Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. B, 33(3 · 4), pp. 105–114, December 21, 2007

Contribution to the Desmid Flora of Sikkim Himalayas, India
M. R. Suseela* and Kiran Toppo
Phycology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow–226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India*Corresponding author
E-mail: mr.suseela@rediffmail.com

Abstract The present paper is an exclusive contribution of the desmid flora of Sikkim Himalayas, India. Thirty-one species of genus Cosmarium Corda, two species of Penium and sevenspecies of Euastrum (Desmidiales, Chlorophyceae) were identified from the samples collected during 2000 and 2001 from Sikkim Himalayas. Taxonomic description and some morphological variations of desmid species are discussed in this paper. All the taxa have been reported for the firsttime from the study area.
Key words : Desmids, Himalayas, India, Sikkim.

The main contributions to our knowledge
about Desmidiaceae around the world made by
Vyverman (1991), Coesel (1993), Flint andWilliamson (1998), Gontcharov et al. (2001),
Habib et al. (1989a), Habib and Pandey (1990),
Srivastava (1993), Tarar et al. (1998). An illustrated account of desmid flora from different
parts of the Indian sub-continent was done by
Habib (2003). Apparently no investigations havebeen done on the desmid flora of Sikkim Himalayas, India. The tiny Himalayan state ofIndia, Sikkim is located between 27°4600 and
28°0748N and between 88°0005 and88°5525E in the Eastern Himalayas, boundedwith three international borders of China, Bhutan
and Nepal on the north, east and west sides, respectively, and southern boundary by Darjeeling
district of West Bengal, India. The entire state isa young mountainous terrain spreading over
7,298 sq. km. in the Eastern Himalayas and it
measures about 112 km in length from east to
west, 64 km in breadth in south. With highly
folded and faulted rock strata at many places,snow capped mountain peaks, glaciers, transverse river valleys, cascading streams, rivers,
lakes make richness of fresh water algal flora ofthis area.
The topography of this pretty Himalayan statevaries with the elevation ranging from 244 m to8598 m. The land descends to 240 m a. s. l.,which is well known for the rich wealth of floral
and faunal aggregation. Climatically, Sikkim experiences varied temperature such as the maximum temperature is recorded 20–25°C and minimum 0–5°C. Rainfall occurs throughout the year
and state as a whole gets 80–90% of the annual
rainfall during monsoon (May to September).
In the present investigation, 40 taxa of desmids
are reported from various altitudinal ranges, i.e.,
subtropical to temperate region of southern andeastern parts of Sikkim.
Materials and Methods
Samples examined here were collected fromvarious localities of Sikkim. The sample numbers, date of collection are shown below alongwith the description of the locality and the altitude (Table 1). The samples were collected fromdifferent altitudinal limits 1500–2000 m a. s. l.
from fresh water pools, ditches, splashed rocks,
slow running streams and water falls during
2000–2001.
These samples were preserved in 10% formaline and deposited at the Herbarium of National
Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Samples were observed in Leica ATC 2000 research microscope and photographs were taken

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M. R. Suseela and K. Toppo
Table 1.

Sample number

Date

SH 20001
SH 200014

2 Aug. 2000
2 Aug. 2000

SH 200016
SH 200017
SH 200031
SH 200033
SH 200042
SH 200044
SH 200049
SH 200064
SH 200066
SH 200071
SH 200073
SH 200076
SH 200099
SH 2000106
SH 2000112
SH 2000114
SH 2000125
SH 2001131
SH 2001135
SH 2001142
SH 2001188
SH 2001192

List of samples examined in this study.
Habitata slow stream near Forest Department in Gangtok
squeezed out the submerged vegetation of running waterin the road side at Gangtok
2 Aug. 2000
a small ditch at Gandhi Market in Gangtok
2 Aug. 2000
a small water tank near forest department at Gangtok
3 Aug. 2000
a small stream on the road side towards the Hanuman Tok
3 Aug 2000
on rocks splashed by water at Hanuman Tok
4 Aug. 2000
a road side ditch towards the Rumtek Monastry
23 Apr. 2000
a small stream of glaciers inside the road at Changu lake
4 Aug. 2000
in a small temporary pool below the water fall on the way of the
Rumtek Monastry
5 Sep. 2000.
a small ditch at Gangtok taxi stand, Sikkim
5 Sep. 2000
a small ditch inside the road before 5 km of Pakyong, Sikkim
5 Sep. 2000
from ditch inside the road at Pakyong, Sikkim
5 Sep.2000
a small stream towards Pakyong, Sikkim
5 Sep. 2000
a small ditch inside the road at Pakyong, Sikkim
7 Sep. 2000
on moist soil at the Tashi view point
7 Sep. 2000
a water tank at the Tashi view point
7 Sep. 2000
a small ditch near the water tank at Tashi view point
7 Sep. 2000
on the road side small stream at Gangtok
8 Sep. 2000
a ditch near taxi stand at Gangtok
29 March 2001 on the rocks splashed by water at Rumtek Monastry
29 March 2001 water fall near the Rumtek Monastry
29 March 2001 a small stream at Gangtok towards Bhusuk forest
2 Apr. 2001
a Small stream at Namchi towards Jorethang, Sikkim
3 Apr. 2001
on moist soil splashed by water at Namchi.

with attached digital camera Nikon Coolpix
4500. For the taxonomic description of taxa dimensions are given in micrometer (m m) and thefollowing abbreviations are used: Llength ofcell; Wwidth of cell; Ibreadth of isthmus;
No.Sample number; SHSikkim Himalaya.
The relevant publications of Turner (1892),
West and West (1905), Tiffany and Britton(1952) were consulted for identification of taxa.
Where as the confirmation of some taxa and variation of diameter in length, width and isthmus
taken from publications of Prasad and Mehrotra(1977a), Therezien (1985), Hegde (1986), Yamagishi (1990), Prasad and Misra (1992), Lenzenweger (1994), Kant and Gupta (1998),
Gontcharov et al. (1999).
Enumeration
Order Desmidiales
Family Desmidiaceae Ralfs
Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs

Elevation (m)
1600
1700
1650
1600
1875
2000
1650
1800
1600
1650
1600
1600
1600
1600
1800
1800
1800
1700
1700
1600
1700
1750
1500
1500

C. alatum Kirch.
[Pl. I, f. 23]
L: 35 m m, W: 24.2 m m, I: 9.2 m m; Nos. SH
200099, SH 2000112.
Cells sub-hexagonal deeply constricted, sinus
linear, narrow with slightly dilated apex andopening towards, semi cells truncate, pyramidate
with axile chloroplast having single pyrenoid ineach cell.
This species is slightly longer and broader than
the Turner (1892) from east India having length
22 m m and 20 m m in diameter broad.
C. angulosum Breb. var. concinnum (Rao.) W.
West et G. S. West
[Pl. I, f. 1]
L: 25 m m, W: 15 m m, I: 3–4 m m; No. SH
200033.
Cells very small, broad, deeply constricted,
sinus narrow and linear, semi cells hexagonalwith sharp angle in parallel sides, apex narrowand slightly retuse, cell wall smooth.
C. bipunctatum Borg. var. spinuliferum HegderDesmid Flora of Sikkim Himalayas[Pl. I, f. 24; Pl. II, f. 10]
L: 43.8 m m, W: 37.5 m m, I: 12.24 m m; No. SH
2000112.
Cell pyramidate, margin crenate with spine,sinus linear with deep constriction, cell wall thinand punctate.
C. candianum Delp var. depressum Croasd.
[Pl. II, f. 11]
L: 42.5 m m, W: 50 m m, I: 18.2 m m; No. SH
2001192.
Cells broadly rounded, oval in shape, sinus linear, chloroplast axile, two pyrenoid in each semi
cell.
C. circulare Reinsch.
[Pl. I, f. 17]
L: 60 m m, W: 42.2 m m, I: 12.28 m m; No. SH
2000106.
Semi cells semi circular to oval, deeply constricted, sinus linear with rounded basal angles,
apex rounded not truncate, pyrenoid two in eachsemi cell.
C. circulare Reinsch. var. messikomeri Krieger
et Gerloff[Pl. I, f. 17]
L: 60.82 m m, W: 45.52 m m, I: 20–42 m m; No.
SH 2000112.
Cells long, broadly elliptic, deeply constricted,
basal angles broadly rounded, lateral view ofsemi cells sub-circular, cell wall thin and smooth,minutely punctate.
C. cyclicum Lund var. nordsttedtianum (Reinsch.) West
[Pl. II, f. 3]
L: 45 m m, W: 42.3 m m, I :12 m m; No. SH
2000106.
Semi cells oval, circular, deeply constricted,
margin 2–4 crenate, cell wall thick and smooth.
C. decedense (Rein.) Racib. var. borgii[Pl. I, f. 25]
L: 37–38.2 m m, W: 18–19 m m, I :14.5 m m; No.
SH 200044.
Cells long as broad, truncate to quadrate withrelatively broad apices, margin entire.

107

C. depressum (Nag.) Lund.
[Pl. II f. 6]
L: 38.5 m m, W: 34.5 m m, I: 11.8 m m; Nos. SH
200033, SH 2000106.
Cells broadly rounded, oval to semi circular inshape, sinus linear, chloroplast axile, twopyrenoids in each semi cell, cell wall thin andsmooth.
C. dorsitruncatum (Nordst.) West var. dorsitruncatum[Pl. I, f.15]
L: 22–24 m m, W: 24–25 m m, I: 5–7 m m; No.
SH 200076.
Semi cells semi circular, cell wall thick andsmooth.
C. furcatospermum W. West et G. S. West var.
maius
[Pl. I, f. 6]
L: 28.5 m m, W: 24.25 m m, I: 8.2 m m; No. SH
2001135
Cells oval to ovate with crenate margin, sinus
linear, cell wall thin and punctate.
C. humile (Gay.) Nordst var. lucknowense
Prasad et Mehrotra[Pl. I, f. 4]
L: 18.5 m m, W: 12.5 m m, I: 4.2 m m; Nos. SH
200017, SH 200049
Cells small, slightly larger than broad, deeply
constricted, sinus linear, side view elliptic withtwo deep protuberances on each semi cell, single
pyrenoid in each semi cell.
This specimen is smaller in length i.e., 20–22
m m, but broader with isthmus 5 m m than thosereported by Prasad and Mehrotra (1977e) from
north Indian paddy fields. It is morphologicallysimilar to the Euastrum montanum.
C. laeve Rab.
[Pl. I, f. 18]
L: 21.24 m m, W: 13.82 m m, I: 4.2 m m; No. SH
200033.
Cells spherical with rounded apices, numberof pyrenoids scattered in the each semi cell.
C. laponicum Bory
[Pl. II, f. 7]
L: 32–34 m m, W: 18–20 m m, I: 5 m m; No. SH
200073.
Cells oval to circular, deeply constricted with

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M. R. Suseela and K. Toppo

entire margin, sinus linear, cell wall thick andsmooth.
C. lundellii Delp var. subellipticum Prasad et
Mehrotra[Pl. II, f. 9]
L: 41.5 m m, W: 32.2 m m, I: 11.8 m m; Nos. SH
200017, SH 200042.
Semi cells sub elliptic with rounded apices,cell wall thick and smooth.
C. moniliforme (Turp.) Ralfs. var. lamenticum
W. West et G. S. West
[Pl. I, f. 12]
L: 25–26.8 m m, W: 18.5–20 m m, I: 5.5 m m;
No. SH 2001142.
Cells semi-circular, deep constriction, margin
entire, sinus obtuse with broad isthmus.
C. nitidulum De Not.
[Pl. II, f. 8]
L: 44.5 m m, W: 30.5 m m, I: 15.2 m m; No. SH
20001.
Cells broad, deeply constricted, sinus linear,lateral view of semi-cells sub-semicircular withbroadly rounded apices, cell wall thin andsmooth.
C. perfissum West
[Pl. I, f. 5]
L: 24 m m, W: 22 m m, I: 4.2 m m; No. SH
200049.
Cells small as long as broad, semi cells oblong
to semi circular having single pyrenoid in eachsemi cell, sinus open, cell wall punctate andsmooth.
C. pseudoconnatum Nordst. var. subconstrictum Jao[Pl. I, f. 22]
L: 58–60 m m, W: 32–35 m m, I: 25 m m; No. SH
200016.
Cells long, cylindrical to semi-elliptic withparietal.
C. pseudopyramidatum Lund
[Pl. I, f. 28]
L: 45 m m, W: 28.5 m m, I: 10.5 m m; No. SH
200042.
Semi cells small as long as broad, sinus linearwith deep constriction, each cell having two
pyrenoids.

C. pseudopyramidatum Lund var. carnicolicum Lutken.
[Pl. I, f. 16]
L: 40 m m, W: 25 m m, I: 8 m m; No SH
2000106.
Semi cells elongate to trapeziform with linear
apices, deep constriction, each cell having single
pyrenoid situated in the center of semi cell.
C. punctulatum Breb.
[Pl. II, f. 4]
L: 25 m m, W: 20 m m, I: 5.8 m m; Nos. SH
2000106, SH 2000131.
Semi cells truncate to sub semi circular, axile
chloroplast with single small pyrenoid, deep constriction, lateral margin crenate with broadly
truncate apex.
C. quadratum Ralfs.
[Pl. II, f. 5]
L: 58.5 m m, W: 28 m m, I: 14.2 m m; No. SH
2000125.
Cells elongate with deep constriction, sinus
linear, chloroplast axile with two pyrenoid ineach semi cell.
C. quadrifarium Lund F. hexastichum (Lund.)Nordst.
[Pl. I, f. 27]
L: 58.89 m m, W: 35.2 m m, I: 14.8 m m; No. SH
2000192.
Semi cells with rectangular margin with 4 apical, 7 lateral creations, cell wall thin and punctate.
C. raeticum Messik var. raeticum [Pl. I, f. 2]
L: 22 m m, W: 15 m m, I: 7 m m; No. SH 200016.
Semi cells with crenate margin, quadrate,sinus linear with deep constriction.
C. retusiformae (Will.) Gutw var. elevatum
Insam et Krieg.
[Pl. I, f.10]
L: 24–27 m m, W: 18.5 m m, I: 6.8 m m; No. SH
200016.
Semi cells elongate to trapeziform with narrow
linear apices, sinus linear with deep constriction.
C. scabratulum West.
[Pl. II, f. 1]
L: 18–20 m m, W: 10 m m, I: 2.5 m m; Nos. SH
2000125, SH 2000112.

Desmid Flora of Sikkim Himalayas

Semi cells ovate to trapeziform with narrow
linear apices, cell wall thin and smooth.
C. speciosum Ralfs var. simplex f. intermedi[Pl. II, f. 12]
L: 45.8 m m, W: 34.2 m m, I: 15 m m; Nos. SH
2000125, SH 2000131, SH 2000192.
Semi cells sub rectangular or sub pyramidate,margin with 5 apical 7 lateral crenations, median
portion without vertical series of granules.
C. subcrenatum Hantz.
[Pl. II, f. 2]
L: 30 m m, W: 24 m m, I: 10.5 m m; Nos. SH
200042, SH 2000114.
Semi cells trapeziform with narrow linear
apices, sinus linear with deep constriction, cellwall thin and smooth.
C. subtumidum Nordst f. minor Prasad et
Mehrotra[Pl. I, f. 3]
L: 26.52 m m, W: 22.58 m m, I: 7.2 m m; No. SH
200033.
Semi cells truncate with rounded apices,chloroplast axile, single pyrenoid in each semi
cell situated centrally.
C. venustrum (Breb.) Arch[Pl. I, f. 11]
L: 32.5 m m, W: 18.25 m m, I: 7.8 m m; No. SH
200014.
Semi cells longer than broad with deep construction, cells hexagonal with undulate margin,
chloroplast axile with two pyrenoids in each semi
cell.
Euastrum Ehr.
E. anglolense (W. West et G. S. West) Krieg.
var. brasiliense Krieg.
[Pl. I, f. 13]
L: 18–20 m m, W: 14–16.2 m m, I: 3–4 m m; No.
SH 200071.
Semi cells bilobed, apical lobe quandrangularwith rounded angles, apex with prominent incision, cell wall smooth.
E. binale (Turp.) Ehr. ex Ralfs[Pl. I, f. 7]
L: 17–18.2 m m, W: 10–12.5 m m, I: 2.5–3 m m;
No. SH 200016.

109

Semicells truncate, quadrate and compressed.
E. gyanum De Toni
[Pl. I, f. 14]
L: 15–18 m m, W: 8–10 m m, I: 4–5 m m; No. SH
2001192.
Semi cells quadrate, apex with deep apicalnotch, outer margins 4 lobed, cell wall small protuberences at the constriction.
E. insulare (Witt.) Roy[Pl. I, f. 21]
L: 27–28.5 m m, W: 15–16 m m, I: 5 m m; No.
SH 2000106.
Semicells truncate with trapeziform structure,cell wall punctate without protuberances.
E. sinosum Linorm ex Arch.
[Pl. I, f. 9]
L: 48–50 m m, W: 24–25 m m, I: 8–10 m m; No.
SH 2000106.
Sinus narrowly linear with 3 lobed semi cells,
polar lobes quadrate, oblong with deep medianincision.
E. sublobatum Breb. var. dessimile (Nordst.)
W. West et G. S. West
[Pl. I, f. 20]
L: 30–32 m m, W: 22–24 m m, I: 10–12 m m; No.
SH 200066.
Semi cells truncate with 2 lobed outer margin
deeply constricted with linear sinus.
E. sublobatum Breb. var. sumartranum Scott et
Prescott[Pl. I, f. 8]
L :18–20.5 m m, W: 10–12.5 m m, I: 5 m m; No.
SH 200064.
Semi cells bilobed with rounded angular
apices having deep apical notch, cell wall smooth
without protuberances.
Penium Breb.
P. cucurbitum Biss.
[Pl. I, f. 19]
L: 30–32 m m, W: 14–15 m m; No. SH 2001188.
Semicells long as broad, pyramidate and scrobidlate with rounded apices.
P. cucurbitum Biss. var. subpolymorphum W.
West et G. S. West
[Pl. I, f. 26]
L: 42–44.5 m m, W: 25–26.5 m m; No. SH

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M. R. Suseela and K. Toppo

200031.
Cells sub-cylindrical, constricted in the middle, apices broadly rounded, cell wall minutely
punctuate.
The following species are first reports from
India: C. crenatum, C. retusiformae var.
elevatum, C. venustrum, C. laeve, C. caelatum
var. caelatum, C. furcatospermum var. maius, C.
pseudopyramidatum var. carnicolicum, C.
raeticum var. raeticum, C. quadratum, C. quadrifarium f. hexastichum.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Director, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, for
his constant encouragement and laboratory facilities.
References
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II. Cryptogamie Algol 14(2–3): 105–114.
Flint, E. A. and Williamson, D. B. 1998. Desmids of Central Canterbury, New Zealand. Algol. Studies 91:
71–100.
Gontcharov, A. A. Watanabe, M. and Watanabe, M. M.
1999. Contribution to the Desmid flora of Papua New
Guinea. Bulletin of the National Science Museum
Tokyo, Series B 16(2): 41–59.
Gontcharov, A. A., Watanabe, M. & Watanabe, M. M.
2001. Contribution to the Desmid flora of Papua New
Guinea II. Bulletin of the National Science Museum
Tokyo, Series B 27(4): 93–107.
Habib, I. 2003. Contribution to the acknowledge thedesmids of Kumaon Himalaya. pp. 28–39. Phycology

Principles Process and Application. Daya Publishing
House.
Habib, I. and Pandey, U. C. 1990. On some taxa of Cosmarium Corda. new to Indian Desmids flora. Journal ofIndian Botanical Society 69: 275–276.
Habib, I., Shukla, H. M. and Pandey, U. C. 1989. Sometaxa of Cosmarium Corda new to India. Botanical Contactor 6: 27–30.
Hegde, G. R. 1986. Contribution to the knowledge offresh water algae of Karnataka state. Some new
Desmids taxa from Shimoga district. Phykos 25:
108–112.
Kant, S. and Gupta, P. 1998. Algal flora of Ladakh. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 15: 1–441.
Lenzenweger, R. 1994. The desmids flora of Rosanin lake
Salzburg, Austria. Nova Hedwigia 59(1–2): 163–187.
Prasad. B. N. and Mehrotra, R. K. 1977. Desmid flora ofnorth Indian Paddy fields. New Botanist 4(1–4): 49–74.
Srivastava, M. 1993. A study of Conjugales from Bihar,
India. IV. Taxonomic consideration of Desmidiaceae(Cosmarium) New Botanist 20(1–4): 127–138.
Tarar, J. L., Charjan, V. and Bodkhe, S. 1998. Contribution of Desmids from Nagpur. Phykos 37(1–2): 59–67.
Tiffany, L. H. and Britton, M. E. 1952. Monograph. Algae
of Illinois. 407 pp. Hofner Publishing Company, NewYork.
Therezien, Y. 1985. Contribution Al’ Etude des Algues
d’Eau Douch de la Bolivie Les Desmidiales. Nova
Hedwigia 41: 505–572.
Turner, W. B. 1892. Fresh water algae of East India. 187
pp. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun,
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Yamagishi, T. 1990. Fresh water algae of Papua New
Guinea. (4) Some Euglenoid, Flagellates & Desmids.
Bulletin of the National Science Museum Tokyo, Series
B 25: 7–42.
Vyverman, W. 1991. Desmids from Papua New Guinea.
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West, W. and West, G. S. 1905. A monograph of the
British Desmidiaceae. 3: 1–272.

Desmid Flora of Sikkim Himalayas
Plate I
Fig. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.

Cosmarium angulosum Breb. var. concinnum (Rao.) W. West et G. S. West.
C. raeticum Messik var. raeticum.
C. subtumidum Nordst f. minor Prasad et Mehrotra.
C. humile (Gay.) Nordst var. lucknowense Prasad et Mehrotra.
C. perfissum West.
C. furcatospermum W. West et G. S. West var. maius.
Euastrum binale (Turp.) Ehr. ex Ralfs.
E. sublobatum Breb. var sumartranum Scott et Prescott.
E. sinosum Linorm ex Arch.
Cosmarium retusiformae (Will.) Gutw. var. elevatum Insam et Krieg.
C. venustrum (Breb.) Arch.
C. moniliforme (Turp.) Ralfs. var. lamenticum W. West et G. S. West.
Euastrum anglolense (W. West et G. S. West) Krieg. var. brasiliense Krieg.
E. gyanum De Toni.
Cosmarium dorsitruncatum (Nordst.) West var. dorsitruncatum.
C. pseudopyramidatum Lund var. carnicolicum Lutken.
C. circulare Reinsch var. messikomeri Krie. et Gerloff.
C. laeve Rab.
Penium cucurbitum Biss.
Euastrum sublobatum Breb. var. dessimile (Nordst.) W. West et G. S. West.
E. insulare (Witt.) Roy.
Cosmarium pseudoconnatum Nordst. var. subconstrictum Jao.
C. alatum Kirch.
C. bipunctatum Borg. var. spinuliferum Hegde.
C. decedense (Rein.) Racib. var. borgii.
Penium cucurbitum Biss. var. subpolymorphum W. West et G. S. West.
Cosmarium quadrifarium Lund f. hexastichum (Lund.) Nordst.
C. pseudopyramidatum Lund.

111

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M. R. Suseela and K. ToppoDesmid Flora of Sikkim Himalayas
Plate II
Fig. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Cosmarium scabratulum West.
C. subcrenatum Hantz.
C. cyclicum Lund var. nordsttedtianum (Reinsch.) West.
C. punctulatum Breb.
C. quadratum Ralfs.
C. depressum (Nag.) Lund.
C. laponicum Bory.
C. nitidulum De Not.
C. lundellii Delp var. subellipticum Prasad et Mehrotra.
C. bipunctatum Borges var. spinuliferum Hegde.
C. candianum Delp var. depressum Croasd.
C. speciosum Ralfs var. simplex f. intermedia.

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M. R. Suseela and K. Toppo