T. Balakrishnan 40453; Lanka; near seasonal streams, waterfalls, undergrowth;
Bramhagiri, Wayanad, 20th Sept. 1986, R. T. Balakrishnan 42035; in partial shade.
Karamanayar, Trivendrum district, 17th Nov. 1991, N. Mohanan 10011 Specimens examined: INDIA. Tamil Nadu: Pulney Hills,
(CALI). Maharashtra: Manohar Mansantoshgad, Kudal, Sindhudurg, Nilgiris, 600ft. March 1960, C. Saldanha 5055 ‘as villosa’ (BLAT);
2nd Oct. 2011, Gurav and Nandikar C1109 (BLAT, BSI, CAL, CALI, Pulney Hills, 13th June 1897, Bourne 408; Pakasuramalai, Nilgiris,
MH, SUK). Tamil Nadu: downwards within a radius miles of Mukerti 2000 m, 28th March, 1958, K. M. Sebastine 5662; Beside the stream in
Dam, along the Pykara river, 7000 ft alt., Nilgiris, Nov. 1951, M. J. Vellimalai, Madurai, 27th April 1960, Shetty 10320; Kuthiraimetii,
Hackney 77347; Westbrooke, 6500 ft alt., Niligiris, 19th May 1954, S. J. Tirunelvelli district, 31st Aug. 1963, Henry 17385 ‘as C. villosa’ (MH);
Saldanha 77294 (BLAT); Ootucmand, Nilgiris, 10th Aug. 1878, King. Gudalur to Ooty road, Nilgiris, 04th Oct. 2009, M. D. Nandikar C0915
s. n.; Ootucmund, Nilgiris, Oct. 1884, Gamble 15387; Kodaikanal, 9th (SUK).
Oct. 1913, Saulieve 1066 (CAL); Dodabetta, Nilgiris, 21st Nov. 2001, Note: Cyanotis racemosa misinterpreted in India as
2600 mts. Alt., Nampy 175 (DEV); Pulluhalli, Salem, 26th Dec. 1913, s.
coll. 52452 (MH). West Bengal: Lloyd Bot. Garden, Darjeeling, 8th Cyanotis villosa (Spreng.) Schult f. since long time. The
July 1956, D. Chatterjee 107 (CAL). Locality unknown: without reason for this delusion may be similarity in their habit
locality, 1878, N. Dalzell s. n. (CAL). and inflorescence characters. Typical lanceolate leaves,
Note: A distinct species with linear rosette, pilose with acuminate apex; pedunculate few–many cincinni
leaves; inflorescence with long to short peduncled made it distinct from C. villosa. Only difference found
cincinni and beautiful blue flowers. The only difference within Sri Lankan and Indian specimens is perennial and
found in Sri Lankan and Indian specimens is bearded annual habit. Recently Nampy and Joby (2011) added
and glabrous style respectively. this species to Indian flora, but has been in India since
1835, during present study it was found that, collection
10. Cyanotis racemosa Heyne ex Hassk., Commelin. placed at CAL (Herb Wight 971) as ‘C. lanceolata’ from
Ind.: 125. 1870; Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Courtallum in Aug. 1835 is C. racemosa has
Fl. Ceylon 14: 131. 2000; Nampy and Joby, Rheedea lectotypified here.
21(1): 8–9. 2011. TYPE: Sri Lanka, in 1857,
Thwaites s.n. in C. P. 2332 (lectotype: CAL!, 11. Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult.f. in Syst. Veg. 7:
isolectotypes: B, G, K, P, PDA), designated here. 1153. 1830; Voight, Hort. Sub. Cal. 678. 1845; Dalz.
Cyanotis lanceolata Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 33, t. and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 256: 1861; C.B.Clarke in DC.,
2085. 1853; Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 252. 1881, Monogr. Phan. 3: 249. 1881; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India
pro parte, non Thwaites, 1864. TYPE: India. 6: 386. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay. 2: 793. 1908
Courtallum, Aug. 1835, Herb. Wight 971 (lectotype:
CAL!, isolectotypes: CAL! ), designated here.
pro parte; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot.
Cyanotis villosa auct. C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 27. 1989.
252. 1881, pro parte, non (Spreng.) Schult. f. 1830.
305
Tradescantia tuberosa Roxb., Pl. Coromandel, 2: 5, t. 108. ovary 0.1–0.2 × 0.1 cm, ovoid to ellipsoid, pale green,
1799 & Fl. Ind. 2: 19. 1832. TYPE: India, Coromandel densely ciliate with stiff brown hairs, style violet–blue,
Coast. subapically tumid, twisted at apex, glabrous or with
Cyanotis concanensis Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 114. 1870; sparse blue moniliform hairs, stigma simple; capsule
R. S. Rao in Blumea 14: 348. 1966; Almeida, Fl.
Savantwadi 44: 1990; Lakshminarshiman in Sharma et
ovoid to ellipsoid, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, apex ciliate, glabrous
al., Fl. Maharashtra (Monocot.) 163: 1996; Yadav and elsewhere; seeds 2 per locule, broadly ovoid to
Sardesai, Fl. Kolhapur Dist. 504: 2002. TYPE: India, pyramidal, 1.5 × 1 mm, , testa rugose to reticulate,
Malabar & Konkan, s.d., Herb. Ind. Or., Stocks & Law shallowly and irregularly pitted, pale brown or grey or
(lectotype: B, sh. no. 0296345, isoletotypes: K, sh. no. reddish; hilum ventral, punctiform, embryotega
K000854116), designated here. syn. nov. terminal.
Cyanotis stocksii Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 118: 1870. Flowering and fruiting: August to December.
TYPE: India, Malabar and Concan (Konkan), Stocks Distribution and ecology: Endemic to India: Andhra
and Law s. n. (Cyanotis no. 9) (lectotype: B, sh. no. Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and
B100296348; isolectotypes: K, sh. no. 854113 & 14),
designated here.
Tamil Nadu. It strictly occurs at peculiar eco-situations
Cyanotis thomsonii Hassk. in Commelin. Ind. 133. 1870. of high to medium altitude lateritic plateaus. Similarly, it
TYPE: India, Mysore and Carnatic, Thomson s. n. is most robust gregarious species with beautiful blue
(Cyanotis no. 8) (lectotype: B, sh. no. 296348; flowers. It grows on lateritic plateaus of Sahyadri in
isolectotypes: sh. no. 296348), designated here. crevices of rocks on accumulated soils. It also grows in
Cyanotis sahyadrica Blatter in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: the Ghats along the slopes, in grasslands.
77. 1928; Raizada in Bull. Bot. Surv. Ind. 18(1): 15. Specimens examined. INDIA: Andhra Pradesh:
1959. TYPE: India, Maharashtra, Panchgani to Wai, Malapukonda reserve forest, Anantpur, 12th July 1957, S. K. Wagh
Satara district, 4000 ft, 19th July 1925, Frenchman P 38 6167, 6168, 7733 (BLAT); Locky hills, west Pyapali, Kurnool, s. d.,
(holotype: BLAT!). Gamble 16338; Araku Valley, 14th Sept. 1961, Balakrishnan 508
Cyanotis tuberosa auct. Dalzell and Gibs., Bombay Fl. 256, (CAL); Near Uedurupalli, Vishakhapattanam, 27 th Oct. 1972, G. V.
1861; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 2: 793. 1908. pro. parte. Subbarao 82410; Tirumalai, 7th Oct. 1974, G. V. Subbarao 89539
(MH). Karnataka: Belve, South Kanara, s. d., C. Saldanha 77330
non Schult.f., 1830.
(BLAT); Bandipur road from Mysore, Mysore, 1964, B. D. Naithani
Fig. 7; 11 D-E 45967, 68 (MH). Kerala: Munnar to Poopar road, 23rd May 2011,
Manudev and Nampy 4425 (DEV). Maharashtra: on the way to
A stout, hairy perennial, rosette herb; roots fusiform, Durgwadi, Junnar, Pune District, 8th Oct. 2011, Nandikar and Gurav
tubers; flowering shoots lateral, suberect, hirsute, thin at C1112 (CAL, SUK, BSI, MH); Panhali Dongar, Jat, Sangali, 22nd July
2009, M. D. Nandikar C0902 (SUK); St. Xavier’s Villa, Khandala,
base, internodes 2–9.5 cm; leaf sheath 1.4–5.5 cm, Pune, 24th Oct. 1943, H. Santapau; The Tweleve Apostles St. Xavier’s
hirsute or densely puberulous, mouth ciliate; rosette Villa, Khandala, Pune, Sept. 1942, H. Santapau 855; Behran’s plateaus,
leaves linear-lanceolate to ensiform, 15–40 × 1–3 cm, Khandala, Pune, 13th Sept. 1942, H. Santapau 934; Purandhar, Pune,
margin ciliate, upper surface usually glabrous to July 1945, Leszezruski 77303; On the way to Kate’s Point,
Mahableshwar, Satara, s. d., P. V. Bole 2097; Purandhar, Pune, Sept.
sparsely pubescent, lower surface densely to sparsely 1945, Leszezeruski 291; Slopes behind PWD rest house, Purandhar,
puberulous, apex acute; cauline leaves distichous, pilose; Pune, 12th Oct. 1957, G. L. Shah 9227; Slopes along railway line below
sheath 1–2 cm long, puberulous to hirsute, mouth ciliate, part, Matheran, Raigad, 10th Oct. 1960, N. A. Irani 77301;
lamina linear-lanceolate to ensiform, 3–13 × 0.8–2 cm, Mahableshwar, Satara, s.d., R. D. Acland 1249 (BLAT); for Fl. of
Deccan, s. loc., 1884, T. Cooke 96; Kedarnath hill slopes,
surface and apex acute, base scarcely narrowed below or Harishchadragad, Takwada range 17th Nov. 1968, K. V. Billore115551
amplexicaul, sparsely to densely puberulous both the (CAL); Kas Plateau, Satara, 14th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar C0801;
surfaces; inflorescences terminal or axillary scorpoid Bhudargad fort, Kolhapur, 24th Aug. 2008, M. D. Nandikar C0812
cymes, many flowered, villous, pedunculate, peduncles (SUK). Odisha: Keonjhargarh, 8th July 1957, G. Panigrahi 8738
(ASSAM). Tamil Nadu: Hosur Cattle farm, Salem, 8th June 1930,
ridged, 0.5–3 cm, hirsute with a band of cilia, usually Narayanswamy 79434; Upper camp, Suranganar, Madurai, 21 st June
several together from a large ovate to lanceolate, 1–6 × 1959, Subramanayan 15898; Nellimalai, Coimbatore, 16th Oct. 1962,
0.3–2 cm, acute at apex, base cordate, margin ciliate, Ramamurthy 31060; Palamalai, Coimbatore, 5th Sept. 1969, M. V.
puberulous at both the surface, usually glabrous above, Viswanathan 95858; Sirur to Gundati road, Niligiris, 31st Aug. 1970, G.
V. Subba Rao 70368, 70369; Way to Thenynmarada, Niligiri district,
deflexed, foliaceous, green to purple bracts; bracteoles, 6th Nov. 1970, E. Vajravelu 70973; Varudevanallur reserve forest,
ovate to falcate, 0.4–1.4 × 0.3–0.9 cm, margins ciliate, Tirunelveli, 3rd Oct. 1971, E. Vajravelu 75819 (MH).
hirsute, exposed areas purple in colour; sepals pale white, Note: One of the robust, gregarious species of the
villous without, glabrous within, lanceolate to genus Cyanotis, recognized by linear-lancolate to
oblanceolate or linear lancelolate, 0.5 × 0.2 cm, basally ensiform basal rosette, lateral, erect, flowering scapes
connate, margins ciliate, hirsute; petals blue violet or with many flowered cincinni, foliaceous bract and green
purple, 0.7 × 0.3 cm, fused, forming tube, lobes free, to purple bracteoles. Interestingly, during the collections,
acute to apiculate; stamens 6, 0.5–1 cm long, filaments found one dwarf form of C. tuberosa from the lower
with subapical swelling, blue, bearded with blue to altitude, and typical form medium and high altitude
violet moniliform hairs, spirally twisted below the region. Kammathy and Rao (1964) reported the gigantic
anthers, anther lobe yellow to orange yellow, dorsifixed;
306
Fig. 7. Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult. f. A: Habit, B: Flowering scape, C: Inflorescences, D: Flower, E: Bracteole, F: Sepal, G: Stamen, H:
Pistil, I: Capsule, J & K: Seeds dorsal and ventral view. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar C902 & Gurav & Nandikar C112
(SUK).
307
hexaploid plants from high altitude regions of

Maharashtra, so our collections from lower altitude may 12. Cyanotis vaga (Lour.) Schult and Schult.f. in Roem.
be a distinct from typical one, but it needs more and Schult. Syst. Veg. 7: 1153. 1830; Merill in Trans.
population studies to conclude status. Amer. Phil. Soc. 24(2): 102. 1935; R.S. Rao in Notes
While examining the type specimens of Cyanotis Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 25(2): 186. 1965; Hara,
concanensis, C. stocksii and C. thomsonii, it has been Fl. East. Himal. 400. 1966; Babu, Herb. Fl. Dehra
observed that all these are shares the same characters as Dun, 529. 1977; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum.
that of Cyanotis tuberosa. Hasskarl (1870) described Monocot. 27.1989; Das in Nelumbo, 52: 99–116.
these species based on Thomson, Law and Stocks 2010
collections form Malabar and Concan, and distinguished Tradescantia vaga Lour., Fl. Cochin. 1: 239. 1790;
from its allies by the characters like leaves pilose to Blume, Enum. Pl. Java. 1: 5. 1827; Hassk. Commel.
hirsute, peduncle solitary or 2 to 3 together, bract falcate Ind. 62. 1870, non Zollinger. TYPE: Cantona, China.
to sub-falcate, etc. which were recognized as Cyanotis Cyanotis barbata D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal 46. 1825;
tuberosa by Clarke (1881: 249). Perusal of protologue Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India, 6: 385. 1894. TYPE: Nepal,
and critical examination of type specimens of the taxa in Herb. Wallich 4? (K–WALL).
raised by Hasskarl were found to be conspecific with C. Fig. 8; 12 B
tuberosa and therefore synomised.
Fig. 8. Cyanotis vaga (Lour.) Schult.f. and Schult f. A: Habit, B: Inflorescence, C: Flower, D: Stamen, E: Pistil, F: Capsule, G–H: Dorsal and
ventral view of seed. Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar 1230 (SUK).
308
Annual to perennial herb, with or without tunicate 13. Cyanotis villosa (Spreng.) Schult f. in Syst. Veg. 7:
corms (tunicate with pale brown sheaths), roots fibrous; 1155. 1830; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 387. 1894;
leaves rosette & cauline; flowering shoots lateral, Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum. Monocot. 27: 1989;
ascending to erect, rooting at lower nodes giving rise to a Faden in Dassanayake, Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 14:
new plants; rosette leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 8– 134. 2000.
25(30) × 0.5–1(1.5) cm, apex acute to acuminate, base Tradescantia villosa Spreng., Syst. Veg. 2: 116. 1825.
widely cuneate, with a broad pale brown sheath, many TYPE: s.loc., s.coll., Herb. K. Sprengel s.n. (B
spirally arranged rosette leaves are gathered together and designated by Faden, 2000).
overlapping sheaths of all leaves form a tunicate corm, Cyanotis lanceolata Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 33, t.
2085 1853; C.B.Clarke in DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 252.
upper surface sparsely glabrous, rarely pilose, lower 1881, pro parte, non Thwaites, 1864. TYPE: India,
surface densely pilose, margins undulate or entire, ciliate; Tamil Nadu, on the eastern slopes of Nilgiris.
cauline leaves or leaves on lateral branches with elliptic Cyanotis racemosa var. thomsonii Hassk. Commel. Ind. 126.
to lanceolate margins, 10–15 × 0.5 cm, apex acute, base 1870. TYPE: India, Mysore-Carnatic, G. Thomson,
rounded, margin entire, serceous, leaf sheath 0.3–1 cm Cyanotis no. 10 (holotype: B!, sh. no. 6296346) syn.
long, ciliate, pubescence like that of the rosette leaves, nov.
but upper surface usually glabrous; inflorescences Cyanotis cerifolia R.S.Rao and Kammathy, J. Linn. Soc.,
terminal, sub terminal and axillary, composed of 1–4(5) Bot. 59: 306. 1966; Karthik. et al., Fl. India. Enum.
cincinni, cincinni sessile to pedunculate, peduncle 1–5 Monocot. 26: 1989. TYPE: Weverly Estate, Anamalai
Hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. (Type
cm long, densely pubescent or ciliate at margins; bract specimen from Cultivated plant in Botanical Survey of
1–3 × 0.2–0.4 cm, lanceolate, foliaceous, pilose beneath; India, Western Circle, Pune, India), 8th Aug. 1962,
bracteoles aggregate at axils of leafy bracts, ovate to Kammathy 77785A (holotype: CAL!); Kammathy
lanceolate, strongly falcate, sparsely to densely pilose or 77785B and 77785C (isotypes: BSI!, K) syn. nov.
glabrous; flowers bisexual, sepals oblanceolate to Fig. 9; 12 C
oblong, 0.4–0.6 × 0.2 cm, pilose or glabrous; petals
blue–purple or violet; stamen filaments with sub-apical Repent or erect to ascending annual, forming a
swelling, densely bearded with blue to purple florescent green to dark green mat on loose soil; stem
moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; style equal to stamens, with short internodes, internodes pilose to variously
with a subapical swelling, bearded sparsely with blue pubescent, 15–25 cm high (flowering shoot); leaves
moniliform hairs; capsule 2.5–3 × 3 mm, puberulous in compactly arranged; sheath pubescent, ciliate at apex;
distal half; seeds 1–2 per locule, 1.3–1.5 × 1.5 mm, lamina elliptic–lanceolate or ovate, 2–10 × 0.5–3 cm,
ovoid to ellipsoid, testa grey–brown, finely reticulate. apex acute to acuminate, base rounded, lamina densely
Flowering and fruiting: July to December. to sparsely pilose, margin entire, ciliate; inflorescence
Distribution and ecology: North Eastern parts of terminal and axillary, composed of 1–4 subsessile
India; Bhutan; Taiwan; Nepal; Yunnan; Laos; Myanmar; cincinni, subsessile, peduncle not exceeding 5 mm;
Sikkim; Thailand and Vietnam; common in all type of bracts ovate to lanceolate, foliaceous; bracteoles falcate,
forests, especially in pine forests as well as in grassy c. 0.5 × 0.3 cm, margin ciliate; flowers blue to purple;
areas and in abandoned cultivated lands, often forms sepals linear–lanceolate, 0.5 × 0.2 cm, sparsely to
dense population looks bluish when in bloom forming a densely pilose; petals blue to purple, united basally
mat. forming a tube, lobes ovate, free; stamens exserted,
Specimens examined: INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh: filaments tumid apically, densely bearded with blue
Qnuandale road, 7000 ft alt. 3rd Sept. 1878, J. S. Gamble 52432 (MH); moniliform hairs, anthers yellow; ovary ellipsoid,
Anini, Dibang Valley, 12th Nov. 1996, M. Bhoumik 1222 (CAL).
pubescent at obtuse apex, style as long as stamen, tumid
Manipur: Shngnu, 12th Sept. 1954, D. B. Deb 2660 (CAL).
Meghalaya: Umsaw Forests, Shillong, 11th Oct. 2012, M. D. Nandikar at apex, sparsely bearded as in stamen; capsule ellipsoid,
1234 (BSI; SUK); Seven Sisters Falls, Cherapunjee, 13th Oct. 2010, M. 3 × 2.5 mm, sparsely to densely pilose at apex; seeds 1 to
D. Nandikar 1242; New Guest House, NEHU, Shillong, 9th Oct. 2012, 2 per locule, ovoid to ellipsoid, c. 1.5× 1.2 mm, testa
M. D. Nandikar 1230 (SUK); Barapani Dam, Shillong, 31st Aug. 2011,
dark brown, striate and pitted.
Nampy 4706 (DEV); Shillong, 17th Sept. 1886, C. B. Clarke 45532C
‘as C. vaga var. nobilis’?; Cherapunjee, Khasi Hills, 1st June 1911, I. H. Flowering and fruiting: August to April.
Burkill and Banerjee 163; Saloni forest (Bomidila), Kameng district, J. Distribution and ecology: India: Karnataka, Kerala,
Joseph 39946 (CAL); Shillong, Khasi and Jayantia Hills, 10th Sept. Tamil Nadu; Sri Lanka; one of the common Cyanotis
1942, G. K. Dekha 21528 (ASSAM). Nagaland: Naga Hills, Tuensang
species of southern India, chiefly found along the wet
Division, June 1935, N. L. Bor 21355; Treminyu, 12th Nov. 1973, T. M.
Hynniewta 56044 (ASSAM). West Bengal: Darjeeling, Aug. 1874, places, slope along the Ghats, roadsides, in rocky
without coll. 52434; Himalaya, Herb. Ind. Or. Hook. f. & Thomson crevices, open meadows, full or partial shade, forming a
52281 (MH). mat or bed.
Note: Common, perennial element of eastern Indian Specimens examined: INDIA. Kerala: Nedumpoyil,
flora. A distinct species basal corms and laterally spread Cannanore, 27th Feb. 1979, V. S. Ramahandran 119422 ‘as cerifolia’;
flowering shoot are the key characters for the species. way to Marayoor, Erviculum–Chinnar–Munnar, 1780 m, 9th Jan. 2004,
309
Fig. 9. Cyanotis villosa (Spreng.) Schult f., A: Habit, B: Inflorescence, C: Flower, D: Bracteole, E: Sepal, F: Stamen, G: Pistil, H: Capsule
with sepals, I–J. Dorsal and ventral view of seeds Drawn by Mayur Nandikar from M.D.Nandikar C1001 (SUK)
K. K. Rakendo 97157 (MH); Vellikukm, way to Vagamon hills, Karnataka: on the way to Thalkauvery from Coorg, 26th Nov. 2010,
Kottayam, 26th Dec. 2001, Nampy 429 (DEV).Silent Valley National Nandikar and Gurav C1004 (BSI, SUK).
Park, 10th Oct. 1965, E. Vajravellu 26054 ‘as C. pilosa’ (CAL). Tamil Note: One of the variable species of genus Cyanotis.
Nadu: on the way to Ooty from Gudalur, Nilgiris, 22nd Nov. 2010, M.
From Sri Lanka Faden (2000) described var. ‘A’ based
D. Nandikar C1001 (BSI, CAL, CALI, SUK); Cannoor, 7000ft., 8th
March 1870, C.B.Clarke 10513 B ‘as C. pilosa’; Ootacamund, 15th on robustness, hairiness and perennial habit. This kind of
Aug. 1878, King s.n.; Blachhide, Niligiris, June 1883, Gamble 12125; variations are also been observed in Indian plants of
Kalivayalpil, Tirunelvelly, 31st May 1901, C. A. Barber 3036; North Cyanotis villosa but to determine or to erect a species or
Coimbatore, 30th Nov. 1906, C.E.C. Fischer 1266; Neddurvaddam,
infra-specific taxa, it needs further detailed study. Rao
Nilgiris, Oct. 1910, Meebold 13870; Cannoor Ghat, Niligiris, 8th Jan.
1910, Fischer 1575 ‘as C. lanceolata’; High Wavy Mountains, Theni, and Kammathy in 1966 described a new species, as C.
May, 1917, Blatter and Hallberg 842; Marapalam, Nilgiris, 20th Jan. cerifolia but after critical examinations of type
1957, K. M. Sebastine 2106 (CAL); Kodaikanal, 18th Oct. 2010, specimens, fresh collections from the type locality and
Nampy and Sibachen 3811 ‘as C. cerifolia’ (DEV); Shola forest,
collections from other localities reveled that species is
Coimbatore, 24th June 1930, V. N. Narayanswami 79458; Vellirmalai,
along the stream, Madurai, 29th April 1960, B. V. Shetty 20331; conspecific with C. villosa and the variations mentioned
Anamalais, Coimbatore, 12th Sept. 1961, J. Joseph 26259; Selvam are merely quantitative. Therefore, C. cerifolia treated as
Koppu, upper Kodayar, Kanyakumari, 1963, A. N. Henry 107030; a new synonym of C. villosa in present treatment.
Agasthamalai, Tirunelvelli, 22nd Aug. 1963, A. N. Henry 39267 (MH).
310
Fig. 10. A: Cyanotis adscendens Dalzell; B: C. arachnoidea C.B.Clarke; C: C. axillaris var. axillaris D: C. axillaris var. cucullata (Roth)
Nandikar and Gurav; E: C. burmanniana Wight; F. C. cristata (L.) D.Don, habit and flower (inset).
311
Fig. 11. A-B: Cyanotis fasciculata (Heyne ex Roth) Schult. & Schult.f., habit and flowers respectively; C. C.glabrescens (C.B.Clarke)
Nandikar and Gurav; D-E: C. tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult.f, habit and inflorescences respectively.
312
Fig. 12. A: Cyanotis pilosa Schult. f.; B. C. vaga (Lour.) Schult & Schult.f.; C. C.villosa (Spreng.) Schult f.
Fig. 13. Scanning electron micrographs of seeds of A–C: Cyanotis glabrescens (C.B.Clarke) Nandikar & Gurav; D–F: C. fasciculata (B.
Heyne ex Roth) Schult. & Schult.f.
313
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Ceylon. 14: 116–196. Oxford and IBH Publishing, New

Delhi.
The authors wish to express their thanks to the authorities Fischer, C. E. C. 1931. Commelinaceae. In: J. S. Gamble (eds.)
of the herbaria at the Herbarium, BSI, Eastern Regional Centre, Flora of Presidency of Madras 3. West, Newman and Adlard,
Shillong (ASSAM), the Blatter Herbarium, Mumbai (BLAT), London . pp.1533–1552.
Herbarium, BSI, Western Regional Circle, Pune (BSI), Central Govaerts, R. and R. B. Faden. 2012. World Checklist of
National Herbarium, Howrah (CAL), Herbarium of Calicut Commelinaceae. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens,
University, Calicut (CALI), Madras Presidency College Kew. Published on the Internet; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Herbarium, Chennai (PCM), Chennai, Herbarium of St. Joseph Retrieved 2012–10–20.
College Devgiri, Kozikode (DEV), Madras Herbarium, Hasskarl, J. K. 1867. Commelinaceae: In G. Schweinfurth,
Coimbatore (MH) and Shivaji University Herbarium, Beitrage zur Flora Aethiopiens, Berlin: Georg Reimer. pp.
Kolhapur (SUK), who have kindly allowed us to examine the 206–214.
specimens and literature. The authors extended their thanks to Hooker, J. D. 1894. The Flora of British India. 6. Reeve and
authorities at the B, E, G, K, LINN, US, NY, P, and C & W for Co., London. pp. 374–383.
providing herbarium type images and members of Indian Tree Hooker, J. D. 1898. Commelinaceae: In Trimen, H. A
Pix group for sharing the photographs and information. The handbook to the Flora of Ceylon 4: 310. Dulau and Co.,
authors are grateful to Dr. M. K. Janarthanam, Goa University, London.
Goa, to Dr. S. R. Yadav (SUK), to Dr. Gurucharan Singh, New Kammathy, R. V. and R. S. Rao. 1964. Notes on Indian
Delhi, to Dr. Jan-Frits Veldkamp (L), to Dr. Robert B. Faden Commelinaceae-IV. Cytological observations. Bull. Bot.
(US), for useful discussion during this work and Dr. Helena Surv. India. 6: 1–6.
Duistermaat, NCB Naturalis, National Herbarium Netherlands, Karthikeyan, S., Jain, S. K., Nayar, M. P. and M. Sanjappa.
Leiden for reviewing the manuscript. 1989. Flora Indicae Enumerations Monocotyledonae. Bot.
Surv. India, Calcutta, India pp. 26–27.
Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species plantarum. Salvius, Stockholm.
LITERATURE CITED Naik, V. N. and S. M. Nirgude. 1989. Identity, taxonomic
status and nomenclature of Cyanotis cucullata (Roth) Kunth
Brückner, G. 1930. Commelinaceae, in A. Engler, Die (Commelinaceae) and related taxa. Asian J. Pl. Sci. 1: 67–
natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien, eds. 2, 15a: 175. Engelmann, 76.
Leipzig. Nampy S. and P. Joby. 2011. Cyanotis racemosa
Clarke, C. B. 1871. On the Commelynaceae of Bengal. J. Linn. (Commelinaceae), a new record for. India. Rheedea. 21(1):
Soc. Bot., London. 11: 450. 8–9.
Clarke, C. B. 1881. Commelinaceae. In: Monographiae Rao, R. S. and R. V. Kammathy. 1966. Notes on Indian
phanerogamarum. 3, eds. A. De Candolle and C. De Commelinaceae 5. J. Linn. Soc., 59: 305–308.
Candolle, Paris: G. Masson. pp. 113–324. Rao, R. S. 1964. Indian Species of Commelinaceae-
Cooke, T. 1908. The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay. 2. Miscellaneous Notes. Notes R. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh, 25:
Taylor and Francis, London. pp. 786–791. 179–189.
Don, D. 1825. Prodromus Florae Nepalensis. Veneunt. Rao, R. S. 1966. Indian Species of Commelinaceae-
London.pp. 45–46. Miscellaneous Notes II. Blumea, 14: 345–354.
Faden, R. B. 1998. Commelinaceae: In K. Kubitzki (eds.) The Salisbury, R. A. 1812. Transactions of the Horticultural
Families and Genera of Vascular plants. 4.Springer Verlag, Society of London. 1: 271.
Berlin. pp. 109–128. Van Rheede tot Drakenstein, H. A. 1690. Hortus
Faden, R. B. 2000. Commelinaceae. In: Dassanayake, M. D. Malabaricus 10: 28, t. 13, Amsterdam.
& W. D. Clayton (eds.) Revised Handbook to the Flora of Wight, R. 1853. Icones plantarum Indiae orientalis or figures
of Indian plants 6: 29–30, t. 2071–2088. Madras
314
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Mayur Nandikar Rajaram Gurav

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A Revision of the Genus Cyanotis D. Don (Commelinaceae) in India

(Manuscript received 13 October 2013; accepted 9 November 2014)

KEY WORDS: Cyanotis, Commelinaceae, India, nomenclature, taxonomy.

INTRODUCTION while changing the name. Therefore, genus Zygomanes

violet, lobes free, reflexed; stamens exserted half of the

hexaploid plants from high altitude regions of

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Ceylon. 14: 116–196. Oxford and IBH Publishing, New

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