Generic identity of Camptorrhiza indica (Colchicaceae) based on cytogenetics and molecular phylogenetics

Abstract

The tribe Iphigenieae (Colchicaceace, Liliales) includes two genera, viz. Camptorrhiza and Iphigenia, which are distributed in Africa, India, and Australasia. Iphigenia is represented by 12 species, of which six occur in India while Camptorrhiza comprises one species each in Africa (C. strumosa) and India (C. indica). The genus Camptorrhiza possesses a knee‐shaped tuber attached to the corms, filaments with a thick bulge in the middle and styles with single stigma. Iphigenia on the other hand lacks knee‐shaped tuber, bears linear filaments and has styles with three stigmas. Camptorrhiza indica possesses ovoid corms, linear filaments and styles with a single stigma. These characters are intermediate between Iphigenia and Camptorrhiza and hence we studied the cytogenetics and phylogenetic placement of this species to ascertain its generic identity. Somatic chromosome count (2n = 22) and karyotypic features of C. indica are very similar to that of Iphigenia species. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on atpB‐rbcL, rps16, trnL, and trnL‐F regions showed that C. indica is nested within a lineage of Indian Iphigenia species. Thus, C. indica was reduced to a species of Iphigenia, i.e., I. ratnagirica. Camptorrhiza is now a monotypic genus restricted only to southern Africa. A key to the Indian Iphigenia species is provided. In addition, a new combination Wurmbea novae‐zelandiae is proposed for Iphigenia novae‐zelandiae.

Iphigenia magnifica Ansari & R.S. Rao (Colchicaceae) – A new distributional record to the flora of Eastern Ghats, India

“…Ramaswamy, I. pallida Baker, I. sahyadrica Ansari & R.S. Rao and I. stellata Blatt., of which except I. indica all are endemic to India (5,6). Iphigenia is characterized by having erect grass-like herbs with fibrous roots or underground fleshy corm or rhizome covered with a tunic, leaves sessile, cauline or basal, five to many, alternate, sheathing, slender, lanceolate to linear-conduplicate, flowers solitary, axillary or terminal, drooping, with leaf-like bracts, perianth lobes free, dark brown to pinkish white, spreading or reflexed, stamens 6 with either hairy or glabrous filaments, anthers with monosulcate pollen grains, stigma unifid to trifid and subglobose capsular fruits.…”

Star Grass Lily Iphigenia stellata Blatter (Colchicaceae) – a new addition to the flora of Gujarat, India

“…In India, it is represented by seven species, viz. (Lekhak et al 2015). Out of these, only one species (I. indica) has been reported so far from the state of Gujarat, India (Shah 1978;GEC 1996).…”