World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 5.990 Volume 4, Issue 9, 2147-2153. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105 A NEW RECORD OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED CRINUM WOODROWII BAKER (AMARYLLIDACEAE) FROM BHIMASHANKAR, DISTRICT: PUNE, MAHARASHTRA (INDIA) Sanjay Jagtap1*, Rajendrasatpute2, Ramjan Mulani3, Sayaji Gaikawad4 1 2 Department of Botany, Elphinstone College, Mumbai, (MS), India. Department of Biotechnology, Govt. Institute of Science, Aurangabad, (MS), India. 3 DST-FIST School of Life Science SRTM University, Nanded, (MS), India. 4 Article Received on 20 July 2015, Revised on 11 Aug 2015, Accepted on 02 Sep 2015 Walchand College, Solapur, (MS), India. ABSTRACT Crinum woodrowii Baker is a critically endangered bulbous plant belonging to family Amaryllidaceae found only at Kates point, Mahabaleshwar. It was considered as Crinum brachynema Herb but G. M. Woodrow first collected this species from Mahabaleshwar in 1899 *Correspondence for and confirmed as a new species by Baker as Crinum woodrowii. It is Author also called as Woodrow’s Crinum lily. It was rediscovered by Dr. Sanjay Jagtap Department of Botany, Punekar from same location in 2004.There were only 150 individuals Elphinstone College, growing on hill slopes at Kates Points, Mahabaleshwar. It is endemic Mumbai, (MS), India. to Kates Points, Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra. It was rediscovered from Vahigaon in Thane district in 2012 and from Katraj in Pune district in 2013. In present findings there was new location of Crinum woodrowii Baker after 2004, 2012 and 2013 on hill slopes of Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary in Pune district of Western Ghats of Maharashtra. There were 200-250 individuals along the water springs on the hill slopes of BWLS. All these places are part of Western Ghats of Maharashtra. KEYWORDS: BWLS, Critically endangered, Crinum woodrowii, Endemic, Western Ghats. INTRODUCTION The genus Crinum L. is represented in India by 12 species, 3 varieties and 1form1of which 3 species and 1 form, viz. Crinum brachynema Herb., C. eleonorae Blatt.& Mc C. f. eleonorae, www.wjpr.net Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 2147 Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research C. eleonorae f. Purpurea Blatt. & McC. and C. woodrowii Baker are endemic to Mahabaleshwar and adjoining areas 2–7 in Maharashtra.[1-9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 12] The first one was recently recollected from the Kates Point, Mahabaleshwar after a lapse of 94 years 8 and the remaining three were assumed to be possibly Extinct 6, 7. During floristic exploration of the above-mentioned area between 2001and 2004, Dr. Punekar, collected and identified C.woodrowii Baker after a lapse of hundred years. G. M. Woodrow first collected this species from Mahabaleshwar. Several bulbs of this were sent to Kew (England) supposing them to be C. brachynema Herb., but when they flowered at Kew the plant proved to be a new species and was described by Baker 9 as C. woodrowii. It has been so far represented only by a single sheet in Calcutta Herbarium (CAL) collected by Woodrow7 in 1899; after that report it was not collected again from the type locality or elsewhere 7, 10–12. There were a total of about 150 individuals were seen growing on hill slopes of Kates Point, Mahabaleshwar. Now it has been assessed a critically endangered due to its narrow range of distribution and extreme rarity.[9] A Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary (BWLS) is located at 3250 ft. height above the sea level. Bhimashankar plateau is a semi-evergreen forest. The western to eastern regions has annual rainfall decreases from 2200 mm to 700 mm marked with July maximum.[13] The average rainfall is about 60 cm. Geographical distribution is Latitude 73.5 0 N and Longitude 19.060E. The plants were collected from Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary area located at Pune district of Maharashtra in August, 2012. The sanctuary is situated on the crest of Western Ghats that is recognized as one of the 12-biodiversity hotspots of the world. In June, 2012 there were 200-250 individuals of Crinum woodrowii Baker seen along the water springs on the hill slopes of BWSL(Fig.1A and B). It was a new record after 2004.[9] After words there were new locations of Crinum woodrowii with 50 individuals at Vahigaon in Thane in (2012) and Katraj in Pune in (2013).[14,15] In present study we found a new location of distribution of Crinum woodrowii Baker in Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary. Sampling Fresh samples of Crinum woodrowii Baker were collected from Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary, Dist., Pune region of Western Ghats of Maharashtra (Fig. 1A-F) in July 2012. These plants were identified and authenticated using herbarium collection at Dept. of Botany, DST-FIST School of Life Science, SRTM University, Nanded (MS), India, Department of www.wjpr.net Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 2148 Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Botany Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad and Department of Botany Walchand College, Solapur, (MS), India. Habit Herbs: Tall herbs; bulbs 8.6–16.2 cm in dia., globose–spheroidal, outer tunics brown, membranous. Leaves: contemporary with the flowers, sometimes appear after flowering, many (8–17), 45.5–80 cm 4.5–14 cm, uniform, flat, bright green, slightly glaucous beneath, glabrous, apex acute, white waxy, scabrous along margin; leaf sheaths forming a pseudo stem. Scapes: one, rarely two, arising from bulb outside the tuft of leaves, stout, compressed, 53.5–82.5 cm 1–3 cm, green at base and apex, purple in middle, faintly channeled. Flowers: 10–20 in umbel, fragrant; pedicels 1–3 cm long, green with purple tinge. Spathe valves (involucral bracts) two, opposite, 8.7–10 cm 2.7–3.9 cm, deltoid, obtuse or acute at apex, margin inflexed, often green, purple tinged, nervate, coriaceous. Bracteoles many, 3–8 cm long, filiform, pale yellow or green. Perianth: hypocrateriform (salver-shaped); tube 4–8 cm long, terete, curved, green with purple tinge in flowers, purple in buds; segments spreading equally, white, lanceolate, acute at apex, longer than perianth tube, 8.6–10 cm 1–1.8 cm, purple tinged on dorsal median line, shining. Stamens: 6; filaments 6– 7.2 cm long, filiform, white in lower half and at tip, red in upper half, shorter than perianth lobes; anther lobes versatile, linear, crescent, 1.2–1.5 cm long, yellow, grey when wet. Ovary: oblong, 8–10 mm 3–4 mm, three-celled, with numerous ovules in axile placentation; ovules sessile; style terete, filiform overtopping the stamens, 15–15.6 cm long, white in lower half, red in upper half; stigma lobed. Fruits: irregular in shape,3–7 cm across, trilocular, finally bursting, eduncle 3 cm long. Seeds: 0.9- 1.3 cm across, large, rounded, testa thick, albumen copious. Flowering and fruiting: May–July.[3] DISTRIBUTION India, North Western Ghats of Maharashtra State, Endemic to Kates Point, Mahabaleshwar, Satara District and to Katraj Ghat and Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary in Pune District, Vahigaon in Thane district, Maharashtra State, India. Ecology Growing at an elevation of c.1275 m (latitude 1756. 270N and gitude 7341. hill slopes of semi evergreen forest outskirts in association with Ceropegia panchganiensis, www.wjpr.net Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 2149 Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Crinum brachynema, Cuculigo orchioides, Euphorbia panchganiensis, Hitchenia caulina, Nilgirianthus reticulatus, Pindacon canensis and Scilla hyacinthina. Distribution of Crinum woodrowii Baker. Specimens examined: India, Maharashtra, Bombay (Presidency), May 1899,G. M. Woodrow s.n. (CAL); Satara District, Mahabaleshwar, Kates Point, 9 June 2001, Punekar, Kavade and Datar 178344 (BSI, K); same locality, 12 June 2004, Punekar and Kavade 187843(BSI).C.[9] Threats 1. The use of bulbs in folk care medicine by local tribal people and Use of flowers in perfume and pharmaceutical industry 2. Selling bulbs by locals to treat respiratory diseases(especially in asthma). 3. Digging and eating raw bulbs by males to increase physical strength. 4. Damage caused by natural pests, such as moth caterpillars and nocturnal herbivores. 5.Repeated forest fires in dry seasons and deforestation. 6. Habitat degradation due to anthropogenic pressures. 7. Losses caused due to over grazing by animals. IUCN Status Based on assessment and field observations from year 2007 to 2012, Crinum woodrowii is currently and properly, categorised as Critically Endangered [B2b (ii,v)c (ii,iv); C2b].[15] Economic importance Crinum woodrowii is used as ornamental as well as medicinal herb. The scented flowers may be used in perfume and pharmaceutical industry. A www.wjpr.net B Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 2150 Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research C D E F Fig.A; View of natural habitat of Crinum woodrowii Baker. B; Close up of individuals of Crinum woodrowii Baker. C; Young plant of Crinum woodrowii Baker. D; Flowering of Crinum woodrowii Baker. (Photo: Wikipedia) E; Single plant with bulb. F; Bulbs of Crinum woodrowii Baker. CONCLUSION Due to enormous threats by local peoples and its uses in folk medicine by Tribals. The critically endangered and medicinally important Crinum woodrowii should be conserved by propagating in nursery conditions. The conservation and reintroduction of this species to suitable habitats is an urgent need. www.wjpr.net Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 2151 Jagtap et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors sincerely acknowledge the valuable support provided by Institute of Forensic Science, Institute of Science, Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad; School of Life Science, SRTM University, Nanded and Walchand College, Solapur. REFERENCES 1. Ahmedullah, M. and M. P. Nayar. Endemic Plants of the Indian Region. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee.. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 1986; 1: 241. 2. Bachulkar, M. P. Endangered endemic taxa of Satara District, Maharashtra. and Adjoinings, Maharashtra. Rayat Research Journal, 1993; 1: 109–115. 3. Cooke, T. The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay .Taylor and Francis, London, 3: 750.Calcutta, 1907: 97. 4. Deshpande, S. D., B. D. Sharma, and M. P. Nayar, Flora of Mahabaleshwar Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 1995; 2: 591. 5. Gaikwad, S. P. and S. R. Yadav, Endemic flowering plant species of Maharashtra and their possible utilization, In: Pullaiah, T. (ed.), Biodiversity of India, Regency Publications, New Delhi, 2004; 3: 50. 6. Karthikeyan, S., S. K. Jain, M. P. Nayar, and M. Sanjappa. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany., 1989; 8: 29 –38 7. Lakshminarasimhan, P. Flora of Maharashtra State – Monocotyledons(eds. Sharma, B. D., S. Karthikeyan and N. P. Singh),Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta., 1996; 97. 8. Mishra, D. K. and N. P. Singh, Endemic andThreatened Flowering Plants of Maharashtra, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta., 2001; 354: 221 –222. 9. a. Punekar, S. A., S. P. Kavade, M. N. Datar, P.Lakshminarasimhan, and P. S. N. Rao. 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