PHYTOTAXONOMY

Vol. 1 ,2 0 0 1 ,-pp. 18-20

Reappraisal of the Genus Lipocarpha R.Br. (Cyperaceae) in India

N.P. Singh & R.C. Srivastava

Botanical Survey o f India
Indian Botanic Garden, Howarh 711 103, India

Taxonomic status of the Genus Lipocarpha R.Br. (Cyperaceae) in India is discussed in view of the
recent revision of the genus by Goetgheuber & Borre (1989). Eight species instead of only 3, as
recorded earlier, are recognised from India. Artificial key to the Indian species is also provided.
Keywords: Cyperaceae; Lipocarpha; India
There has been much confusion about the LIPOCARPHA R. Br.
affinities o f the three genera of Cyperaceae, viz. In Tuckey J.K. Narr. Exp. Congo. App. : 459-
Hemicarpha, Lipocarpha and Rikliella for quite a 1818, nom. cons.: Clarke in Hook.f. FI Brit. India
long time. These were mostly distinguished on the 6: 667. 1893. Hypolytrum L.C. Rich, in Persoon,
basis of a single character of presence or absence Syn. PL 1: 70. 1805, p.p. non typica. Hypaelyptum
of prophyllar scale at the base of each lateral spike, V ahl, Enum. PI. 2: 283. 1805, p.p. typica.
whose stability could not stand the test of time in Hemicarpha Nees, Linnaea 9: 287.1834. Rikliella,
view o f the discovery of several transitional forms J. Raynal, Adansonia Ser. 2; 3:154. 1973
between them, thereby suggesting that these three Annual or perennial herbs, rarely caespitose or
genera represent a single natural unit. In view of rhizomatous. Culms erect, more or less cylindrical,
the. common presence o f a highly specialized, glabrous. Leaves basal, linear, flat, more *or less
(reduced) type o f inflorescence o f any other inrolled, glabrous; leaf-sheath short, closed,
synapomorphy, the three genera were merged eligulate. Inflorescence terminal, head-like, with 1
(Goethebeur & Borre 1989). Thus, the genus to m any spikes, rarely p seudolateral due to
Lipocarpha sertsu lato, a member o f the tribe permanent upright position of the lower-most spike
Cypereae, consists of ca 35 species. bract; bracts 1-few, empty or spike bearing, lowest
Clarke (1893) recognised two species under elongate, upper smaller. Spikes composed of a
Lipocarpha, viz. L. argentea and L. sphacelata, cylindrical axis with many well developed spikelet
from the present political boundaries of India. S ince bracts in a dense helicoid arrangement, lateral spikes
then, there was no work available to define the status with an empty spike prophyll. Spikelet bract
of the genus in India. Karthikeyan et a l (1989) axillating a highly reduced 1-flowered spikelet with
recognised four species under Lipocarpha, viz. L. two tiny hyaline scales, an empty abaxial prophyll
chinensis , L. raynaleana, L. reddyi and L, and a flower-bearing abaxial glume; sometimes
sphacelata; one species under Hemicarpha (.H. either the glume or both scales partly to fully
isolepis) and one species under Rikliella (R. reduced. Spikelet bracts more or less obovate to
squarrosa). Perusal of the available literature and spathulate, with a short to elongate apical part.
study o f the available specimens revealed that two Flowers solitary, bisexual, apetalous with 2 or 3
more species described under Lipocarpha, viz. L. merous ovary, very short to medium sized style 2-3
kernii and L. pygmaea, which were overlooked by stigmatic branches, 1, 2 & 3 stamen at the ribs of
Karthikeyan et ah (1989) also stand good. Thus, the ovary. Perianth absent. Nuts broadly obovate,
the genus Lipocarpha s.l. is represented in India e llip so id to narrow ly sub cy lin d rical, often
by eight species. These are enumerated hereunder.
 REAPPRAISAL OF THE GENUS LIPOCARPHA R.BR. (CYPERACEAE) IN INDIA
constricted at base, with a small style base remnant
at apex, rarely beaked.
Type species: L. agrentea (Vahl) R.Br. nom.
illegit.
A genus of ca 35 species distributed in America,
Africa, Madagascar, Asia and. Australia; 8 species
in India.
Key to the Indian species
la. Annual herbs. Lower involucral bracts always
erect. ...2
lb. Annual or perennial herbs. Lower involucral
bracts obliquely patent or reflexed, rarely erect
in a few young inflorescences
2a. Spikelet bract with short apical part, less than
1/5 of the basal part; spikelet prophyll and
glume always present. Inflorescence of 1 spike.
-L. hemisphaerica
2b. Spikelet bract with longer apical part at least 1/
5 of the basal part; spikelet prophyll and glume
present or absent. Inflorescence or 1 or more
spikes. L. squarrosa
3a. Apical part of spikelet bract less than half of
the bract L. kernii
3b. Apical part of spikelet bract more than half of
the bract ...5
4a. Perennials with at least a few thick roots
L. chinensis
4b. Annuals with filiform roots ...6
5a. Fruits with conspicuous beak (style base) of
0.2-0.3 mm, and constricted at base ...7
5b. Fruits without beak; remnant of style base, ca
0.1 mm long, constricted or not at the base ...8
6a. Fruits obovate, 1-1.2 x 0.4 mm. Spikelet bracts
1.3-1.7 mm long, spikelet prophyll and blume
1.1 -1.4 mm long L. sphacelata
6b. Fruits 1.3-1.6 x 0.3-0.4 mm, oblong; spikelet
bracts 2-2.5 mm long; spikelet prophyll and
glume 1.8-2.1 mm long L. raynaliana
7a. Spikelet prophyll and glume dark or hyaline
with many and conspicuous red stripes
L. pygmaea
7b. Spikelet prophyll and glume hyaline; not as
above. L. reddyi
19
Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) Kern in Blume,
Siippl. 4: 167. 1958; Goetghebeur & Borre in Wag.
Agr. Univ. Papers, 89 1: 27.1989. Scirpus chinensis
Osbeck, Dagd. Ostind.Resa: 220. 1757. Scirpus
senegalensis Lamk, Talb. Encycl Meth. Bot. 1:140.
\19\.Hypaelyptum argenteum Vahl, Enum. 2 : 283.
1805, nom. superfl. pro. Scirpus senegalensis
Lamk.? Hypolytrum argenteum (Vahl) Kunth in
H.B. K., Nov. Gen. Spec. PL 2: 218. 1816, quoad
comb. Lipocarpha argentea (Vahl) R.Br. in Tuckey
J.H., Narr. Exp. Congo, App. : 1818, nom. superfl.\
Clarke in Hook.f., FI. Brit. India 6: 667. 1893.
Tunga laevigata Roxb., FI. Ind. 1:188. 1820
Schoenus laevigatus Roxb. ex Nees in Wt. Contrib.
Bot. India 92. 1834, nom. nud. in Syn. Cyperus
lipocarpha Koyama, Bot. Mag., Tokyo 73; 438.
1960. Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) Tang &
Wang,F7. Reipubl. PopulSin. 11:194.1961. comb.,
superfl. Lipocarpha triceps auct. non (Roxb.) Nees;
Cannus E.G., FI. Gen Indochine 7: 144. 1912.
FI. & Fr. : July - Nov.
Distrib: Paleotropics to more temperate regions
(e g. South Africa, Japan), China, Rijukyn Islands.
India : almost throughout
L ip o c a rp h a h e m is p h a e ric a . (R oth)
Goetghebeur in Wag. Agr. Univ. Papers 1:31.1989.
Scirpus hemisphaericus Roth. Nov. PL 29: 1821.
Isoplepis minimus Schrader, Goot. Gel. Anz. 3:2068.
1821 /. hemisphaerica (Roth) A. Dietrich, Spec. PI.
2: 109. 1832. Hemicarpha isolepis Nees, Edinb. N.
Phil. J. 17: 263. 1834. Isolepis bellula Steud., Syn.
PI. Glum. 2:318 1855. Scirpus isolepis N ees, Edinb
N.Phil. J. 17:263.1834. Isolepis bellula Steud., Syn.
PI. Glum. 2: 318. 1855. Scirpus isolepis (Nees)
Boeck. in Linnaea 36:498.1870; Clarke in Hook.f.,
FI. Brit. India 6:663. 1893.
FI. & Fr.: Nov. - Dec.
Distrib: Africa (Soud no - Zambesian region,
from Senegal to Ethiopia, S. to Namibia). Asia
(India and Thailand).
India : Bihar, Karnataka
Lipocarpha kernii (Raymond) Goetghebeur in
Wag. Agr. Univ. Papers 89.1: 42-43. 1989. Scirpus
kernii Raymond, Natur, Canad. 86: 230. 1959.
 20 PHYTOTAXONOMY, VOL. 1,2000
Isolepis kernii (Raymond) Lye, Not. Notiser 124:
479. 1971. Rikliella kernii (Raymond) J. Raynal,
Adansonia, Ser. 2,13: 155. 1973.
Distrib: Africa & Asia.
India : Karnataka
F/. & Fr. : August.
Lipocarphapygmaea Kern in Blumea 10: 638
Fig. 2: 1960; Goetghebeur & Borre, l.c.
FI & Fr. : Aug. (?)
Distrib : Asia (Myanmar, Cambodia, India,
Thailand)
Lipocarpha rayanaliana Govindarajalu in
A dansonia , ser. 2, 20(4): 369, PI. i. 1981;
Goetghebeur & Borre, 1. c.
FI & F r . : July - Aug.
Distrib: Asia (India)
Lipocarpha reddyi S. Hooper, KewBull. 41 (2):
427.1986; Goetghebeur & Borre, l.c:
FI. & F r . : July-Aug.
Distrib: Asia (India)
Lipocarpha sphacelata (Vahl) Kunth, Fwwm. PL
2: 267. 1837; Clarke in Hook. f. FI. Brit. India 6:
667.1863; Goetghebeur & Borre, 1.c. Hypaelyptum
sphaceltum Vahl, Enum. 2: 283-284. 1805. Tungra
triceps Roxb., FI. Ind . 1: 187. 1820.
F/. : Nov.-Dee.
Distrib. : Asia (Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka)
India : Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal.
FI. & F r .: July-Feb.
Distrib : Asia (India to China & Vietnam).
America.
Lipocerpha squarrosa (L.) Goetghebeur in
Wag. Agr. Univ. Papers. 89-1: 71-72. 1989. Scirpus
squarrosa L., Mant. PI. 2: 181. 1771; Clarke in
Hook, f., FI. Brit. India 6: 663. 1898.
Isolepis squarrosa (L.) Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp.
PI. 1: 202. 1815, quoad comb. Rikliella squarrosa
(L .)J. Raynal, Adansonia Ser 2, 13: 154. 1973.
FI. & Fr. : Jan-Feb.
Distrib: Asia (India to China & Vietnam).
America.
India: Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa,
Punjab, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the D irector,
Botanical Survey of India, for facilities. Thanks are
also due to INSA, New Delhi and the Royal Society,
London for the grant of fellowship (to RCS) to visit
British Herbaria; Regius Keepers of the herbaria at
Royal Botanic Garden, Kew (K) and Royal Botanic
Garden, Edinburgh (E) for facilities; to Drs P.
Goetghebeur, Belgium; and D.A. Simpson (K) for
providing important references.
References
Goetghebeur, Paul & An Vanden Borre 1989 Studies in
Cyperaceae - 8: A revision o f Lipocarpha including
Hemicarpha Wag. Agr. Univ. Papers 89-1:1 - 87.
Clarke, C.B. 1893 Cyperaceae in J.D. Hooker (ed.) Flora o f
British India, Vol. 6, London.
Karthikeyan, S.; Jain S.K., Nayar M.P. & Sanjappa M. 1989
Florae Indicae Enum eratio: M onocotyledonae,
Botanical Survey of India, Culcutta.