# The Journal of Indian Botany/Volume 2/October 1921/The Indian Species of Eriocaulon

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THE INDIAN SPECIES OF ERIOCAULON
By P. F. Fyson, M.A., F.L.
Presidency College, Madras. (Continued from p. 266.)
IV. ANISOPETALAE.
The male flowers have one petal much enlarged and projecting beyond the floral bracts, covering them : in the larger species this petal has a very conspicious black gland. Otherwise the flowers are normal : the male calyx united as a spathe split in front ; the anthers black ; the female flowers with three more or less boat-shaped sepals and three oblanceolate somewhat hairy petals. The stem is occasionally elongate, and even branched and suffruticescent. The heads are mostly semi-globular, with a convex, sometimes tall, hairy receptacle. The leaves are glabrous, and in most species characteristically thick and glossy. The involucral bracts may be dark or pale, even in the same species.
TABLE OF PROBABLE RELATIONSHIPS. (Sect, simplices)
odoratum (Malabar)
longicuspis ceylanicum
I
var. subcaulescens
I atratum cristatum
I robustum var. caulescens.
I robustum (typica).
The series seems to start with E. odoratum, or perhaps E. longi- cuspis, and to connect with the SIMPLICES through E. collinum. It is chiefly developed in Ceylon, where the several species of other authors, subcaulescens, ceylanicum, atratum and sub-glaucum, are dis- tinguishable, if the sheets in the Ceylon Herbarium are rightly so named, by characters of only minor importance, and lead by hardly more than increase in size and general robustness to E. caulescens Hook. f. ; which again differs only in being branched from E. robustum ​of the Nilgiris, an older species, to which therefore I reduce it. There is no difference except in the number of scapes between E. policep- halum Hook. f. of Central India and E. long ic as-pi s Hook. f. of Ceylon.
Key to the Anisopetalae.
Lj. 1-1 in., lanceolate; scapes 6-10 in.
(Malabar) ... 28 E. odoratum
Ls. 2^-3 in., linear from a broad base ;
(scapes 12-18 in Khasia) ... 33 E. cristatum,
Floral bracts acuminate (Central India and Ceylon) ... 29 E. longicuspis.
Floral bracts not acuminate (Ceylon) — Involucre black ... 30 E. atratum.
Involucre white ... 31 E. ceylanicium.
Stem stout, -short or caulescent (S. India
and Ceylon) ... 32 E. robustum.
28. E. odoratum Dalz. F.B.I, vi. 574, No. 9 ; Ruhl. No. 187. Stem disciform. Leaves 1-3 in, by 1/8 in. at the base, and narrowed to the acuminate apes. Scape filiform, 6-1 in., deeply grooved. Heads 1/6-1/4 in. snow white ; bracts cuspidately acuminate. Sepals of the female flowers 3 or 2 only ; otherwise flowers normal. Female petals with large glands. Smells strongly of camomile {Dalz). Plate 24.
The Concan, " in standing water " (F.B.I J Malabar, ft. Sept.
{Dalz).
I have seen only two sheets, both in Herb. Calc. One coll. by Hooker and Thomson, has apparently the female sepals 2 only, and black involucral bracts. The other Meebold No. 9889, has the female sepals 3 and the bracts pale. In other respects and especially in the large glands of the female petals they are alike. Hooker in F.B.I, describes the female sepals as longer than the petals.
29. E. longicuspis Hook. f. (C.P. 789 in Herb. Ceylon ! ) F.B.I, vi, 573, No. 7 and 8 ; Ruhl. p. 116 "incognita."
Stem disciform, leaves usually 3 (2-8) in. Bracts acuminate, fringed with white hairs, and more or less hidden by the projecting male petals the lowest of which form a conspicious fringe round the head. Flowers regular and normal. Plate 25 and fig. opposite.
Var. a. typica scape solitary. Ceylon.
Var. b. polycephalum. Hook. f. (Duthie 10,580 in Herb. Calc !)
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Central India, Pachmarchi ; Peninsular India, Mysore, Palghat. I can see no difference except in the numerous scapes between
this and E. longicuspis.
A. plant collected by Dr. Henry in Yuraan, No. 9443 in Herb. Calc. has smaller leaves more like those of E. odoratum and smaller heads. The involucral bracts are not reflexed, It may be a distinct species but is obviously closely related'to E. longicuspis.
30. E. atratum Koern., F.B.I, vi, 574, No. 10 ; Euhl. see p. 69
Stem up to 3 in. thickly covered with leaves. Leaves 1/4-1/3 in. wide at the base, then suddenly narrowed and bluntly linear, many nerved. Scapes solitary or few, 7-15 in. Heads 1/4-1/3 in. diam. In- volucre black. Floral bracts, white, concealed by the long-fringed male petals. Plate 26.
Ceylon, Adam's Peak.
There seems to have been some confusion With regard to this species. In Herb Ceylon is a sheet marked "Galagama February 1816, O.C. 932" and " C.P. 61 " and this last number is also borne by another sheet, ot the next species. Ruhland says the plant called atratum by Hooker in Fl. Ceylon is not Koerniche's species, but he does not say what is, and founds a new- species E. subglaucum on one of these former, which one I do not know. Koerniche in Linnaea xxvii p. 611 says the involucre is black.
31. E, ceylanicum Koern, Fl. Ceylon, v, 3, No. 4 ; Euhl. No. 128 ; (E. subcaulescens, Hook f. F.B.I, vi, 583 ; Euhl. No. 116) Simi- lar to E. atratum but the heads larger and involucre white or yel- lowish. Protruding male petals perhaps more conspicious. Plate 27.
Var. a. typica. Stem 0, leaves linear, 2-6 ins. by 1/10 ins., from a broader base.
Ceylon, Eliya lake.
Var. b. subcaulescens. Hook f. Stem to 2 ins. Leaves narrow 2-4 ins. by 1/6 ins., slightly broader at the base. Scapes stouter, but heads exactly as in the type species of which this appears to be more deve- loped or a form of drier positions. Plate 28.
Ceylon ; Horton Plain. This species is very closely allied to E. atratum, and if the involucral bracts of the latter vary, as stated by Hooker in Fl. Ceylon from black to yellowish, all these forms should be included under one species- The only other real distinction given by Hooker is that the lower floral bracts of E. atratum are very shortly cuspidate, the upper being acute (as in E. ceylani- cum). Ruhland makes three species of these forms.
32. E. robustum Steudel, F.B.I, vi, 572, No. 5 ; Euhl. No. 120. Stem short and stout to as much as 1 in. in thickness: thinner and branched in var. b. Ls. up to 12 in. by 2 in., many nerved, glossy,
fully out by the very large protruding male petals. Receptacle hour- glass shape. Plate 29.
South India ; Nilgiris 5—6,000 ft.
Var. b. caulescens. Hook. f. and Thorns. F.B.I, vi, 572, No. 5 ; Ruhl. as E. atratum var. major No. 74.
Stem 3-10 in. branched, the lower parts covered with leaf-bases Leaves narrowed above the broad base, and then 1/4 in. wide or less by 3-6 in. Scapes 6-25 in. Involucre black. Plate 30.
Ceylon : Ilorton Plain. Adam's Peak. There is no real difference except in the stem and its branching from E. robust am. A piece of the Ceylon plant is indistinguishable from a not very robust Nilgiri one. I have therefore no hesitation in uniting this as a variety to E. robustovi, though Hooker founded a new species for it, and Ruhland followed Thwaites in calling it var major of E. atratum. The fresh flower heads have the scent of a Chrysanthemum.
33. E. cristatUUl Mart., F.B.I, vi, 574 ; Ruhl. No. 118, stom short, or up to 1 ia. Leaves linear to 6 in. by 1/6 in., many nerved, not much enlarged at the base. Scapes 6-15 in. Heads 1/3 in. In- volucre black or white. Floral bracts deltoid. Receptacle not very hairy. Plato 31.
Assam ; Khasia ; Bengal. Some of the heads have a fringe of protruding male petals as in E. longi- cuspis, but because of the broad leaf-bases I am inclined to regard this as more nearly related to E. ceylanicum.
V. SEARIOSAE
Both involucral and floral bracts scarious without any trace of dark colour, and tending to become hairy and acuminate. Receptacle villous. Flowers perfect or more often very small and reduced by omission of one or more parts. Stem in all disciform and leaves glabrous. Involucre hairy.
Key
Heads 1/3 in., conical ; floral bracts acu- minate ; female sepals 3. (Nepal to Pegu) ... 34 E. oryzetorum.
Heads 1/8 in, to 1/6 in., conical ; floral bracts acute ; female sepals 2 (Assam to Tavoy and Wostern Ghats) ... 35 E. Hamiltonianum;
Heads 1/6 in. globose ; female sepals 2, petals 2 or o ; involucral bracts longer than the head (Sikkim to Chota Nagpur) ... 36 E. Edwardii.
34. E. oryzetorum Mart. (Wall. Cat. 6069 in Herb. Calc. !) F.B.I, vi, 579, No. 25 in part; Ruhl. No. 126. Annual (Mart.) ​Leaves 2-3 in. by 1/6 in. Sheaths as long. Scapes several, slender 12-17 in. Heads 1/3 in. Involueral bracts blunt ; floral acuminate scabrid. Flowers normal. Plate 32.
G. Himalayas ; Nepal and southwards to Chota Nagpur and
Burma Pegu.
Mart, in Wall PI. As. Rar. Hi-gives floral bracts as " dorso-barbulatis ".
35. E. Hamiltonianum Mart. ; F.B.I, as E. oryzetorum I.e. ; Ruhl. No 179. Perennial (Mart.) Leaves l|-2l in. Sheaths shorter, scapes numerous, very slender. Heads conical, 1/G in. Involueral bracts, blunt ; floral acute, hardly acuminate. Sepals narrow, 2 only ; petals 3 oblanceolate, Plate 33.
Var a typica.
Assam & southwards to Tavoy.
Var b minor. (King at Siliguri 1878 in Herb. Calc.) ; Leaves 1-1 in. Scapes 1-2 in. Heads 1/8 in.
Assam ; Siliguri.
Var c minima, (Meebold 9898!) leaves linear f-lo in. Scapes capillary 1-4. in. Heads 1/8 in. Flowers few.
Penisular India ; Western Ghats at Castles Rock.
If the sheet Wall. Cat. G069 in Herb. Calc. given this name is correctly so numbered, the plant is quite distinct from E. oryzetorum, not an immature state as given in F.B.I. 1. c. Varieties a, b and c appear to me to grade into each other, though a and c would certainly seem distinct.
36. E. Edwardii Fyson sp. nov. (Clarke No. 34327 in Herb. Gale !) Caulis perbrevis. Folia 2-5 cm. longa, 4-6 mm. basi lata, acuta, glabra, tenuia. Pedunculi 6-20 cm. tenues. Capitula 3-5 mm obconica sed demum globosa, bractae involucranfces nee reflexae, 4 mm. longa, scariosae, glabrae, ellipto-acutae, quam bractis flores superan- tibus paulo longiores. Haec bractae glabrae, obovato-acutae, pal- lido-nigrae, Receptaculum altum villosum. Flos .£ Sepala 2, tenuia ; petala 2 linearia, aut. o. Semina 3. Flos & Sepala 2 ? in spatham connata ; petala o. antherae 6, nigrae. Plate 34.
Himalayas : Sikkim ; Bengal ; Chota Nagpur.
Scapes 3-4 times the leaves. Heads gobose or nearly so, in bud over-topped by the acute involueral bracts.
This species stands in much the same relation to the other two members of this section as E. minutum to the first two species of the next section. Tt represents a corresponding stage in the reduction of the floral parts accom- panied by a lengthening of the involueral bracts. It is possible that var. minor and minima of the previous species should be included in it. Tho whole series forms a perfect example of gradual reduction in the floral parts. ​
VI. CRISTATO-SEPALAE
The sepals of the female flowers are deeply boat-shaped with the keel thickened or expanded into a wing or crest, which may be lobed or even pectinate. One sepal may be absent, otherwise the flowers are normal. The floral bracts are glabrous and except in the last two of the series hyaline. The leaves and other vegetative parts are also glabrous. All are marsh or land plants, none grow in running water.
The group appears to have progressed in two directions : perhaps it should really be divided into two sections. One with increasing floral bracts ends in E. echinulatum where they have long linear points and the petals are absent ; the other with short bracts, developed along the line of decreasing width of the petals, till in E. sexangulare they are linear with long hairs. E. Thomasi, may be a derivative of this latter species. (See E. Thwaitesii No. 14, for similar develop- ment.)
TABLE OF PROBABLE RELATIONSHIPS.
E. Margaretae , — E. Elenorae E. minutum -E. stellulatum E. echinulatum E. cuspidatum E. sexangulare E. Thomasi
... Western Ghats. ... Western Ghats.
... Western Ghats of Mysore and
Mount Abu. ... Western Ghats, Bombay to
Malabar. ... Burma to Malay.
... Western Ghats.
... Western Ghats, and Burma to
Malay. ... S. India.
Key to the Cristato-sepalae.
Abu to Malabar) Heads 1/8 in. conical, female sepals 3, equally
crested ... 37 E. Margaretae.
Heads 1/8 in. conical, female sepals unequal, 1
not crested ... 38 E. Elenorae.
Heads 1/8 in conical, obconic, the involucral
bracts longer than the floral ... 39 E. minutum.
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Map 2. Showing tho distribution in India of certain species of the section Cristato Sepalae. ​
t Floral bracts much longer than the flowers giving the head a glistening white, echinulate appearance (Western Ghats) ... 40 B. stellulatum.
1 Floral bracts short, closely imbricate, involucre horizontal. Leaves oblong, with cuspidate apex. (Western
Ghats) ... 45 B. cuspidattfm.
Leaves linear to oblong-lanceolate, not cuspi-
dote (Western Ghats and Burma) ... 46 E. sexangulare.
Heads globose, peduncle thickened below it ... 47 E. Thomasi.
37. E. Margaretae Fyson, sp. nov. (Fyson 3839 ! Sedgwick 2979 !) Caulis perbrevis. Folia angusto-linearia aut setacea, 3-5 cm., longa, glabra. Pedunculi 5-10 cm., tenuia. Capitula 1.5 mm, lata, demum conica, alba, glabra. Bractae involucrantes glabrae, straminea. Bractea flores superantes similes, glabrae aut sub-pubescentes, acutae. Flores tri-meres. Flos £ sepala oequalia, apice acuta, medio navicu- lari-carinata, carina spongiosa ; petala oblanceolate, ciliate. Flos S antherae nigrae ; petala et sepala 3.
Bombay and Mysore on the Western Ghats, Rudrasiri, Bidi (Belgaum District).
The peduncles are very slender, and the pale glabrous conical heads are very similar to those of E. Hamiltonianwn var. minor (sp. No. 35). The three female sepals are all equal, winged and acute above the wing, otherwise the plants are very like the next species.
This may be E. heterolopis :Steud, but I have not seen any sheet so named. Ruhland lc. s. described that species as having broader leaves and with the inner involucral bracts obtuse and lacerate. See also note in Appendix I.
38. E. Elenorae Fyson, sp. nov. (Gudalur 15 XI 88, in Herbi Madras !) Proximo affinis species E. Margaretae, sed sepala feminis floris inaequalia. Plantae robustiores. Folia latiora, ad 2.5 mm. Capitula majora, ad 3-4 mm. lata. Receptaculam altius, villosum. Bractae involucrantes acutae aut cuspidatae. Sepala floris ^ inaequa- lia, primum et secundum carinata ; tertium paulum brevius, valde angustius, ecarinatum. Flos o antherae nigrae, petala et sepeia 3. Plate 35.
Peninsular India ; on the Western Ghats at Mahabaleshwar, Castle Eock, etc., Gudalur.
Leaves 1-3 in. by 1/16-1/10 in. at the middle, 5 or 6-nerved Scapes numerous, variable in height 2-5 in., glabrous 4 or 5-ribbed. Involucral bracts elliptic-acute, at first horizontal later reflexed. ​Floral similar, slightly acuminate, sparingly pu'bescent. Eeceptacle tall, hairy. Female sepals 3 unequal, one much the largest, the small- est not crested.
These last two species are very closely connected and might perhaps be considered one species, but E. Elenorac seems to be always the robuster, and in 23. Margaretae I have never found the female sepals at all unequal.
39. E, minutum Hook. £.; F.B.L vi, 579, No. 28 ; Ruhl. No. 190. Whole plant very small. Leaves linear 1/2-3/4 in. long, from a broad 3-5 nerved base. Scapes numerous, very slender lo-2A in. Head ob- ccnic, the involucral bracts 1/8 in. long-glabrous, scarious, elliptic- acute and covering the floral. Eloral bracts oblong, acute. Female sepals 2 only, narrow, with a pectinate crest along the uppor half of the back ; petals 0. Male flowers normal, petals small. Seeds oblong elliptic, reddish brown. Plate 36.
Rajputana ; Mt. Abu : Peninsular India ; Mysore and Kanara on the Western Ghats.
This species might be mistaken for a small and meagre form of hi. x&ran- theniam.
40. E. stellulatum Koern. ; F.B.I, vi, 579, No. 20 ; Euhl. No. 153. Leaves broad and thin 2-3 in. acute. Scapes several slender 3-6 in. Heads 1/3 in. Involucral bracts lanceolate-acute, reflexed. Floral similar, spreading, much longer than the flowers, making the head a glistening stellate globe. Female sepals 2, strongly crested on the back ; petals 3, oblanceolate, very hairy. Male flower normah 3-merous.
Bombay and Malabar ; on the Western Ghats. Abundant on the lake side at Mahabaleshwar in Oct. (Sedgwick).
41. E. echinulatum Mart. (Wall Cafe. 6082 in Herb. Calc !) F.B.I, vi, 579, No. 26 ; Ruhl. No. 177. Leaves acute or aculeate, 1/2-3 in. Scapes many, 3-6 in., slender. Heads 1/6 in. giobose except for the horizontal. base, very ech'inate by the acuminate floral bracts. Female sepals 2 only, winged down the back ; petals 0. Male flowers normal, 3-merous. Plate 37.
Burma ; Kelaben, Tavoy.
42. E, cuspidatum Dalz. (Dalziel No. 138 in Herb. Calc !) F.B.I, vi, 581, No. 31 ; Ruhl. No. 168. Stem disciform. Leaves 1-4 in. by 1/6-1/4 in. exactly oblong up to the round and apiculate or cus- pidate apex above 7 nerved. Scapes several 8-15 in. Heads 1/4 in. diam., globose, white. Floral bracts cuneate, obovate, hairy. Sepals of both sexes 2 only (F.B.I, has " 3, one flat ") female sepals deeply ​boatshaped and enlarged down tho back. Soods oblong, quite smooth. Petals 3, linear-lanceolate, unequal. Plate 38.
Peninsular India; N. Mysore; Kanara, at sea-level, Malabar, and Concan.
The leaves make this a very distinct spocios.
Var. bracteata, (Talbot. No. 639 in Ilorb. Calc !) Involucral bracts longer than the head.
43. E. sexangulare Linn. (Wall. Cat. 6068 in Herb. Calc !) ; F.B.I, vi, 580, No. 29 ; Euhl. No. 186, and E. longifolium Neos., Ruhl. No. 25 ; Stem 0. Leaves 1/8 to 3/4 in. wide by 4-12 in., many ribbed, flat. Scapes many up to 18 in., stiff. Heads 1/3 in. or less, hemis- pherical or conical with eventually a truncate base. Involucral bracts pale, shining. Floral bracts broadly obovate, cuspidate. Flowers 3- merous or 2-merous. Female sepals two very boat-shaped, one flat or absent. Petal linear, with long hairs springing from its base, the whole forming a brush of slender filaments. Seeds flat ovate or sub- globose with parallel darker lines, and covered with peltate hairs. Plates 39 and 40.
On the western side of South India down to Ceylon, and through- out Burma and the Malay Peninsula.
The plants of the Western peninsula are larger on the whole than those of the Eastern, which are frequently 2-merous. In the F.B.I, the latter is given as a variety and perhaps it should be so considered, but in every other respect the two forms are identical and it would always be necessary to dis- sect the heads to determine the point. The Mysore plants connect them. For this reason the separation of these forms as two distinct species, E. sex- angulare L. & E. longifolium Nees, widely apart in different sections of the genus as is done by Ruhland seems particularly unhappy. Koerniche though he separated the American 2-merous species, placed these two to- gether observing that the 2-merous flowers and acute not shortly acuminate floral bracts distinguish them.
44. E. Thomasi. Fyson sp. nov. (Meobold 9104 et 9899 in Herb. Calc ! ) Habitu specii E. Thioaitcsii Hook. f. similis, sed capitulum globosum, involucrum reflexum, sepala duo. Caulis per-brevis. Folia caespitosa, lancoolata acuta, mucronata, glabra, 5-10 cm. longa, 0.4 to J..0 cm. lata. Pedunculi paulo ad duplico longiores, glabri ; sub-capi- tulo paulo crassi. Capitula globosa. Bractae involucrantes brevae, reflexae. Bractae flores superantes rhomboidocuneata summodorso puberulae. Flos. -?• sepala 2, naviculari-concava ; petala 3, angus- tissima linearia, longis pilosis barbata magnis glandulis instructa. Semina, oblonga, fusca. Flos o sepala 2, angusta ; petala 3 ; antherae
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Peninsular India ; on the Western Ghats, Salsette, Khandala, Castle Rock, Tirthahalli !
Stems tufted. Leaves glabrous, lanceolate or oblanceolate acute or mucronate. 2-5 in. by 1/3 in. at widest. Scapes twice as high or less, thickened below the very globose or truncate heads, which are white by the thickly puberous exposed back of the floral bracts. Re- ceptacle tall hairy. Sepals in both sexes 2 only ; deeply boafc-shaped and thickened along the keel. Female petals'linear with long basal hairs. Anthers black.
A vary distinct species, allied probably to E. sexangulare L. but with the keel of the female sepals less developed. The slight but distinct thicken- ing of the peduncle just below the head is very striking. (See notes on E. bombayanum Ruhl. and E. neesianum Koern. in Appendix I.)
Other species belonging to this section are : —
E. auslrale R. Br. (in Herb. Calc. "China"!) closely allied to E. sex- angulare L., being similar in the head and the female sepals.
E. alatum (in Herb. Calc. Coll. Col. Pirie. Cochin China ;) with glistening ovoid heads and female sepals as in E. cuspidatum Dalz.
There are also in Herb, Calc. two other sheets one Coll, Loher. No. 1602 in Phillipines is very similar to the E. alatum (above) but the wings of the female sepals are coarsely toothed. The other has a label "ex herb hort, Kew " and a number 1168, but no other identification mark. Two of the female sepals are crested, one not deeply boat-shaped and not crested.
Ruhland in his clavis VI has a small group of three Indian, fi ve African and ona Australian species with the female sepals " dorsocristatae-alatae." The Indian consist of (I) E. heterolepis, Steud referred to above, (2) E. pseude- quinqiiangulare Ruhl. which also I cannot find but which he says is very closely allied to E. heterolepis, and (3) E. trilobum, hut the Calcutta sheets of this last species have certainly no crests to the sepals. In his clavis V. (flowers reduced) E. bombayanum Ruhl. apparently belongs to this series, but I have not seen it. In his Clavis I, (dimerous flowers) he has in addition to E. longifolium Nees, several American species with winged female sepals, one E. guianense Koern, being figured (p. 37).
(To be Continued.)
I am indebted to Messrs Blatter and Hallberg for the photograph