Ophiorrhiza mungos Linnaeus (1753: 150)

Hareesh, Vadakkoot Sankaran & Sabu, Mamiyil, 2018, The genus Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India with a new species, Phytotaxa 383 (3), pp. 259-272 : 266

3. Ophiorrhiza mungos Linnaeus (1753: 150) . ( Figure 4 )

Type (Leccto): —Herb. Hermann 3: 50, No. 402 (BM-000594692!)

Erect herbs, up to 1 m tall; stem branched, woody at base, terete, glabrous to puberulous, pale green to dark green; internodes 1–7 cm long. Stipules linear with broadened base, 4–10 mm long, entire, acuminate at apex, pubescent, persistent. Petioles 0.5–6 cm long, slender, glabrous to puberulent, pale green; leaf blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 3–20 × 1–8 cm, acute to acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, margin entire, green, glabrous adaxially, pale, glabrous except the pubescent secondary veins abaxially; secondary veins 10–20 pairs on either side. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, sub-umbellate or corymbose cyme, 2–8 cm in diameter; peduncle up to 8 cm long, slender, glabrous to puberulent; bract and bracteoles absent. Pedicels c. 1 mm long, glabrous to puberulent. Flowers 3–6 mm long, white. Hypanthium obovoid, 0.5–1 × 1.5–1.75 mm; disc c. 0.5 mm tall, glabrous. Calyx lobes subulate, 0.5–1 × c. 0.5 mm, acute at apex, pale green, glabrous to puberulent. Corolla infundibuliform, 3–5 mm long, white, glabrous outside, glabrous inside with a ring of villous hairs in the throat; lobes ovate, 0.5–1 × c. 0.75 mm, triangular to sub-acute, spreading. Stamens 2.75–3.75 mm long, inserted at the base of corolla tube or just above; filaments 2–2.5 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong-linear, 0.75–1.25 mm long, pale yellow; style filiform, 2–3.5 mm long, white, glabrous; style branches 2, ovate, 0.5–1.25 mm long, pale green, papillose. Ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous. Capsule obcordate, 1.5–4 × 3–10 mm long, pale green, glabrous to puberulent; seeds many, angular.

Specimens examined: — India. Nicobar Islands: Car Nicobar , Tiltop near Sawai, 5 m. a.s.l., 26 March 1959, K. Thothathri 9329 ( PBL!) ; Car Nicobar , Arong, 12 August 1973, N. P. Balakrishnan 471 ( PBL!) ; Car Nicobar , Passa, 02 March 1974, N. G. Nair 941 ( PBL!) (Two sheets) ; Katchal Island , West Bay, Pondha, 02 March 1979, M. K. Vasudeva Rao 7491 ( PBL!) ; Katchal Island , Jula, ± 20 m. a.s.l., 21 August 1974, P. Chakraborty 2147 ( PBL!) ; Katchal Island , Coastal forests, 21 April 1974, P. Chakraborty 1119 ( PBL!) ; Katchal Island , Kapanga, 02 November 1976, P. Chakraborty 2147 ( PBL!) ; Katchal Island , near marine jetty, 27 March 1979, M. K. Vasudeva Rao 7411 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , Galathea Bay, 23 March 1966, K. Thothathri & Banerjee 11483 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , Galathea Bay, 23 March 1966, K. Thothathri et al. 11514 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , Kopenheat, 21 July 1976, N. P. Balakrishnan 3925 ( PBL!) ; ibid, 21 July 1976, N. P. Balakrishnan 3926 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , 38 km on North-South road from Campbell Bay, ±50, 27 November 1978, P. Basu 7105 ( PBL!) (Two sheets) ; Great Nicobar Island , Laful, 14 May 1980, P. K. Hore 7587 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , Laful, near water course, 08 July 1981, P. K. Hore 8751 ( PBL!) ; Great Nicobar Island , Kopenheat, 23 September 1980, P. K. Hore 7993 ( PBL!) ; Kamorta Island , near Navy land, 28 May 1977, N. Bhargava 5671 ( PBL!) .

Phenology: —Throughout the year.

Distribution, habitat and ecology: — Ophiorrhiza mungos is distributed in Nepal, Myanmar, Malay, Sumatra and Java, Sri Lanka and India ( Deb & Mondal 1997, Wu 2017). In India, it is recorded in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Karnataka, and Nicobar Islands ( Deb & Mondal 1997). It is the most common species of the genus Ophiorrhiza in the genus in the reorted regions. We could not found any threat of its existence in wild. It usually grows in the moist shady areas of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.

Uses: —This species has great medicinal properties. Root, leaves, bark or whole plant is used for the treatments of various diseases like diarrhea, snake bites, cancer ( Deb & Mondal 1997).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Ophiorrhiza mungos. A. habit (inset stipule). B. single flower. C. corolla. D. split opened corolla showing villous ring and stamen. E. hypanthium with style and stigma. F. infructescence. G. capsule. Photos by V.S. Hareesh.