Antiaris toxicaria ( Moraceae ) – a new distribution record to the Eastern Ghats

Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Shri D.K. Ved, Director, FRLHT, Bangalore for facility and encouragement; authorities of Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states for permission, guidance and facilities during field survey; Dr. D. Narasimhan, Department of Botany, Madras Christian College, Chennai for comments on the manuscript; Mr. Rathnakumar, Department of Botany, Presidency College, Chennai for help in field survey at Pachchaimalais and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi for financial support under ‘Center of Excellence’ project.


Introduction
Herbarium collections were made of a lofty tree from two different locations in the Eastern Ghats during the expedition trips primarily intended for medicinal plants herbarium.The first collection was from Talakona forests in Seshachalam-Palkonda hill range, Andhra Pradesh and the second collection was from Pachchaimalais in Tamil Nadu.The specimens were later identified as Antiaris toxicaria (Pers.)Lesch., belonging to the family Moraceae.In India, this paleotropical species is so far known only from the Western Ghats and Andaman Islands.This is the first report for the Eastern Ghats providing up to date nomenclature, brief description and some notes on its distribution.
Flowering: January to March.Remarks: In India, this species has so far been reported from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andaman islands.The present collections record its presence for the first time in the Eastern Ghats as well as Andhra Pradesh.
Only a single tree was observed in Talakona forest in association with Anogeissus latifolia, Mallotus philippensis, Murraya paniculata and Sterculia urens.The proximity of this tree to a giant Entada pursaetha liane can be a threat to its survival in the future.Population of this species is much better in Pachchaimalais with 12 trees counted in Kannimar solai near Ramanathapuram where moist deciduous vegetation is present.This species is found growing along with Beilschmiedia bourdillonii, Celtis timorensis, Canarium strictum, Mangifera indica, Olea dioica, Schleichera oleosa, Streblus taxoides, Trema orientalis and stragglers like Morinda umbellata, Pisonia aculeata, Jasminum spp., etc.This patch of forest is also a home for a good population of Gnetum ula.It is suggested that this area be declared as a heritage site worth conserving.
None of the published literature (Pullaiah & Moulali 1997;Pullaiah & Rani 1999;Thammanna et al. 1994) on the plant diversity of Andhra Pradesh has reported the occurrence of this species.It is also not recorded by Matthew (1983) who explored the Pachchaimalais.
This species is culturally important from a historical perspective as the bark was used as cloth in ancient times.Botanically it is important that this tree from peninsular India is the tallest of this region.Fischer (1928) concurs with Beddomes statement: The largest tree of South India, attaining 250ft. in height.