Assessment of Diversity in the Genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

Anoop Kumar, Omesh Bajpai, Ashish K. Mishra, Nayan Sahu, Soumit K. Behera, L. B. Chaudhary

.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2011.21011                

Abstract

The paper deals with the taxonomy and diversity within the genus Ficus occurring in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary based on extensive field and herbarium studies. The genus comprises 11 species in the study area contrary to the earlier report of 8 species. Out of which, one species each belongs to herbs (F. assamica) and straggling shrubs (F. hetero- phylla) and the remaining species to shrub to big free standing trees (F. benghalensis, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. racemosa, F. religiosa, F. retusa var. nitida, F. rumphii, F. semicordata and F. squamosa). F. microcarpa and F. carica have been excluded as they do not occur in the sanctuary but reported in the previous work due to mis- identification. F. repens has been segregated from F. heterophylla and reinstated as a distinct species with a correct name F. assamica. F. retusa var. nitida forms a new record for the sanctuary. In overall gross morphology, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. assamica and F. heterophylla exhibit maximum diversity especially in their leaves, pe- duncles and figs. Among all species F. hispida has been found more common especially in low land and moist areas in mixed forest whereas F. retusa var. nitida has been seen with only two plants. All species have been critically examined and provided with correct nomenclature, vernacular name, description, phenology, ecology, uses and reference to voucher specimens. A dichotomous bracketed key to the species along with line drawings has also been included for identification.

Keywords

Ficus, Taxonomy, Diversity, Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Moraceae

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	E. J. H. Corner, “An Introduction to the Distribution of Ficus,” Reinwardtia, Vol. 4, 1958, pp. 15-45.
[2]	E. J. H. Corner, “Check-list of Ficus in Asia and Austra- liasia with Keys to Identification,” The Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1965, pp. 1-186.
[3]	C. C. Berg, “Classification & Distribution of Ficus,” Ex- perientia, Vol. 45, No. 7, 1989, pp. 605-611. doi:10.1007/BF01975677
[4]	C. C. Berg and E. J. H. Corner, “Moraceae-Ficus,” Flora Malesiana Series I (Seed Plants), Vol. 17, No. 2, 2005, pp. 1-727.
[5]	N. R?nsted, G. D. Weiblen, W. Clement, N. Zerega and V. Savolainen, “Reconstructing the Phylogeny of Figs (Ficus, Moraceae) to Unravel the Origin of Fig-Wasp Mutualisms,” Symbiosis, Vol. 45, 2008a, pp. 45-56.
[6]	N. R?nsted, G. D. Weiblen, V. Savolainen and J. M. Cook, “Phylogeny, Biogeography, and Ecology of Ficus Section Malvanthera (Moraceae),” Molecular Phyloge- netics and Evolution, Vol. 48, 2008b, pp. 12-22. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.04.005
[7]	G. King, “The Species of Ficus of the Indo-Malayan and Chinese Countries,” Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, Vol. 1, 1887-1888, pp. 1-185.
[8]	G. King, “Ficus L.,” In: J. D. Hooker, The Flora of Brit- ish India, L. Reeve & Co., London, Vol. 5, 1888, pp. 494-537.
[9]	S. D. Maliya and B. Datt, “A Contribution to the Flora of Katerniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Bahraich District, Uttar Pradesh,” Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, Vol. 34, No. 1, 2010, pp. 63-64.
[10]	K. K. Khanna, V. Mudgal, B. P. Uniyal and J. R. Sharma, “Dicotyledonous Plants of Uttar Pradesh—A Checklist,” Bishen Singh Mahenra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, 1999.
[11]	D. C. Saini, “Flora of Bahraich District, Uttar Pradesh-V,” Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2005, pp. 878-879.
[12]	G. Panigrahi, A. N. Singh and O. P. Mishra, “Contribu- tion to the Botany of the Tarai Forests of the Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh,” Bulletin of the Botanical Sur- vey of India, Vol. 11, No. 1 & 2, 1969, pp. 96-97.
[13]	J. F. Duthie, “Flora of Upper Gangetic Plain and of the adjacent Siwalik & Sub-Himalayan Tracts,” Calcutta, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1915.
[14]	C. E. C. Fischer, “Moraceae,” In: J. S. Gamble, Flora of Presidency of Madras, Botanical Survey of India, Cal- cutta, part 8, 1928, pp. 1351-1369.
[15]	K. R. Kirtikar and B. D. Basu, “Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. 10,” Oriental Enterprises, Dehra Dun, 2001.
[16]	T. N. Srivastava, “Flora Gorakhpurensis”, Today & To- morrow’s Printer & Publishers, New Delhi, 1976.
[17]	Anonymous, “Wealth of India,” CSIR, New Delhi, Vol. 4 (F-G), 1956.
[18]	D. Brandis, “Indian Trees,” Archibald Constable 7 Co. Ltd., London, 1906.
[19]	E. J. H. Corner, “Moraceae,” In: M. D. Dassanayake, Ed., A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon, Oxford & IBH, New Delhi, Vol. 3, 1981, pp. 230-279.
[20]	G. K. Upadhyay and S. K. Srivastava, “Lecto- and Epitypification of Ficus racemosa L. (Moraceae),” Taxon, Vol. 59, No. 6, December 2010, pp. 1879-1882.
[21]	W. Roxburgh, “Plants of the Coast of the Coromandel,” Bulmer & Co., London, Vol. 2, 1798.
[22]	K. L. Willdenow, “Species Plantarum,” Nauk, Berlin, Vol. 4, 1806.