Chrysopogon velutinus (Hook f.) Bor (1960: 119)

Landge, Shahid Nawaz & Shinde, Rajendra D., 2023, On the identity and distribution of Chrysopogon velutinus (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) and its taxonomic comparison with allied species in India, Phytotaxa 612 (1), pp. 46-56 : 47-54

Chrysopogon velutinus (Hook f.) Bor (1960: 119) ( Fig. 2 )

Basionym: — Andropogon velutinus Hook f. (1896: 194) .

Lectotype (hic designatus): — INDIA “Peninsula Ind. Orientalis”. Andhra Pradesh state, Cuddapah district , R. Wight n. 2314 ( K barcode K000245643 [digital image!], available at http://specimens.kew.org/herbarium/ K000245643 ; isolectotype: Ibid (E barcode E00393724 [digital image!], available at https://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00393724.

Typification Note: — Hooker (1897) described Chrysopogon velutinus (≡ Andropogon velutinus ) based on specimens from Wight’s Herbarium. He mentioned the designation ‘ Andropogon velutinus Arnott , in Herb. Wight n. 2314,’ most probably collected from the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh by Robert Wight. Additionally, he loosely mentioned another locality, Mysore (in present-day Karnataka).

We were able to locate two of Wight’s specimens corresponding to the collection number ‘n. 2314’ at the K (K000245643) and E (E00393724) herbaria. These specimens were collected from the Cuddapah district (Kadapa district). The specimen at K is accompanied by supportive illustrations of the spikelet parts, aiding in identification. It is a complete plant specimen exhibiting all the necessary morphological characters for accurate species identification. On the other hand, the material at E consists of a single complete specimen and a couple of fragments, but it does not have any accompanying illustrations.

Since these specimens are duplicates from which neither Hooker indicated a holotype, nor any subsequent researcher designated a lectotype, they are considered syntypes according to Art 9.6 ( Turland et al. 2018). We have selected the specimen at K as the lectotype for the name Andropogon velutinus , and its duplicate at E is considered an isolectotype.

Ramakrishna et al. (2022) indicated the specimen at K to be a holotype . However, there is no holotype of this species as Hooker f. (1896) did not indicate any specimen to be a holotype.

Flowering & fruiting: — November–January.

Distribution: — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states in Peninsular India. Hitherto, it is endemic to Peninsular India.

Threat Status: — According to Rao et al. (2003) Chrysopogon velutinus is observed as an Endangered (EN) species but to which category of threat it belongs is still not clear because of lack of information on population size, decline or disappearance. Thus, it was treated as ‘Indeterminate (I)’ in their assessment.

Specimens Examined ( Chrysopogon velutinus ): — INDIA. Andhra Pradesh, Gooty fort hill, Anantapur district , 23 December 2019, Shahid Nawaz Landge s.n. ( BLAT) . Katam, Chillavaripalli [Challavaripalli], Anantapur district , 339 m, 4 October 2016, J. Swamy & S. Nagaraju 007977 ( BSID) [ BSID0014698 ] . Gandikota hill, Cuddapah [Kadapa] district, September 2022, Shahid Nawaz Landge s.n. ( BLAT) . Karnataka, in open scrub hills near Sambra, Belgaum district , 750 m, 26 October 1978, Saldanah & Prakash KFP 3539 ( JCB) . Ukkad, Belgaum district [Belagavi district], s.d., SDM 29943 ( BSI) [ BSI0000065643 ] . Ibid , s.d., SDM 24997 ( BSI) [ BSI0000065642 ] . Molakalmuru, Chitradurga district , 6 November 1975, N. P. Singh 141436 ( BSI) 2 preparations. Maharashtra, Agashiva Hill, Karad, Satara district , 25 October 2005, Potdar 2301 ( SUK) 7 preparations.

Habitats: — It is typically found in rocky crevices and potholes on rock outcrops, scree slopes, old walls, and dry stony soil. In the Gandikota and Gooty fort hills, it is often associated with sandstone and quartzite rocks ( Fig. 1 ).

Key to the closely allied species to Chrysopogon velutinus

1. Habit of the plant wiry and straggling; basal sheaths characteristically silky white or with spreading creamish cottony indumentum................................................................................... C. aucheri (predominantly a desert species in North West India)

1. Habit of the plant erect; basal sheaths glabrous at the most, puberulous but devoid of silky white or spreading creamish indumentum.......................................................................................................................................................2 (non desert species)

2. Upper glume of the sessile spikelet glabrous .....................................................................................................................................3

3. Pedicel almost half as long as the sessile spikelet.............................................................................................................. C. hackelii

3. Pedicel consistently shorter than half as long as the sessile spikelet ............................................................................. C. serrulatus

2. Upper glume of the sessile spikelet pectinate-ciliate (indumentum variable in colour from Brownish, Reddish Brown to Yellowish Brown)................................................................................................................................................................................................4

4. Whole plant is puberulous; keel of the leaf sheath prominently ridged as if minutely winged, densely hispid (with unidirectional bulbous based trichomes) throughout the length; leaf blade broad and open, apex always acuminate; pedicelled spikelet always ex-aristate, and its lower glume with 2–3 rows of distinct brownish hairs ...................................................................... C. velutinus

4. Whole plant is by and large glabrous; sheath terete, if at all keeled then glabrous; leaf blade mostly narrow and conduplicated, apex blunt to acuminate; pedicelled spikelets usually distinctly aristate (sometimes ex-aristate), lower glume glabrous to densely pubescent throughout but never with distinct rows................................................................................................ C. fulvus complex

Identification of Chrysopogon velutinus

Bor (1960) used puberulous leaves as a distinguishing character between Chrysopogon velutinus and C. aucheri Stapf (1907: 211) . He differentiated the former from the latter by stating, “Basal sheaths villous, compressed, keeled; peduncle glabrous below the panicle.” However, there is doubt regarding this key. The basal sheaths of C. velutinus are compressed and keeled, but they are never villous, and the peduncle is not glabrous. The character of the villous sheath is more applicable to C. aucheri , but even in that species, the sheaths can be both terete and compressed (at least the lowest ones). The complete plant of C. velutinus is velvety pubescent ( Fig. 3 ). Chrysopogon aucheri has a distinct habit and is primarily a desert species found in North-West India, which should not be confused with C. velutinus in South India.

At the BSI herbarium, four specimens of Chrysopogon velutinus were found, all from the state of Karnataka. Two (SDM 29943 & SDM 24997) were previously identified as C. montanus Trin. [synonym of C. fulvus ], and the remaining two (N. P. Singh 141436) were identified as C. hackeli i (Hook f. 1896: 194) C. E. C. Fischer (1935: 1739). It is highly likely that these specimens were misidentified as either species. The best way to differentiate Chrysopogon velutinus from other closely allied species is by the presence of two or three rows of brownish hairs on the lower glume of the muticous pedicelled spikelet, as well as the overall pubescence or velvety texture of all plant parts.

In Chrysopogon velutinus , the pedicelled spikelets are characteristically ex-aristate, with very small pedicels (less than half the length of the sessile spikelet), while the sessile spikelets are slightly longer than the pedicelled ones. The nerves on the lower glume of the pedicelled spikelet are sometimes distinctly ribbed and scabrous with processes, otherwise not ribbed but minutely scabrid ( Fig. 3 ). The character of the laterally compressed sheaths is highly unique, with the keel of the sheath appearing like a distinct ridge on which trichome-like hairs are positioned, best observed in young sheaths ( Fig. 3 ). It is possible for it to be mistaken for forms of C. fulvus in which pedicelled spikelets are ex-aristate, but they can be distinguished as mentioned in the key.

A brief note on the Chrysopogon fulvus complex and its affinities with allied species

The character of distichous leaves shows high flexibility among species in the genus Chrysopogon . We have observed that species found in drier habitats tend to have shorter internodes along the culms and shorter leaves densely arranged in a plume-like fashion, following a distichous pattern. The first author collected intriguing materials of Chrysopogon from Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh ( Fig. 4 ). The vegetative features of these specimens closely resemble those of an Afro-Arabian taxon, C. aucheri var. quinueplumis Stapf [sensu lato C. plumulosus Hochst. ], but they exhibit floral features of C. fulvus . In this form, the leaves are numerous, variable in color from purplish to reddish and green. They are short and densely clustered; resembling feathers on a plume, followed by distinct interruptions of wiry and slender culms fastigiately branched. Branches are laterally compressed; sheaths are laterally compressed, glabrous, or ciliate with bulbous-based trichomes. Blades conduplicate, apices blunt, margin with bulbous-based trichomes towards the base. Inflorescence is short, measuring 3 to 5 cm long, purplish, or yellowish. The sessile spikelet is 5 mm (including the callus), and anthers of the upper floret are approximately 2 mm. Interestingly, in some subsets of the population of this plant, stolons are evident and also branching from the lower nodes on the culms. Chrysopogon plumulosus can be distinguished from C. fulvus primarily by the length of the pedicel in relation to the sessile spikelet. In C. plumulosus , the pedicel of the pedicelled spikelet is more than half the length of the sessile spikelet and keel of the upper glume of the sessile spikelet is glabrous. Conversely, in C. fulvus , the pedicel of the pedicelled spikelet is notably short in all the variable forms, practically less than half the length of the sessile spikelet and keel of the upper glume of the sessile spikelet characteristically penicillate hairy.

Chrysopogon quinqueplumis Hochst. ex A. Rich is a species with a complex taxonomic history that has bewildered even prominent agrostologists since Hackel. Stapf (1907) treated it as a variety under C. aucheri Stapf (1907: 211) due to many shared similarities, most importantly the villous basal sheath and keel of the upper glume of the sessile spikelet glabrous. Based on one of the implied collections from British Somaliland, which he called the forms of this species, he described a new variety, pulvinatus, closely related to var. quinqueplumis in 1917. This particular variety has very short, densely clumped leaves forming a cushion-like structure on slender culms rising up from the ground. Furthermore, he mentioned that C. aucheri comprises several geographical races. The two varieties he discussed are inseparable from each other and are part of the complex species C. plumulosus .

In Chrysopogon fulvus , as a whole, the leaves exhibit high variability, ranging from short, narrow, and conduplicate with blunt apices to long, wide, and open with acuminate apices. The basal sheath also varies from strongly distichous, broad, and slipping-off (vernicose when dry) to distichous, narrow, tightly clasping, and not vernicose.The inflorescence can vary in length from 3.0 to 16 cm, and the spikelets typically range in size from 4.0 to 7.0 mm. Spikelets may be glabrous or densely pubescent, showing intermediate forms as well. The pedicelled spikelets can be ex-aristate or aristate. The size of the panicle and the color of the spikelets vary widely, ranging from creamish and golden-yellowish to purple.

It is rare to find slender, branched hypogeal culms with rudimentary leaves in certain forms of C. fulvus that originate from areas with dried sandy soil or rocky habitats in Andhra Pradesh, resembling C. plumulosus sensu lato ( Fig. 4 ). A similar case was discussed by Stapf (1917) for C. plumulosus . The wide range of trait flexibility observed has led us to recognize C. fulvus as a taxonomic complex. The recently described C. shrirangii Tarbej, Pooja & Potdar (2020: 1) is also part of this complex superficially resembling our collected specimen ( Fig. 4 ) but with more narrow blades. However, taxonomic distinction of this micro-species from C. fulvus s.l. is highly dubious due to the variable features used to differentiate it.

Chrysopogon aucheri , a grass species known from drier regions of North Africa, Arabia, Pakistan, and North-West India, serves as a good example of a desert grass habit. A specimen from Sindh, Pakistan “ W. N. Koelz 7635” housed at the US herbarium under the name of C. velutinus is actually a good match for C. aucheri . It is a densely tufted perennial grass with the basal sheaths being villous. Chrysopogon velutinus is endemic to Peninsular India, it does not occur in Pakistan or elsewhere.

Chrysopogon polyphyllus Blatter & McCann (1928: 416) also exhibits distichous leaves, but in this case, the trait is more prominent, with culms and sheaths distinctly terete (only slightly compressed, especially at the base), and the sheaths strongly overlapping. The inflorescence of C. polyphyllus is somewhat dense and pale-yellowish in colour exhibiting short branches.

We are preparing to discuss in detail the taxonomic complex of Chrysopogon fulvus in a separate article. It aims to provide a detailed explanation on all character variability of all the possible forms of C. fulvus found in India. Currently, the work is underway.

Distribution of Chrysopogon velutinus in India

This grass species was initially described from the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. It is typically found in dry habitats associated with sandstone and quartzite rocky substrates. Besides the type locality, it has been reported from the neighboring states of Karnataka (Lakshminarasimhan et al. 2019), Maharashtra ( Potdar et al. 2012) and recently from Telangana ( Ramakrishna et al. 2022). It was not reported by ( Cooke 1908, Blatter & McCann 1935, Bor 1960, Salunkhe 1995, & Lakshminarasimhan et al. 1996) in Maharashtra. Thus far, all known reports of this species are from Peninsular India.

According to Sajeev et al. (1998), Chrysopogon velutinus was reported for the first time outside its type locality from Churulippetti, Idukki district in Kerala, based on the specimen “ KKS 1654 ” likely deposited at the KFRI herbarium. Later, Sasidharan (1999), in his study on the flora of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, included C. velutinus based on the same specimen citation used by Sajeev et al. (1998). The former author provided a short description of this particular cited specimen in which certain key characters were highlighted as “Perennial... leaves 20 × 0.2 cm ... sheath rounded.” However, C. velutinus sensu Hook f. is an annual plant with broad leaves and a characteristically keeled sheath ( Figs. 2 & 3 ). The characteristics of the specimen “ KKS 1654 ” are in clear disobedience with the original circumscription of the species. Thus, it is not C. velutinus . The occurrence of C. velutinus in Kerala is dubious and we excluded it from distribution in ( Fig. 5 ).

Kellogg et al. (2020) that include doubtful occurrence of many grass species included Chrysopogon velutinus from Kerala, probably based on Sajeev et al. (1998). Dileep (2016) in his treatment of the tribe Andropogoneae did not report the presence of this species in the Western Ghats of South India, which includes Kerala. After consulting the concerned authorities of CALI herbarium in Kerala, no specimen of Chrysopogon velutinus was found to be present from Kerala state. Dileep (2016) overlooked the presence of this species in the Western Ghats of Karnataka where it has been reported by other authors. Hitherto, this species has not been reported from the state of Tamil Nadu (Kabir & Nair 2008).

It is worth noting that certain forms of C. fulvus , where the leaf sheath is strongly laterally compressed, may be mistaken for C. velutinus in herbaria and in the field. But, the latter can be easily distinguished, even in vegetative state, by its characteristically softly pubescent leaves.

Note: The dots given do not represent a complete range of distribution of Chrysopogon velutinus within the states in India. It is rather limited to the specimens housed in the consulted herbaria and personal field collections of the authors. The distribution within states could be more comprehensive than it is reflected here.

We have personally studied confirmed materials of C. velutinus from four states in Peninsular India, namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at BLAT, BSI, JCB, SUK and TBGH herbaria ( Fig. 5 ). There are no specimens of this species present at the BSI herbarium from the state of Maharashtra. We have traced seven specimens belonging to this species present at SUK herbarium from Maharashtra. The presence of this species in Kerala is uncertain.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Varying habitats of Chrysopogon velutinus in Andhra Pradesh, South India. A. Vertical quartzite rock face in Gandikota Hill. B. Rock crevices and pot holes. C. Scree slope near Penna River. D. Dilapidated walls of Gooty fort. (Photography by: Mr. Shahid Nawaz & Mr. Levis).

FIGURE 2. Lectotype of Chrysopogon velutinus (Hook f.) Bor. (© The Board of Trustees of the RBG, Kew).

FIGURE 3. Morphological characters of Chrysopogon velutinus. A. Habit. B. Basal portion. C. Inflorescence. D. Spiciform-raceme. E. Spikelet with nerves not ribbed: E1. Pedicelled spikelet showing the lower glume. E2. Pedicelled spikelet showing the upper glume. E3. Lateral view of the sessile spikelet. E4. Lower glume of the pedicelled spikelet (two rows of hairs). E5. Lower glume of the pedicelled spikelet (three rows of hairs). F. Pedicelled spikelet with nerves ribbed. G. Velvety pubescence on the culm and node. H. Young keeled-sheath with distinct processes on the ridge. I. Old keeled-sheath with weak processes on the ridge. (Based on Shahid Nawaz Landge s.n. at BLAT & N. P. Singh 141436 at BSI). (Photography by: Mr. Shahid Nawaz)

FIGURE 4. A form of Chrysopogon fulvus from Andhra Pradesh, South India. A. Habit. B. Branched hypogeal culms with interrupted leaf clumps. C. Laterally compressed distichous leaves. D. Inflorescence. (Photography by: Mr. Shahid Nawaz).

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Chrysopogon velutinus (Hook f.) Bor in India. (Abbreviations: AP: Andhra Pradesh state; K: Karnataka state; MH: Maharashtra state; T: Telangana state).