Nelumbo Vol.

65(1): (245–251) 2023 ISSN (Print) : 0976-5069

BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
DOI: 10.20324/nelumbo/v65/2023/173083 ISSN (Online) : 2455-376X

Erythrina resupinata Roxb. (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae), a

less-known but a potential ornamental from India and Nepal
*Sanjappa Munivenkatappa1, Dhatchanamoorthy Narayanasamy2, Kumar Dinesh3 & Paneru Dipa4

Mahatma Gandhi Botanical Garden, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru 560 065.
1

2
Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Trans Disciplinary University, # 74/2, Jarakabande
Kaval, Yelahanka, Bengaluru 560 064.
3
Prakriti Farms Nursery, Ghantaghar Mudapar road, Bramhad watika, Chhattisgarh 495677.
4
Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University Kathmandu, Nepal
*Corresponding author: [email protected].

एरीथ्रीना रेसूपिनेटा रॉक्सबर्ग (लेग्मयु िनोसी : पैपिलियोनोइडी), भारत और नेपाल का एक

अल्पज्ञात सं भावित सजावटी पौधा
सं जप्पा मुनिवेंकटप्पा, धत्चनमूर्ति नारायणसामी, कु मार दिनेश व पनेरू दिपा

सारांश
एरीथ्रीना रेसूपिनेटा रॉक्सबर्ग का वर्णन हाल में भारत और नेपाल से किए गए सं ग्रहों के आधार पर किया गया है। यह अपने वं श के भीतर अनोखी प्रवृत्ति वाली एक अल्पज्ञात
प्रजाति है और छिटपुट रूप में पाई जाती है। सीमित क्षेत्र प्रेक्षणों और पादपालय प्रतिरूपों के आंकड़ों के आधार पर, इसकी आईयूसीएन सं रक्षण स्थिति को अस्थायी रूप से
'लुप्तप्राय:' के रूप में मूल्यांकित किया गया है। इसकी बारहमासी मूलस्कं ध से निकलने वाले आकर्षक चमकीले लाल रंग के फू लों के कारण यह प्रजाति सजावटी पौधे के रूप में
लगाने लायक है।

ABSTRACT
Erythrina resupinata Roxb. has been described with recent collections from India and Nepal. It is a little known species
with unique habit within the genus and exhibits sparse distribution. Its IUCN conservation status is provisionally
assessed as ‘Endangered’ based on limited field observations and data from herbarium specimens. This species is worth
domestication as an ornamental for its attractive bright scarlet flowers arising from perennial rootstock.

Keywords: Erythrina resupinata, India, Nepal, ornamental, Endangered

Indian Botanic Garden), Kolkata. The seeds were received

INTRODUCTION from Kanpur (‘Cawnpur’) sent by Col. Hardwick in 1802.
The genus Erythrina, represented by about 123 species, is Although, this species was not recorded from Kanpur area
widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries so far, it is also not known from where did Col. Hardwick
(POWO, 2023). Most species produce bright scarlet collected or obtained the seeds. It was first collected from
flowers and are cultivated as ornamentals. About 9 wild in 1884 by C.B. Clarke from Parasnath hill in the
species are distributed in India from coastal areas to erstwhile Bihar (now a part of Jharkhand). Thereafter, it
subtropical Himalaya and NE India. E. variegata L. is was collected by Duthie’s collectors (Harsukh, Inayat and
widely cultivated both as an ornamental, as a support Sis Ram) in the years 1884, 1898 and 1920 respectively
plant in betel vine cultivation, as live fence, as fodder from Kheri, Bharaich and Gorakhpur districts in Uttar
for cattle and lepidopteron insect larvae, as bird flower Pradesh; in 1950 from Sunabeda and in 1990s from
tree. Erythrina resupinata was described by Roxburgh in Gandhamardan Hills in Odisha. After this, it was not
1811 based on plants cultivated in East India Company collected till summer of 2022. No attempt was ever made
Botanical Garden (Now Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose to domesticate this attractive species as an ornamental.

Submitted : 14.07.2023 Accepted : 20.07.2023 Date of Publication 31.07.2023

Erythrina resupinata Roxb. (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae), a less-known but a potential ornamental from India and Nepal

MATERIAL AND METHODS Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 173. 1891. Type: India, Roxburgh, t.
220, Pl. Coromandel 3(1): 15. 1811 (Lectotype designated
A thorough examination of available literature and by Khuraijam & al., Ann. Bot. Fenn. 58: 276. 2021).
specimens done in different herbaria (BM, BR, BSD, Fig.1-2, Map 1
CAL, and DD), field observations and collections were
made during 2022–23 from Chhattisgarh and Nepal. Verncular names: Bhatgula mandar (Bangla), Barokanda
The flowers turn brittle in herbarium specimens and (Odiya), Bhatjivala, Dhivana, Halle Khanda Nelamogad
are very difficult to work. None of the collections have (Marhi tribal dialect in Bastar area).
fruits. A detail description, photo plates are provided Geoxylic suffrutices or underground trees. Underground
for its easy recognition along with a distribution map. rootstock tuberous, woody, 40–80 × 10–15 cm, perennial.
Additional notes on unique herbaceous habit and habitat, Leafy shoots 10–30 cm high, dying down annually after
horticultural potential, distribution and conservation rains; stems sparsely prickly, densely brown villous when
status of the species are also given. Field collected young, turning glabrescent with age. Leaves trifoliolate,
specimens were processed following standard herbarium a few basal ones unifoliolate with only terminal leaflet,
methods and field photographs were taken using android (7–)12–20(–25) cm long; petiole (7–)8–10(–14) cm long,
mobile phones. A few seeds have been collected and sparsely prickled beneath; rachis 3–4 cm long, sparsely
germinated (germination percentage found to be very prickled; stipules ovate, 5–6 × 2–2.5 cm, greenish, densely
poor). pubescent when young, glabrescent with age, caducous;
terminal leaflet larger (8.5–12 × 5–11.5 cm), rhomboid
TAXONOMIC TREATMENT to suborbicular, obtuse to rounded at base, obtuse at apex,
Erythrina resupinata Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 3(1): 15, chartaceous, veins 3–4 pairs, basal pair arising from tip of
t.220. 1811; Hort. Bengal. 53. 1814 & Fl. Ind. (Carey ed.) petiolule like midrib, basal veins laterally 3–4, branching
3: 257. 1832; DC., Prodr. 2: 410. 1825; Brandis, Forest Fl. towards margin, sparsely 3–5 prickled on midrib beneath;
N.W. India 141. 1874; Baker in Hook .f., Fl. Brit. India petiolules 1–1.2 cm long; stipels 2, glanduliform, c. 1.5 ×
2: 189. 1876; Duthie, Fl. Upper Gangetic Plain 1: 238. 1 mm, broadly oblong, blackish when dry; lateral leaflets
1903; Haines, For. Fl. Chhota Nagpur 326. 1910 & Bot. smaller, ovate, (2.7–)5–6.5 (–12) × (2–) 2.5–5 cm, broadly
Bihar Orissa 1(3): 286. 1922; Kurkoff, J. Arn. Arbor. 20: ovate to rounded, asymmetrically rounded at base, entire,
231.1939 & Ann. Missourie Bot. Gard. 66:425. 1979; obtuse at apex, veins up to 5 pairs, not arising from tip
Mooney, Suppl. Bot. Bihar Orissa 55.1950; Kurkoff & of petiolule; prickles absent to rarely 1–2, ceriferous
Barneby, Lloydia 37(3): 353.1974; Sanjappa, Legumes beneath, glabrous with age; petiolules 5–6.5 mm long;
India 172. 1992; H.O. Saxena & Brahmam, Fl. Orissa 1: stipels glanduliform, one each at base of petiolules.
521. 1994; S.K. Jain, Econ. Bot. 19(3): 241. 1965; Anon., Racemes arising from the root-stock, leafless in flowers or
Icon. Roxburghianae 5: 15. 1971; N.P. Singh & al., Fl. Bihar rarely with juvenile shoots, (6–) 8–15 cm long; peduncle
Anal. 139. 2001; Khuraijam & al., Ann. Bot Fenn. 58:276. 0–3 cm long, compactly many-flowered. Flowers bright
2021. Duchassaingia resupinata (Roxb.) Walp., Flora 36: scarlet, yellowish-scarlet (in Nepal), resupinate; pedicels
150. 1853. Corallodendron resupinatum (Roxb.) Kuntze, 1–1.2 cm long; bracts linear, 1.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm, acute,

Map 1. Distribution of Erythrina resupinata Roxb.

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Fig. 1. Erythrina resupinata Roxb. : A–C. Racemes emerging from rootstock with or without dried shoots; D.Close up of flowers showing
resupinate flowers; E. Greenish Fruits on the ground; F.Seeds.

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Erythrina resupinata Roxb. (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae), a less-known but a potential ornamental from India and Nepal

sparsely pubescent, caducous; bracteoles absent. Calyx in Prakriti Farms Nursery, Ghantaghar, mudapar road,
5–10 mm long, campanulate, cleft on both sides up to Bramhad watika, Chhattisgarh).
middle, obscurely veined, sparsely adpressed pubescent,
persistent, 5-lobed; lobes broadly dentate, teeth minute; Jharkhand: (Formerly Bihar): Chhota Nagpur,
tube 2.5–3 mm long, 2.5–3 mm in diameter at mouth. Hazaribagh, Parasnath, 4200 ft., 12 April 1884, C.B.
Corolla long exerted, petals very unequal, the standard Clarke 34732C (CAL), 34732 E (BM012563326).
much exceeding the wing and keel petals, elliptic to ovate Odisha: Koraput district, Sunabeda (‘Sonbera’)
or oblong, 2.5–3 × 1.5–1.8 cm, oblong-boat-shaped,
plateau, 3000 ft.,? Mooney s.n. (n.v.); Bargarh district,
obtuse, incurved along margin, with distinct white lines
Gandhamardan hill, 1990s? 3000 ft., H.O. Saxena & M.
inside, claw 2.5–3 mm long; wing petals 5–6 × 2.5–3 mm,
Brahmam 5929 (RRLB, not traceable).
ovate to obovate, nearly colourless; keel petals ventrally
united except for claws, tinged red, obliquely ovate, 12– Uttar Pradesh: Bharaich district, Murtiha, 10 April,
14 × 6–7 mm, claw 1.5–2 mm. Stamens 10, diadelphous 1900, Inayat 23617 (DD); Gorakhpur district, Ramgarh,
(9+1), 2–2.5 cm long, elongating and persistent in fruit; 26 March 1898, Harsukh 21503 (DD); Kheri district,
sheath 1.5–2 cm long, free filaments alternately long Oudh, 24 April. 1898, Inayat 21502A (CAL); Dudhna,
(5–6 mm long) and short (4–4.5 mm long), progressively 24 April 1998, Inayat 21502 (a) (DD); Kalwa Ghat, 19
united; anthers 1–1.2 mm long, basi-dorsifixed, April 1898, Inayat 21502 (DD); Ambara, 10 April 1898,
dehiscence longitudinal. Pistil 1.6–1.9 cm long; ovary flat, Inayat 21502 (DD); Oudh, Kheri Forest, in Savanna,
velvety, linear-oblong, 1–1.2 cm long, stipe 2–2.5 mm, in March 1884, N. Heart s.n. (DD, collector’s name not
line with lower suture, 3–5-ovuled; style 7–8 mm long, properly decipherable); North Kheri, Fort range, 25
slightly curved, glabrous or at least distally so; stigma March 1920, Sis Ram s.n. (DD, Acc. Nos. 52701, 52702,
pencillate. Pods shortly stipitate (3–5 mm), spreading on both specimens have young shoot twig with separately
ground, 8–11 × 1.8–2 cm, flattish, falcate to subfalcate, mounted racemes); N Kheri, Suthiana range, 3 May 1819,
abruptly acuminate at apex, follicular, obscurely torulose, Sis Ram (DD), young shoot twig with separately mounted
3–5-seeded, adpressed fine pubescent turning glabrous; racemes; Kheri district, Sonaripur, 20 March 1975, K.K.
dehiscing by placental suture; placental suture thicker Singh 7685 (CDRI); 5 April 1977, K. K. Singh 8350
than ventral suture; exocarp thin, leathery becoming (CDRI). Dudhwa National Park, Forest road, (28.4902o
brittle, obscurely reticulate-veined, green when young N, 80.6457o E), April, 2022, (only photographs by Ganesh
turning blackish-brown when mature; endocarp silvery Bhat seen).
shining, valves wrinkled. Seeds 5.5–6 × 5–5.5 mm,
subspherical, ellipsoid, oblong-ellipsoid, testa obscurely Nepal: Kanchanpur district, Suklaphanta National Park,
shallow foveolate, apparently looking smooth, brown or 28.82969o N, 80.14375o E, 160 m, 7 May 2023, Dipa
black to faintly maroon; hilum lateral, oval, elliptic or Paneru s.n. (TUCH, photo!).
oblong c. 2 × 1 mm, white to grey; cotyledons fleshy.
IUCN conservation category: The species is currently
Phenology: Flowering: March–April (May); Fruiting: known from 17 locations in India and one in adjoining
April–May; Vegetative shoots: June–November. Nepal. Following IUCN guidelines, the Area of
Occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be 68.000 km²
Distribution: INDIA: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, with an estimated Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of
Uttar Pradesh; NEPAL. 397,717.523 km². The number of individuals in each sub
Habitat: On hill slopes and plateaus and in grasslands population range between 3–5. Additionally, according
between (160–) 800–1300 m. to information provided by local people there is a
decline in the number populations and individuals in
Illustrations: Roxb., Pl. Coramandel 3(1): t.220, 1811; t. them. Forest fires are common in grasslands/savannas
1592 (original Flora Indica illustrations of Roxburgh in and intense grazing was also noticed. This species is
CAL, K). therefore provisionally assessed as Endangered [EN
B2ab (iv)] (Map 1). Fortunately, most distributed areas
Specimens examined: India: Chhattisgarh: Narayanpur fall within the protected areas both in India (Parasnath
district, Orccha, Ader, 1960, Jain CBL 4069 (CAL, not Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand; Dudhwa National
traceable); Kondagaon district, Badedongar, 618 m, 23 Park, Uttar Pradesh; Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary and
April 2023, N. Dhatchanamoorthy s.n.(FRLH); Korba Gandhamardan Hills biodiversity heritage site, Odisha)
district, Garhuproda (24.2478° N, 82.35424° E), Basin and Nepal (Suklaphanta National Park).
and Dhengurdih (24.5143° N, 86.1625° E), March 2022,
Dinesh Kumar s.n.; 22.3458° N, 82.6963° E, March 2022, Notes: Kurkoff and Barneby (1974) assigned this species
Dinesh Kumar (no specimens collected but cultivated to subgenus Erythrina, Section Suberosae based on calyx,

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Fig. 2. Erythrina resupinata Roxb. : A. Juvenile leafy shoots emerging from rootstock post flowering and fruiting; B. Fully grown leafy shoots;
C. Petiolules of lateral leaflets showing glanduliform stipels; D. Petiolule of terminal leaflet showing glanduliform stipels.

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Erythrina resupinata Roxb. (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae), a less-known but a potential ornamental from India and Nepal

keel petal and pod characters. It is the only species under India and local university and college departments
the section Suberosae with unique geoxylic suffrutices during 1990 to 2021, this species was not collected and
habit producing racemes from woody rootstock with its inclusion in different publications was merely based
or without leaves. It is interesting to note that parallel on old collections and literature. Even if the surveys were
instances of geoxylic suffrutices habits are found in one made one should have missed collecting it, if the area was
species of sect. Erythrina (E. herbacea subsp. herbacea), 3 not surveyed during March–May when it flowers and
species of sect. Leptorhizae (E. leptorrhiza Moc. & Sesse fruits or in short leafy shoots during July–October.
ex DC., E. longipes DC., E. horrida DC.), one species of
sect. Humeanae (E. zeyheri Harv.) and subgenus and sect. Unlike all other native and introduced species of
Chirocalyx (E. pygmaea Torre, E. mendesii Torre and Erythrina in India, E. resupinata is geoxylic suffrutices
with underground rootstock and produces profuse
E.baumii Harms) distributed in Asia, Africa and America.
elegant bunches of bright scarlet flowers from rootstock
It will be worth undertaking molecular, chemical and
totally devoid of leaves offer a great horticultural potential
palynological studies to understand parallel evolution of
as bed flower species. Moreover, it flowers during
this unique habit among these species. summer season. It is now taken up for domestication
A specimen (BR0000005197019) with a label named and cultivation in Botanical Gardens (at University of
Erythrina resupinata in Roxburgh’s own hand bought by Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru and by the Prakriti
Martius at an auction by the Linnaean Society of London Farms Nursery at Bramhad watika, Chhattisgarh.
in 1863 (https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap. Plants of the World online (POWO, 2023) listed
specimen.br0000005197019), probably a constituent Bangladesh in distribution based on the report of Pasha
specimen of a 'general set of East India plants from Dr & Uddin (2013). No specimen of this species is known to
Roxburgh, named in his hand' ('authentic collection of exist in any herbarium of Bangladesh or elsewhere. It is
Roxburgh plants' J.D. Hooker & Thomson, p 65, 1855). likely that they included it based Roxburgh’s describing
Unfortunately, this is not a specimen of Erythrina the species from plants grown in Calcutta Botanical
resupinata which is clearly evident from broad velvety Garden, Bengal Presidency which then included East
pods belonging to Butea frondosa Roxb. (now Butea Bengal (now Bangladesh).
monosperma (Lam.) Taub.). This is an obvious mix up in
the placement of Roxburgh’s identification slips on his Bairiganjan & al. (1985) recoded chromosome number
as 2n=42 which appears to be a mistake of repeating the
specimens. No specimen of Erythrina resupinata based
same number reported for 4 other species of Erythrina
on which the species was described by Roxburgh and
in the same publication without citing reference to it.
coloured drawing was made is traceable in CAL/BM/E/
In fact, they included E. resupinata based on an earlier
K/P. In the absence of any original specimen, Roxburgh’s record by Mooney in 1950. A search through literature
drawing was designated as lectotype (Khuraijam & al., and chromosome atlases it was observed that no one
2021). reported chromosome numbers of this species (Kumar &
A remarkable species in the genus inhabiting savannas/ Subramaniam, 1986).
grasslands producing elegant bright scarlet resupinate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
flowers in compact racemes arising directly from the
perennial tuberous rootstock at the beginning of hot We are thankful to Dr. S K. Singh (BSD), Dr. Gopal Krishna
season (March) when its vegetative shoots completely (CAL) and Dr. Jacek Wajer (BM) for sending images
dry up leaving dead shoots or the plants turn leafless of specimens of Erythina resupinata Roxb. from their
(Fig. 1). The leafy shoots appear after initial monsoon respective herbaria; to Dr. P. Venu, Former Scientist G,
rains (June–July) (Fig. 2) and die down at the close Botanical Survey of India for comments and suggestions
of monsoon rains (October). It has been recollected on the manuscript and to Dr. A.N. Sringeswara, Assistant
since its last collection made in 1990s (see specimens Curator (UASB) for preparing the photo plates and map.
examined above). It was recently collected during 2022 REFERENCES
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