2008-'09 - Kerala Forest Research Institute

Annual Report 2008-09
Dichomeris sp. - new species
Monopis trigonoleuca- new to India
All India Co-ordinated Project [AICOPTAX] on Taxonomy of bamboos
Field trips were conducted to different parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Sri
Lanka. The required environment parameters such as habitat and ecological details were
recorded during specimen collection from region/locality for each species. About 600
specimens were collected and 500 cibachrome sheets from National & International
Herbaria (CAL, DD, MH, PBL, BSI, BHC, BSD, CALI, K, P, E, BO) including 100
photos of type specimens are maintained in KFRI. In total, 82 species were taxonomically
characterised. Flowers of some of the undescribed species were also described during
the study. Typification and nomenclatural studies have been carried out for several species.
Bambusa nutans
Dendrocalamus giganteus
From Sri Lanka, the distribution of Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha was located
at Hatta, Davidea attenuata at Tunkinde, Ochlandra stridula at Avisanialla. At
Horton Plains, intermixed in the grasslands, there was a heavy population of
Arundinaria densifolia and Arundinaria debilis. Some species known to be exclusive
to Sri Lanka were found distributed in the Indian phytogeographic zones. The
endemic status of certain species of bamboos needs to be re-evaluated.
Kerala Forest Research Institute
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