Botanical Exploration Research Articles

Studies on the Flora of Parambikulam and Aliyar Submergible Areas

The paper deals with a detailed account of the vegetation of the Parambikulam and Aliyar Submergible areas in Kerala and Madras States. Intensive botanical exploration was carried out in different seasons of the year during 1962-63.The Parambikulam submergible area is situated in Trichur District, Kerala State at an altitude of ±610 m. It covers 20.8 sq. km of virgin forests and is formed by the construction of the dam across the Parambikulam river. The forest presents different layers of vegetation which is a continuation of that of Malabar Province and the Deccan Province as described by Sir J. D. Hooker. The luxuriant and thick vegetation comprises 159 species of Angiosperms belonging to 63 families. The families Papilionaceae and Euphorbiaceae are dominant. This vegetation includes several economically important timber yielding trees and medicinal plants.The Aliyar submergible area is situated in the Coimbatore District, Madras State and it is formed by the dam constructed across the Aliyar river. It covers an area of 6.5 sq km. The vegetation is mostly the scrub jungle type with the combination of dry deciduous type. It constitutes 292 species of Angiosperms belonging to 71 families. The families like Papilionaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Acanthaceae, Malvaceae and Labiatae are largely represented.

Studies on the Flora of Bandipur Reserve Forest, Mysore State

Studies and observations made on the flora of Bandipur R. F. during botanical explorations conducted during 1964-65 are recorded in this paper. The forest range lies between 11°20'-11°40' N and 76°20'-76°32' E in Mysore State at an altitude varying from 600 to 1400 m.The vegetation at lower elevations is of scrub type, at higher elevations it is semi-evergreen and between tbese the mixed deciduous type occurs. 448 species distributed under 100 families collected and studied from this area are enumerated with short notes.

Observations on the Flora of Narasapur, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh

The Narasapur Forests lie between 77°35'-78°55' E longitudes and 17°34'- 18°20' N latitudes. Botanical explorations were undertaken in this area during the months of September, 1958 and April, 1959.The top soil is sandy to clayey loam with rocks consisting of pink and grey granites. The climate is moist and hot, the temperature varying from 14°C to 40°C. The annual rainfall is 91 cm., mainly precipitated by south-west monsoon.The vegetation of this region presents the scrub jungle at low elevations with dominant species Gymnosporia spinosa associated with Diospyros melanoxylon and Lagerstroemia parviflora. Patches of grasslands in the scrub jungle show herbs like Borreria hispida, Phyla nodiflora and Striga euphrasioides and grasses Chloris virgaita and Iseilema laxum. As the altitude rises the scrub jungle gradually changes into mixed deciduous forests. The transitional zone is characterised by large populations of Cissus adnata. Butea monosperma is the dominant species in these forests associated with Madhuca indica, Tectona grandis and Terminalia bellerica. The undergrowth is mainly formed by Bridelia montana, Cleistanthus collinus, Olax scandens, Habenaria platyphylla and Sclerocarpus africanus. The lakes and ponds present large populations of Aponogeton natans, Lagarosiphon alternifolius and Nymphaea stellata.Families Leguminosae, Gramineae and Cyperaceae are well represented in the flora of this region.

Studies on the Flora of the Andaman Islands

Studies and observations, made on the flora of the Andaman Islands during a botanical exploration tour in 1959, are recorded in this paper. Andamans are a group of large and small islands 204 in number, lying in the Bay of Bengal between 13°41'and 10°30' N. latitudes, and 92°11'and 93°7'E. longitudes.Important vegetation types commonly met with in these islands are the Mangrove forests, Beach forests, Deciduous forests and Evergreen forests at lower and higher elevations. The floristic composition of the South, Middle, and North Andamans are described in detail. A floristic analysis of the Andaman Islands, based on the collections made during the above tour is presented. An enumeration of the plants collected, is given at the end.

What Was George Forrest's Plant Collection Journey like in China?

Since the 16th century, Western countries have conducted extensive plant collections in Asia, particularly in China, driven by the need to collect botanical resources and foster academic development. These activities have not only significantly enriched the Western botanical specimen collections but have also had a profound impact on the development of related disciplines such as botany, ecology, and horticulture. During this process, a large number of renowned plant hunters emerged, whose discoveries and contributions are still remembered today. George Forrest (1873-1932) was one of these distinguished plant hunters. From 1904 to 1932, he visited China seven times to collect plants and became famous for the regional distinctiveness of the species he collected. However, due to the lack of systematic collection, organization, and analysis of specimens collected by Forrest, only a few species, such as the species Rhododendron, are well-known among the many species he introduced to the West. Furthermore, the personal collecting characteristics and the characteristic species collected by Forrest are also not clear. This limits a comprehensive understanding of the specimen collection history and impact of Forrest in China. Therefore, systematic organization and analysis of Forrest's plant specimens collected in China are crucial to understanding his impact on botanical classification, Rhododendrons introduction, global horticulture, and plant propagation. This study aims to systematically organize and analyze the plant specimens collected by George Forrest in China to investigate the family, genus, and species composition of the collected specimens and the seven collection expeditions of Forrest in China, as well as the time and altitude of these collections. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss Forrest's scientific contributions to the global spread of plants, the widespread application of the Rhododendron, and his impact on the development of modern gardens, providing a theoretical basis and data reference for related research and professional development. To this end, we extensively consulted important historical literature related to Forrest and systematically collected data from online specimen databases. The conclusions drawn from the available data include 38,603 specimens, with 26,079 collection numbers, belonging to 233 families, 1395 genera, and 5426 species, which account for 48.24%, 32.63%, and 14.17% of the plant families, genera, and species in China, respectively. Rhododendron specimens made up 17.20% of the specimens collected in this study. The collection locations cover three provinces or autonomous regions, 11 prefecture-level cities, and 25 counties. Furthermore, we found that Forrest's collections were concentrated in spring and summer, mainly in high-altitude areas, with 135 species found below 1500 m and 3754 species at 1500 m and above. Rhododendron specimens were mostly found above 3000 m.

Trends in botanical exploration in Nigeria forecast over 1000 yet undescribed vascular plant species.

Taxonomists are primary actors of biodiversity assessment. At the same time, there is awareness by the taxonomic community at large that the field is going through a crisis, sometimes referred to as the 'taxonomic impediment'. Coupled with the ongoing biodiversity crisis, or 6th mass extinction, this biodiversity impedance puts at risk the target set in the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Global Biodiversity Framework vision 2050, which calls for urgent action to '… put biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of planet and people'. This risk is particularly pronounced in tropical African countries where taxonomic studies are done on an ad hoc basis. In this study, our aim is to investigate the historical trends in botanical exploration of vascular plants in Nigeria and forecast the near-term (50-year) description of presently unknown species, which we use to discuss scenarios of taxonomic effort that may be necessary for a comprehensive biodiversity assessment in the country. The study is based on a dataset from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, containing all vascular plant species reported to occur in Nigeria. We fit nested Bayesian time series regressions to estimate the long-term trend in the rate of description of vascular plant species in Nigeria. From these models, we use an ensemble forecast to estimate the number of species descriptions by the year 2070, and then evaluate the description rates per taxonomist required to meet this estimate under different totals of active taxonomists. We find a striking difference in species description between Nigerian botanists and their foreign counterparts, with the former contributing relatively small numbers. Additionally, only a fraction of the authors involved in describing Nigeria's vascular plants are of indigenous origin. Our study reveals that the number of new species described annually exhibits a long-term increasing trend, with an average of 19.5 species described per year. However, after taking into account year-to-year variability and the number of taxonomists active in a given year, the long-term trend in species descriptions credibly declines over time. While the number of authors involved in describing species has generally increased over time, it has remained stable since the 1950s. Predictions for the number of new species descriptions by 2070 vary by model, with an ensemble prediction estimating 1140 species descriptions, but ranging from 1004 to 2239 between individual models. The study estimates that current levels of taxonomic activity should lead to a 20 % increase in known species of vascular plants in Nigeria over the next 50 years, which is still probably an underestimate of the true, unknown species richness. Urgent action is needed to address the taxonomic impediment so that local taxonomic studies in tropical African countries can achieve the CBD's Global Biodiversity Framework vision 2050. Here, we outline some key pathways to achieving this goal.

Telipogon nigropurpureus (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae): new insights on its morphology and distribution in Colombia and Ecuador

Over the past 20 years, Telipogon nigropurpureus had been known from only one specimen from the type locality near Arcabuco, Boyacá, in central Colombia. During botanical explorations in Colombia and Ecuador we have encountered more populations which are reported here. The new records found in Ecuador extend the known geographic range of T. nigropurpureus by 950 km south from the type locality. We provide an updated description, illustration, and photographs of the species, together with information on its ecology and distribution.

Names of Plant Taxa Introduced by Raimonds Cinovskis (1930–1998)

Abstract Raimonds Cinovskis (1930–1998) devoted his entire life to plants, especially to the research of dendroflora in Latvia, as well as in the Baltic states in general, and he also participated in botanical expeditions in several places in Asia. He introduced many new names of plant taxa, described new taxa, and made new name combinations. Although the plant names he created are widely used by Latvian botanists and can also be found in the seed exchange catalogues issued by local botanic gardens, these names have never been (with some exceptions) evaluated before. This paper summarises all of the names of plant taxa introduced by R. Cinovskis. It was established that R. Cinovskis introduced more than 200 new names of plant taxa or new name combinations for plants belonging to 11 plant families — Betulaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Cupressaceae, Grossulariaceae, Juglandaceae, Pinaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, and Ulmaceae. The majority of the names of plant taxa were for plants of the rose family (Rosaceae). Critically evaluating the compliance of the names introduced by R. Cinovskis with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, it was concluded that the majority of the names were published illegitimately.

A botanical expedition in Eastern Alborz (Iran): rare plant species and assessing their conservation status

This study is a part of an ongoing floristic study in Eastern Alborz mountain range (Iran). The flora and vegetation of this area are less known compared to those of Central Alborz. The study area indicates the regionally significant connection between the Kopet Dagh-Khorassan and Central Alborz. A total of 41 rare-threatened taxa belonging to 26 genera and 15 families are presented. According to the IUCN criteria, our checklist identifies 3 taxa classified as Critically Endangered (CR), 19 taxa as Endangered (EN), 4 taxa as Vulnerable (VU), 4 taxa as Near Threatened (NT), 3 taxa as Least Concern (LC), and 8 taxa as Data Deficient (DD). Among them, 28 are hemicryptophytes, followed by chamaephytes (7 species), geophytes (4 species), and therophytes (2 species). During 10 years of field investigations on the semi-arid areas of Eastern Alborz, some rare-threatened endemic species have been rediscovered in the region. Geographic distribution maps of all rare species together with the accompanying species and their conservation status were drawn up. It is noteworthy that some rare species are known only from their locus classicus and no new specimens have been collected during the last 30 to 80 years. A total of 10 taxa were reported for the first time from Eastern Alborz, primarily exhibiting a disjunct distribution pattern occurring in the high elevations of Zagros, Alborz and/or other mountain ranges in SW Asia.

Smilax borneensis A.DC. (Smilacaceae): an addition to the flora of India

The discovery of Smilax borneensis A.DC. in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh represents a significant addition to the flora of India, shedding light on the region’s rich biodiversity. Through field surveys and morphological analysis, this study provides a detailed description of Smilax borneensis, accompanied by high-quality photographs for easy identification. The inclusion of this species not only enriches our taxonomic knowledge but also underscores the importance of ongoing botanical exploration.

Distribución geográfica y estado de conservación del cactus endémico <i>Austrocylindropuntia pachypus</i> y nuevos registros para el sur del Perú

Austrocylindropuntia pachypus (K.Schum.) Backeb. it is an endemic cactus whose distribution was restricted to the western slopes of La Libertad, Ancash, Lima; and based on botanical expeditions through the Andean foothills of Ica, new records are reported with reduced populations of A. pachypus, which makes it possible to extend its known distribution to southern Peru by more than 260 km; in addition, based on 35 georeferenced records, information is presented on their locations, populations, potential distribution, habitats, threats, and the conservation status was analyzed. The potential distribution model shows high predictive or suitability levels with AUC values = 0.96 based on seven climatic variables (Bio17, Bio2 and Bio7 being the ones with the greatest contribution), with the departments with the highest suitability values being: Lima, Ancash, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Huancavelica and Ica. The localities where they are most concentrated and in turn are seriously disturbed by anthropogenic activities are the valleys of the Chillon river (Santa Rosa de Quives - Canta) and Rimac (Santa Eulalia - Huarochiri) in Lima; due to this, almost 70% of the records and populations of A. pachypus are threatened by mining rights, hydrocarbon extraction, overgrazing, and urban or agricultural expansion, which increases the fragmentation of their habitats and isolates the few populations of A. pachypus, therefore, it is proposed to categorize this endemic cactus as Endangered (EN).

To Press, Dry, Organise, and Represent

Abstract This paper examines the epistemological relation between two types of scientific image produced during a botanical expedition to New Granada in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries: herbarium sheets and botanical illustration. Visual analysis of an exceptional collection of these two types of documents brings to light how scientific ideologies were transferred from Europe to New Granada, during the transformation of this latter from a colony to a republic. This study shows how features such as composition, proportion, and pictorial technique derive from both aesthetic choices and epistemological necessities. It reveals the development of a codified visual language resulting from a highly organised and structured outcome, complying with Carl Linnaeus’ principles of classification, and materialising a new way of looking at plants based on Isaac Newton’s universal mathematical principles.

The diversity, ethnobotany and nutrient contents of Dioscorea for post-disaster food security in Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract. Indriyatno, Wijayanto N, Batubara I, Supriyanto. 2024. The diversity, ethnobotany and nutrient contents of Dioscorea for post-disaster food security in Lombok, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 553-564. Earthquakes caused damage to infrastructure, houses, and roads in Lombok in 2018. After the earthquake, there was a shortage of food. Adaptation to address food shortage can be overcome by using local food sources, including those from the Dioscorea genus. The study aims to analyze the diversity and distribution, ethnobotany and nutrient contents of the Dioscorea genus in Lombok Island. Botanical explorations were conducted to identify the intraspecific varieties in the form of local types/names complemented with ethnobotanical study through structured interviews. The nutrient contents were determined using a standardized method in proximate analysis. The study found 12 local types of Dioscorea belonging to four species which are used by the community for adaptation after earthquake disaster, namely: D. bulbifera (kentang), D. bulbifera (engal), D. alata (uwi sawa), D. alata (lami), D. alata (uwi kuning ampenan), D. alata (uwi putih ampenan), D. alata (uwi ungu dara kunci), D. alata (uwi putih batu layar), D. alata (uwi ungu batu layar), D. esculenta var. apiculata (surak), D. esculenta var. spinosa (gembili) and D. pentaphylla (buyut). The highest diversity of Dioscorea is found in climate type C3 (8 local types), followed by climate type E (5 local types), climate type D4 (4 local types), climate type B2 (3 local types), and climate type C2 and D3 (1 local type). The local community utilizes the Dioscorea genus in several cultural events including when celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. The nutritional value of Dioscorea genus is high due to its carbohydrate content (66,09-76,96%), protein content (3.79­-10.84%), fat content (1.70-9.58 %) and fiber content (0.32-6.81%). This study shows the potential of Dioscorea to be used as food sources that are cheap, easy to grow, and more adaptive to different environmental conditions to help post-earthquake communities.

Two new species of Hechtia (Bromeliaceae; Hechtioideae) from Jalisco, Mexico

Backgrounds and aims – The genus Hechtia (sensu lato) is distributed from the southern United States to northern Central America and includes 95 species. Recent botanical explorations, carried out in the Colima and Jalisco states in search of H. reticulata, led to the discovery of two new species. The aims of this work were to complete the morphological description of H. reticulata and describe these two new species. Material and methods – This study was based on fieldwork and on the revision of literature, protologues, type material, and herbarium specimens. The specimens collected were prepared for storage in the herbarium, analysed, measured, and descriptions were made; measurements were taken from dried specimens. Due to their morphological similarities and the closeness of their populations, the proposed species are compared with H. reticulata. Key results – We propose two new species of Hechtia for Mexico (H. costalegrensis and H. pacifica); an epitype and a complete description of H. reticulata are also provided. The diagnostic characters and morphological affinities of the new species are discussed, including complete morphological descriptions and images; a comparative table is presented, showing the morphological differences between the new species and H. reticulata. A distribution map of the taxa described here and of H. reticulata is included, as well as an identification key and a list of examined specimens of all Hechtia species known to date from Colima and Jalisco.

Friesodielsia parvimitra (Annonaceae), a New Species from Peninsular Thailand and a Note on F. argentea.

During botanical expeditions focused on the study of Annonaceae in Thailand, specimens resembling Friesodielsia glauca were collected from the lower part of peninsular Thailand but were believed to differ from that species in vegetative, flower, and fruit characters. A morphological investigation of the new specimens and species complex was conducted. Specimens (including types of F. glauca and similar species collected from Thailand and adjacent regions) were examined in the following herbaria: A, BK, BM, BKF, E, K, KEP, KKU, L, PSU, QBG, SING, and US. As a consequence, the new species Friesodielsia parvimitra, endemic to peninsular Thailand, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of the new species was provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR, B2ab(iii)) following the IUCN's guidelines. In addition, F. argentea, previously regarded F. glauca, is reinstated here as a distinct species based on several morphological differences and is reported as a new record from Thailand. Photographs, line drawings, and a revised key to F. glauca and similar species are presented.

A step forward in botanical exploration with three new Polytrichaceae records from Tibet, China.

According to the Species Catalogue of China, Tibet, China, has more than 1,000 species of bryophytes, showing its remarkably high biodiversity. Amongst them, the Polytrichaceae is one of the largest family, with six genera and 25 species, one subspecies and two varieties reported previously. Based on a field survey and specimen identification, the following species have been newly recorded in the bryoflora of Tibet, namely Oligotrichumobtusatum Broth., Pogonatumcontortum (Menzies ex Brid.) Lesq. and Polytrichumsphaerothecium (Besch.) Müll. Hal.

Conhecimento atual das samambaias e licófitas no estado de Sergipe, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Brazil has one of the greatest diversity of ferns and lycophytes in the world, especially in its humid forests. The knowledge about these plants in the 27 federative units is uneven and can potentially hamper conservation actions aimed at them. In the state of Sergipe, collections of these groups have been sporadic and about 50 species have been cataloged so far, a low number when compared to other states. This study aimed to compile the species of ferns and lycophytes occurring in Sergipe based on herbaria materials and recent samples collected. Therefore, specimens from herbaria were accessed, together with online databases, as well as 13 botanical expeditions were carried out in three areas. Our study recorded of 20 families, 44 genera and 86 species (75 ferns and 11 lycophytes), with eight new records for the state. The most representative families were Pteridaceae (21 spp.), Polypodiaceae (12), Anemiaceae (nine) and Selaginellaceae (eight). The genera Adiantum L. (eight spp.), Anemia Sw. (nine spp.) and Selaginella P.Beauv. (eight spp.) had the highest number of species. The study shows that efforts like these are extremely necessary and may eventually indicate the extent to which the richness of ferns and lycophytes in Sergipe is underestimated, also promoting researches in this area of Botany.

About floristic records of the Mangystau flora

This article presents the geographical novelties of the Mangystau flora discovered during the botanical expedition in 2023. One of the oasis territories of the Mangistau desert is the mountainous and foothill strips of the mountainous Karatau. For the first time, three species of woody plants, Prunus spinosa L., Rosa iliensis Chrshan, Armeniaca vulgaris L. from the family Rosaceae Juss, were found in the gorges of Kogez, Akmysh, Samal of the Mountain Karatau in the valleys of streams and along the slopes of the mountains. Thickets of bushes Prunus spinosa L. and endemic species of South Kazakhstan Rosa iliensis Chrshan occupy an area from 100 to 200 m2, and there are several single specimens of a rare and endemic species with a decreasing range of Armeniaca vulgaris L several specimens. All species are in good condition, plants have a high vitality, and no signs of damage were noted. Prunus spinosa and Rosa iliensis also showed abundant flowering and fruiting.

Short Communication: Rediscovery of the Zamboanga peninsula endemic Boesenbergia longipetiolata (Ridl.) Merr. (Zingiberaceae) after a lapse of over a century, including an amended description and an updated distribution

Abstract. Yongco JE, Amparado OA, Naive MAK. 2023. Short Communication: Rediscovery of the Zamboanga peninsula endemic Boesenbergia longipetiolata (Ridl.) Merr. (Zingiberaceae) after over a century, including an amended description and an updated distribution. Biodiversitas 24: 6305-6309. Zamboanga Peninsula is one of the important sites for biodiversity studies in the Philippines. Despite that, there have been limited attempts for field explorations focusing on the floral diversity and plant inventories in the region, resulting in the scarcity of floristic data and has left many of its plant species, including their status, unknown. Included is Boesenbergia longipetiolata, a poorly known plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, endemic to the Zamboanga Peninsula, Western Mindanao, Philippines and considered a long-lost species as its existence had not been reported since it was first collected in 1909. A meticulous examination of a specimen collected from a recent botanical exploration conducted in Mount Timolan Protected Landscape of Zamboanga Peninsula in July 2022 revealed the rediscovery of B. longipetiolata after a lapse of over a century. This species is unique among all other Philippine endemic Boesenbergia species by having a very long petiole and is closely similar to the Malay Peninsula endemic B. longipes but differs significantly by having lower stature, narrowly ovate to lanceolate lamina, a longer calyx and a slender corolla tube. In this study, an amended taxonomic description, including information on its geographical distribution and habitat, and a proposed conservation status are provided.

The mangal flora diversity of Del Carmen Forest on Siargao Island, Philippines

The municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Island, hosts one of the Philippines’ most important contiguous mangrove stands. However, there is limited knowledge about the area’s floral assemblages and communities. Hence, we provide a comprehensive species list through exhaustive botanical explorations within its 11 barangays. We report 166 species in 145 genera and 73 families, of which 20 are true mangrove species. Twenty species are Philippine endemics, and seven are threatened based on the IUCN listing. The most dominant families in the area in terms of density are Rhizophoraceae and Rubiaceae, and the dominating species include Rhizophora mucronata Lam. and R. apiculata Blume. Our results exhibit a very high diversity for the entire municipality, with barangays Del Carmen and Katipunan demonstrating the highest diversity among the 11 barangays. We emphasize the value of floristic surveys as essential baseline information in formulating effective conservation and management strategies for these vital wetland ecosystems.