Chloridoideae of Southern Peninsular India

This book deals with the 139 chloridoid grass taxa recorded from the Southern Peninsular India, encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry. These 139 Chloridoideae taxa account for 8.73% of its global inventory (1602 taxa), and approximately 70% of India's total chloridoidtaxa (about 200 taxa). The number of Chloridoideae genera recorded in the study area (34) represents 27.41% of the world's genera (124) and covers 66.66% of the chloridoid genera of India (51). Of the recorded 139 Chloridoideae taxa from Southern Peninsular India, 39 taxa (28.05%) are endemic to India; 30 taxa (76.92%) are exclusive to Southern Peninsular India. Tripogonumaganeshii B. R. P. Rao and M. Anil Kumar is the new species reported in the present study. This study also includes 10 recently described novel species (Acrachneborii, Eragrostishenryi, E. nairii, E. nilgiriensis, Tripogonashihoi, T. bimucronatus, T. jayachandranii, T. malabarica, T. paramjitianus, T. sivarajanii); Eleusinemultiflora, and Eragrostispaniciformis reported as new records for India. Several new records are reported at the state level. From the study area, some genera with 100% representation of their entire species are significant: Acrachne (all the 3 species); Chloris (8); Cynodon (4); Eleusine (3); Leptochloa (3) and Oropetium (3). Bracketed keys are provided for the identification of genera and species, as well as infra-specific taxa. Salient features of the genus shared common by all the species are presented for all the genera. Infra-generic taxa are described with a full citation; morphology, followed by information on the distribution pattern of the taxon in the world, India, and study area; phenology, habitat, abundance and examined specimens. Remarks on taxonomic affinities, ecological variation, nomenclature notes, etc., are provided wherever necessary. …