Journal of Bioresearch 1(1): 79-83 (January-June, 2022)
Short communication
A new Distribution Record and Conservation Plea of Parasitic Angiosperm,
Sapria himalayana Griffith in Manipur
Mayanglambam Bidyalakshmi Devi 1 , Dangsawa Pipa Morwadun Maring 2 and Ashalata Devi 1 *
1
Ecology and Biodiversity Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Assam
2
Agriculture Business Management, Shuats, Prayagraj, UP
*Corresponding author: ashalatadevi12@gmail.com
Received: April 30, 2021; revised: June 3, 2021; accepted: August 20, 2021
Abstract: Sapria himalayana Griffith (Rafflesiaceae), a poorly understood root parasitic angiosperm was recorded from the
Machi community forest of Tengnoupal district, Manipur at two different spots in the month of October 2020. This paper
reports a new distribution record of this endangered species and attempt to reveal the knowledge associated with the local
people about this species. In fact, the villagers have no idea about the rarity and conservation status of the species. Due to lack
of knowledge and accelerated progress of developmental activities, many sites have been degraded losing number of native
species and their habitats. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize the Machi community forest as the valued habitat of
S. himalayana and needful regulation and supervision should be made by the Forest department involving the local villagers
for conservation.
Key words: Parasitic angiosperm, Sapria himalayana, Endangered species, Conservation, Machi, Manipur
Introduction
Sapria himalayana Griffith, is an interestingly rare, endangered, in distribution and are confined to virgin forests particularly
and poorly understood holoparasitic angiosperm belonging in humid tropics (Adhikari et al., 2003).
to Rafflesiaceae family. Angiosperms are the most diverse
group of plants that includes parasitic plants. The parasitic
plants are found in different habitats across the globe ranging
from tropical rain forest to tundra region and they hold
important component of vegetation with unique mode of
life. There are approximately 4,500 parasitic plant species in
the world (Heide-Jørgensen, 2008) wherein parasitic
angiosperm contributes about 4000 species (Musselman, 2009;
Press and Phoenix, 2005), accounting for 1-2% of 2,58,650
angiosperm species (Raynal-Roques and Paré, 1998; Press et
al., 1999; Zhang et al., 2018). However, there is a very limited
study across the countries on diversity of parasitic angiosperms
and underlying factors that influence its distribution in different
habitats. Such plants specifically Sapria Griffith, are restricted
Manipur, a state in North-East India, is characterized
by dense temperate and tropical forests contributing 90% of
the total area. The state is a part of Himalaya and IndoBurma biodiversity hotspots supporting about 50% of total
India’s biodiversity (Mao et al., 2009). The state harbors over
3,000 species of higher plants having 75 species of endemic
plants and 41 primitive flowering plants under 11 families
(Singh et al., 2000). However, many hilly forests of the state
are not fully explored in terms of their floristic assessment
but, various developmental activities, encroachment for
settlement and resources exploitation are impacting the forest
area and its resources to a larger extent before being studied
scientifically. Therefore, discovery of any new species or record
of new distribution site of any unique species is worthy to
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Mayanglambam Bidyalakshmi Devi et al., 2022
discuss and set additional information in the database of flora
and fauna. Such record, in fact, helps in formulation of
conservation and management plan of the region and specific
forest site.
Sapria Griff. is one among the three genera belonging
to the family Rafflesiaceae which are holoparasite on various
species of Tetrastigma lianas that produces either male or
female flowers. Sapria is well distinguished from the other
two genera by having 10 valvate lobes separated as an outer
and an inner series (Tr§n et al., 2018). Sapria presently consists
of three recognized species: S. himalayana Griff., S. poilanei
Gagnep. and S. ram Banziger & B. Hansen (Tr§n et al., 2018;
Bänziger, 2000) while the Rafflesia has about 28 species
and Rhizanthes has 4 species. The three species of Sapria
were recorded in sub-tropical regions of mountain forests in
the Southeast Asia (Banziger, 1997; Elliott, 1990). In
northeastern India, Sapria himalyana was first reported from
Mishmi Hills in Lohit district (Griffith, 1844; Griffith and
McClelland, 1847) and subsequently from Aka Hills in Kameng
district (Bor, 1938) of Arunachal Pradesh. It had been
categorized under endangered species in Red Data Book of
the Botanical Survey of India (Nayar and Sastry, 1987).
The present paper reports the first scientific record
of Sapria himalayana with photographic evidence in
Distribution record of Sapria himalayana Griffith in Manipur
Tengnoupal District of Manipur. A group of Maring tribal
community residing at Machi village (Chhokar, 1984). Earlier
the species was reported from Koubru hills in Manipur (Deb,
1961) further, there was a newspaper report from Tamenglong
district of Manipur in 2018. The aim of this corresponding
report is to supervise the ground level conservational practices
that can performed by the local people by acknowledging the
limited distribution and rarity of species.
Materials and methods
In the month of October 2020, a field survey was conducted
for vegetation analysis in Machi community forest of Manipur.
This forest is located at 1443 m amsl (above mean sea level)
covering approximately 205 hectares near Machi village (lat.
24°302 30.803 N and long.94°082 29.963 E) of Tengnoupal
District (Fig. 1). Surprisingly, during the field survey a fascinating
and unusual, magnificent flower blooming on the forest floor
was encountered at two different spots. The characteristics
features of the encounter flower were systematically studied
consulting the relevant literature and it was identified as Sapria
himalayana Griffith. The survey resulted in documentation of
two populations of Sapria Griff. at Machi community forest
area. Both the populations were examined to determine if
they formed a ‘cluster’ as describes by Bänziger (2000) and
Fig. 1. Showing map of study area Machi community forest of Machi village.
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Mayanglambam Bidyalakshmi Devi et al., 2022
Distribution record of Sapria himalayana Griffith in Manipur
erect and unbranched. Buds are globose with pink and white
bracts while open bloom flower comprises of 10 bright red
colour bracts covered with sulphur-yellow dots. Bud size were
measured using ruler and found in the range of 4 to 8 cm
while flowers size ranges from 15 to 20 cm diameter across. It
was observed that the flower blooms for 2 to 3 days and
colour of the bracts becomes dark which subsequently
decomposes slowly. It has an unpleasant odour but have no
evidence of attracting pollinating agents in their vicinity.
S. himalayana is most likely to be annual, budding and
Fig. 2. Showing (a) Natural habitat of S. himalayana in the Machi flowering occurs during winter usually from October to
community forest, (b) Flower buds, (c) Female flower with ten bracts and December. The host plants are generally lianas, like Vitis and
buds, and (d) Colour changes of the flower bracts.
Tetrastigma vines that belong to the grape family Vitaceae. It
was found to be confined in small patches and buds emerges
only from the secondary roots of host plant Tetrastigma vine.
Hence the patches of buds and flowers observed were till
nearly 4m away from the host plant. The habitat area was
moist, humid and covered with litters which form a specific
microclimatic condition suitable for the species.
The species was sighted in two spots in cluster at
Fig. 3. Host plant of S. himalayana, Tetrastigma vine in their natural Machi community forest area. Nearly sixty buds, ten widely
habitat.
open flowers, few mid open flowers and dead flowers were
counted the number of individuals examining their recorded from these two spots. This community forest area
microhabitat and measuring the size of the buds and flowers. is a primary forest dominated by Cinnamomum sp. and other
Observation notes and photographs of different parts of the associated species like Juglans sp., Pyrus pashia, Schima wallichi,
plant were taken. The host plant of the Sapria himalayana etc. Field survey was extended in nearby surroundings area
was also confirmed with the help of the available literature as to explore, if any another localised area of this species. But no
well as with the help of local elders who had the prior other population of this species was observed in nearby
localities. However, an extensive field survey is needed to
knowledge of the species.
corroborate any other patches of S. himalayana in this forest
area.
Results
Sapria himalayana Griffith (Rafflesiaceae), a narrowly hostspecific root parasitic angiosperm (Fig. 2) which was listed Discussion
under endangered species in the Red Data Book of the The geographical distribution of this hardly understood taxon
Botanical Survey of India (Griffith, 1982) was observed in the S. himalayana is highly restricted and reported mainly from
forest floor of Machi village. The spectacular pinkish-red colour the North-eastern region of India, southwest China, Vietnam
buds directly emerging from the host root of Tetrastigma and Thailand (Banziger, 1997). A distribution record was also
vine (Fig. 3) was like the masterpiece in the habitats. The reported from Mizoram, northeast India (Pandey et al., 2013).
buds appear just above the ground and the flower remains In Manipur, the first distribution report of Sapria himalayana
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Mayanglambam Bidyalakshmi Devi et al., 2022
was from Koubru hills in Senapati district (Deb, 1961) and
another recent report was from Tamenglong district in 2018
(a news report from Sangai Express). The present paper
represents the first distribution record from Machi, Tengnoupal
district, Manipur. Unfortunately, due to the lack of knowledge
and induced human activities, considerable areas of natural
habitats of Machi community forest are nearly exploited before
being studied and documented in terms of their biodiversity
status and potential values. This Machi community forest is
being encroached gradually by villagers for agricultural
purposes. Such factors may lead to the degradation of the
natural habitat of Sapria Griffith. Through informal interview
with the local people, it has been recorded that local people
does not have any knowledge about the importance and utility
of this holoparasitic plant. Moreover, they have no idea about
the rarity and conservation status of the species and its habitats.
Villagers of Machi village informed that earlier the species
was seen in several areas of the village forest, but it is now
restricted in some localized areas. Whenever, people sighted
this rare structure, they tend to pluck it out of curiosity without
hesitation. Anthropogenic activities like encroachment of forest
for the expansion of village area and new village settlement as
well as shifting cultivation have severely damaged the host
plant Tetrastigma vine and changed the mosaic of the natural
habitat of the rare S. himalayana. Although, it is not clear
whether the elimination of this species affects the overall
stability of the ecosystem (Arunachalam et al., 2004) but it is
very much clear that loss of any species will draws several
undesirable effects in the community. It is also recommended
that special attention for in situ conservation of the species
should be given due to its limited distribution, biological
curiosity, genetic rarity and its host specificity in parasitism
(Adhikari et al., 2003).
Therefore, it is very essential to give awareness for
conservation of these natural sites (Machi community forest),
also to impart education about the value of this root parasitic
angiosperm and its host plant to the local people. If no
regulation and supervision, in near future this particular species
may lose as they have no record of potential value to provide
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Distribution record of Sapria himalayana Griffith in Manipur
food, drugs and other useful commodities (Norton, 1988) for
the people. In fact, it is imperative to recognize the Machi
community forest as the valued habitat of S.himalayana.
Further, Forest department should take a lead to formulate
an appropriate conservation strategy involving villager’s and
their participation for the conservation of this species and its
natural habitat.
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to the villager of Machi community forest,
Tengnoupal District of Manipur for their kind cooperation
and assistance during the field work. Authors are also thankful
to the Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur
University, Assam for support to carry out the research.
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