Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2024 | 16(1): 24469–24484
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8622.16.1.24469-24484
#8622 | Received 02 July 2023 | Final received 13 November 2023 | Finally
accepted 20 December 2023
The genus Holigarna
Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. (Anacardiaceae) in the central Western Ghats, Karnataka,
India
Kumbar Mudakappa
Manjunath 1, H.S. Shashwathi 2,
H.M. Rakshitha Jain 3 &
Y.L. Krishnamurthy 4
1–4 Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577451, India.
1 kmanjunathm1@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 shashwathihs1996@gmail.com, 3 rakshithahm1@gmail.com,
4 murthy_ylk@yahoo.co.in
Editor: W. Arisdason,
Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore, India. Date of publication: 26 January
2024 (online & print)
Citation:
Manjunath, K.M., H.S. Shashwathi, H.M.R. Jain &
Y.L. Krishnamurthy (2024). The genus Holigarna
Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. (Anacardiaceae) in the central Western Ghats, Karnataka,
India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(1): 24469–24484. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8622.16.1.24469-24484
Copyright: © Manjunath et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. JoTT
allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any
medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of
publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Kumbar Mudakappa Manjunath is a
researcher in the Department of Applied Botany Kuvempu University Karnataka, and H.S. Shashwathi is a research scholar in the Department of Applied Botany Kuvempu University, Karnataka. H.M. Rakshitha Jain is a
research scholar in the Department of Applied Botany Kuvempu University, Karnataka. Dr.
Y.L. Krishnamurthy is a senior professor in the Department of Applied Botany at Kuvempu University, Karnataka India.
Author contributions: KMM conceptualized the idea, data collection, and drafting of the manuscript. HSS contributed to data collection and analyses. HMR helped in the field survey and analyses. YLK contributed to data analyses and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements: The authors thankfully
acknowledge the Research supervisor Dr. Y. L.
Krishnamurthy Department of Applied Botany Kuvempu
University, Karnataka India. The authors would like to acknowledge Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India for the facilities
provided. The authors are also grateful to the Karnataka Forest Department for
their support during the sample collection. As would like to acknowledge the
reviewers and the editor for the critical comments and suggestions for
transforming the manuscript into the present form.
Abstract: The article deals with the
taxonomy of the genus Holigarna found in the
Western Ghats of Karnataka. Five species of Holigarna
have been reported from the Western Ghats of Karnataka. The study
includes—field surveys, herbarium examinations, and literature references
provided the information on endemism, correct names, a short description,
flowering & fruiting period, distribution, and illustrations &
photographs of all the five species of the genus Holigarna.
This information will be helpful in the identification of Holigarna
species in the field.
Keywords: Field survey, herbarium
examinations, Holigarna arnottiana,
H. beddomei, H. ferruginea,
H. grahamii, H. nigra,
morphology, taxonomy.
INTRODUCTION
The
Anacardiaceae family encompasses approximately 950
species spread across 82 genera worldwide (Mabberley
2017). In India, this family is represented by 67 species, two subspecies, and
two varieties, alongside four cultivated species within 23 genera (Chandra
& Mukherjee 2000; Pramanick et al. 2020). Due to
the extensive diversity and complexity of identifying species, the taxonomy of Anacardiaceae is not well understood. Holigarna,
a polygamous evergreen genus, characterized by tall trees with acrid juice has
seven species (H. arnottiana Hook.f., H. beddomei Hook.f., H. ferruginea
Marchand, H. grahamii (Wight) Kurz, H. kurzii King, H.
longifolia Buch.-Ham. ex
Roxb., and H. nigra Bourd.) in India. Of these, H. kurzii
and H. longifolia are the only ones not
endemic to the country (Chandra & Mukherjee 2000). Five species (H. arnottiana, H. beddomei,
H. ferruginea, H. grahamii,
and H. nigra) are reported from the central
Western Ghats of Karnataka (Gamble 1918; Saldanha 1984; Chandra & Mukherjee
2000).
In Karnataka, these Holigarna species are primarily found in evergreen
and semi-evergreen forests, with only a few in moist deciduous forests. The
polygamous nature of Holigarna poses
challenges in collecting and identifying species, notably due to insufficient
information on flowering and fruiting seasons and the limited availability of
detailed morphological characters in the literature. Consequently, the present
study aims to comprehensively document the taxonomy and morphological features
of the Holigarna genus in the central Western
Ghats, Karnataka.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
The study was conducted in Uttara
Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and
Kodagu districts (Figure 1), known for their rich variety of plant and animal
species. Field surveys took place from 2019 to 2022, covering moist deciduous,
semi-evergreen, and evergreen forests across the central Western Ghats. The
surveys included all altitudinal ranges to investigate the genus Holigarna.
This was supported by an
extensive literature review and an examination of herbarium specimens deposited
at the herbarium JCB Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of
Science, Bengaluru. The identity of collected specimens of Holigarna
species was determined by referring to regional Floras (Gamble 1918;
Saldanha 1996) and also cross-referenced with the images of type specimens
available online at the Kew Herbarium Catalogue (http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do).
Leaves of five species of Holigarna have been
dried, mounted on the herbarium sheets, and deposited in the herbarium of the
Department of Applied Botany at Kuvempu University,
Karnataka.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Structural account of genus Holigarna.
In certain parts of the central
Western Ghats, 10 sampling sites were explored to study the distribution and
morphology of Holigarna species. The study
identified five different species—H. arnottiana
Wall. ex Hook.f., H. beddomei
ex Hook.f., H. ferruginea
Marchand, H. grahamii (Wight) Kurz, and H. nigra Bourd.—across
these sites. Among them, H. arnottiana, H. grahamii, and H. ferruginea
are widespread, while H. nigra and H. beddomei are less common in the central Western Ghats.
The research highlighted that H. arnottiana
and H. grahamii dominate in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, and Uttara Kannada
districts, followed by H. ferruginea. Of the
seven Holigarna species in India, five are
found in the Western Ghats of Karnataka (Image 1). Leaf herbarium specimens
were prepared and deposited at the Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, for future reference (Table 1, Image
2).
Color and texture of bark
The bark in Holigarna
species is usually greenish-grey to brown, and the inner bark is white and
occasionally light pink. The stems and twigs produce a white or cream-coloured exudate which turns black after drying. The bark
is rough in H. arnottiana and H. grahamii, whereas H. beddomei,
H. ferruginea and H.nigra have smooth bark (Image 3).
Taxonomy of the genus Holigarna
Lofty trees, polygamous. Leaves
are simple and alternate, usually in clusters near the branch apex, entire;
petioles with spur-like deciduous or persistent appendages near leaf bases.
Inflorescences panicles, axillary and terminal. Flowers both bisexual and male,
bracteate, perigynous. Calyx cupular,
5-lobed; lobes imbricate. Petals 5, valvate, villous on the inner surface.
Stamens 5. Disk cupular, 5-lobed. Carpels 3–5, syncarpous; ovary inferior, 1-loculed; ovule 1; styles
terminal, 3–5; stigma clavate. Drupes wholly or partly enclosed within obconic
and turbinate hypocarp, resinous, acrid.
Habitat and
Distribution: Moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen forests of the
Western Ghats (Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara
Kannada, Hassan, and Kodagu districts)
Vernacular
names: English: Junglemarking Nut, Black Varnish
Tree, Kannada: Sanna Holegara,
Holigeru, Tamil: Kattu-cheru,
Karuncheru, Malayalam: Cheru,
Naicheru.
Flowering:
November–December; Fruiting: January–June.
Some
important diagnostic characteristics features of documented Holigarna
species were tabulated in Table 2.
Morphology of Flowers and Fruits
The basic
inflorescence type is a panicle (Image 4), sometimes racemes. Flowers are
small, polygamous, pentamerous, and perigynous, with
a cup-shaped accrescent calyx and five valvate petals, inserted on the edges of
the disk. Stamens 5, inserted on the edges of the disk, densely villous inside
the disk along the calyx tube. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; ovule 1, subapical;
styles 3, divergent; stigma capitate. Female flowers show self-incompatibility
(Figure 2). Fruits of resinous, pungent, compressed ovoid drupes, partially or
entirely hypocarpic (Image 5).
Taxonomic treatment
of genus Holigarna
1. Holigarna
arnottiana Wall. ex Hook.f.
Fl. Brit. India 2: 36. 1876; T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 1: 279. 1902; Gamble,
Fl. Madras: 268. 1918; C.J. Saldanha, Fl. Karnataka 2: 204. 1996; Sasidh., Biodivers. Doc. Kerala
6: Fl. Pl.: 111. 2004; K.G. Bhat, Fl. South Kanara: 514. 2014. H. longifolia Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient.: 169. 1834; Bedd.,
Fl. Sylv. S. India: t. 107. 1871.
A large tree with black caustic juice; branches glabrous. Leaves obovate
to oblanceolate, acute at apex, glabrous beneath, c. 23 × 9 cm; lateral veins
14–20 pairs; petioles up to 1.5 cm long with a pair of spurs. Panicles with
golden brown pubescence, 12–18 cm long. Flowers are yellowish-green,
pentamerous, perigynous, and densely villous inside
the disk. Corolla green; anthers red. Drupes are obliquely ovoid, c. 2.5 cm long, light brownish, completely
enclosed in the hypocarp, and black when ripe.
Habitat and Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats. Frequent in the
semi-evergreen forests (Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru,
Uttara Kannada, Hassan, and Kodagu districts).
Vernacular names: English: Jungle Marking Nut, Black Varnish Tree;
Kannada: Sanna Holegara, Holigeru; Malayalam: Cheru, Naicheru; Tamil: Kattu-cheru, Karuncheru.
Photographs:
Image 6; Illustration: Figure 3.
Flowering:
November–December; Fruiting: January–May.
2. Holigarna
beddomei Hook.f.
Fl. Brit. India 2: 38. 1876;
Gamble, Fl. Madras: 269. 1918; Sasidh., Biodivers. Doc. Kerala 6: Fl. Pl.: 111. 2004.
Large tree
with acrid juice. Leaves simple, alternate, clustered at the tip of branches,
oblanceolate, immediately widened just above the middle, apex acuminate, base
cuneate, margins entire, ciliate pubescent, up to 35 × 18 cm, pubescent
beneath; petioles 1–2 cm long, villous, with a pair of slender, hirsute,
and prominent spurs; midvein ciliate on the upper surface; lateral veins
20–30 pairs, parallel, prominent. Flowers polygamous, pentamerous. Petals
5, united at their bases, villous inside, white; a disk lines the tube of the
calyx. Stamens 5, inserted outside the disk; anthers
oblong-cordiform, versatile. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; styles 3, divergent;
stigma capitate. Drupes are obliquely ovoid and 2–3 cm long.
Distribution:
Endemic to the Western Ghats. Frequent in evergreen forests (Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, and Kodagu districts).
Vernacular
Names: Kannada: Chere; Tamil: Pal vadinjan, Pal vidinyan.
Photographs:
Image 7; Illustration: Figure 4.
Flowering:
February–March; Fruiting: April–June.
3. Holigarna
ferruginea Marchand
Rev. Anacardiac.: 171. 1869; Bedd.,
Fl. Sylv. S. India: t. 107. 1871; Hook.f.,
Fl. Brit. India 2: 36. 1876; Gamble, Fl. Madras: 268. 1918; C.J. Saldanha, Fl.
Karnataka 2: 205. 1996; Sasidh., Biodivers.
Doc. Kerala 6: Fl. Pl.: 111. 2004; K.G. Bhat, Fl. South Kanara: 514. 2014.
A
medium-sized tree with black caustic juice; branches glabrous. Leaves up to 18
× 9 cm, obovate, subacute at apex, glabrous beneath; lateral veins 10–14 pairs;
petioles c. 1.5 cm long, with a pair of deciduous spurs. Panicles are
16–20 cm long, with dark brown pubescence. Flowers whitish. Calyx ferruginous-tomentose outside. Petals 5, cohering at the base and with
the edges of the disk, are thickly villous inside. Stamens 5. Ovary inferior,
1-celled; styles 3, divergent; stigma capitates. Drupes ellipsoid, dark brown,
turning black when ripe.
Distribution:
Endemic to the Western Ghats. Frequently in the semi-evergreen forests (Hassan,
Kodagu, Shivamogga, and Uttara Kannada districts).
Vernacular
Names: Kannada: Chara; Tamil: Charei.
Photographs:
Image 8; Illustration: Figure 5.
Flowering:
January–February; Fruiting: March–May.
4. Holigarna grahamii (Wight) Kurz
Hook.f., Fl. Brit.
India 2: 36. 1876; T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 1: 282. 1902; Gamble, Fl. Madras: 268.
1918; C.J. Saldanha, Fl. Karnataka 2: 205. 1996; Sasidh.,
Biodivers. Doc. Kerala 6: Fl. Pl.: 112. 2004; K.G.
Bhat, Fl. South Kanara: 514. 2014. Semecarpus grahamii
Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 1(12): t. 235. 1839; Bedd.,
Fl. Sylv. S. India: t. 107. 1871.
A big tree with tomentose juvenile branches.
Leaves simple, alternate, clustered at the tips of branchlets, estipulate,
obovate to oblanceolate, base cuneate, apex acute; lateral veins 22–30 pairs,
parallel, prominent; intercostae reticulate,
prominent; petioles stout, 2–4 cm long, with 2 pairs of typical persistent
spurs, brown-tomentose. Panicles 20–35 cm long,
brown-pubescent. Petals 5, white, placed outside the disk and adhering to base
and margins, villous inside. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; styles often divergent;
stigma capitate. Drupes ovoid, 2–3 cm long, yellowish or reddish-purple.
Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats. Frequent in the moist
deciduous and evergreen forests of Western Ghats (Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada,
Hassan, Kodagu, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts).
Vernacular Names: Kannada: Doddele Holagara; Malayalam: Anacheru, Valia cheru; Marathi: Balwuli, Bipte.
Photographs: Image 9; Illustration: Figure 6.
Flowering: November–December; Fruiting: January–March.
5. Holigarna nigra Bourd.
Indian Forester 30: 95. 1904; Gamble, Fl. Madras: 268. 1918; C.J. Saldanha, Fl. Karnataka 2: 205. 1996; Sasidh., Biodivers. Doc. Kerala 6: Fl. Pl.: 112. 2004.
A large tree with black caustic exudate; branches glabrous. Leaves
simple, alternate, spathulate, base cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse,
sometimes retuse, glabrous; lateral veins 6–10 pairs,
parallel, prominent, intercostae reticulate; petioles
1.5–2.5 cm long, with pair of deciduous spurs. Inflorescences racemose
panicles, 8–10 cm long, terminal and axillary, dark purple-brown tomentose. Flowers are polygamous and white. Calyx is cupular and villous. Petals 5. Stamens 5; filaments white.
Ovary inferior, 1-celled; styles 3; stigma capitates. Drupes obovoid, 1–2 cm
long.
Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats. Frequent in the evergreen
forests (Uttara Kannada and Kodagu districts).
Vernacular Names: Kannada: Cheru geru; Malayalam: Cheru.
Photographs: Image 10; Illustration: Figure 7.
Flowering: February–March; Fruiting: April–June.
Conclusion
The present
study reports the distribution of five species of Holigarna
in the central Western Ghats, Karnataka along with distinguished
morphological features of every species with illustrations, photographs,
significant key characters, and flowering and fruiting season, which will be
helpful in the identification of Holigarna species
in the field.
Table 1. Five species of
Holigarna were collected from Karnataka with
collection ID and herbarium accession numbers.
|
Name of the species |
Collection ID |
Herbarium accession no. |
|
Holigarna arnottiana Wall. ex Hook.f. |
HAKU-01 |
KUAB478 |
|
Holigarna beddomei Hook.f. |
HBKU-05 |
KUAB482 |
|
Holigarna ferruginea Marchand |
HFKU-02 |
KUAB479 |
|
Holigarna grahamii (Wight) Kurz |
HGKU-03 |
KUAB480 |
|
Holigarna nigra Bourd. |
HNKU-04 |
KUAB481 |
Table 2. Important
diagnostic characteristics and features of the genus Holigarna.
|
Characters |
Holigarna arnottiana |
Holigarna ferruginea |
Holigarna nigra |
Holigarna grahamii |
Holigarna beddomei |
|
Habit |
Medium-sized, multiple branching |
Large-sized, multiple branching |
Medium-sized, multiple branching |
Large-sized, simple branching |
Large-sized, simple branching |
|
Leaf shape |
Obovate to Oblanceolate |
Obovate |
Spathulate |
Obovate to Oblanceolate |
Oblanceolate, immediately
widened just above the middle |
|
Leaf tip |
Acute |
Acuminate |
Obtuse |
Acute |
Acuminate |
|
Leaf base |
Cuneate or Attenuate |
Cuneate |
Cuneate |
Cuneate |
Cuneate |
|
Lateral Nerves |
14–20 pairs |
10–14 pairs |
6–10 pairs |
22–30 pairs |
20–30 pairs |
|
Spurs |
Single pair, deciduous |
Single pair, deciduous |
Single pair, deciduous |
Two pairs, of stout |
Single pair, slender, hirsute |
|
Panicle |
12–18 cm long, with
golden-brown pubescence |
16–20 cm long, with dark brown
pubescence |
8–10 cm long, dark
purple-brown- tomentose |
20–35 cm long, with brown
pubescence |
20–35 cm long, with
golden-brown pubescence |
|
Flower |
Yellowish-green |
White |
Greenish-white |
White |
White |
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