A Note on Mitrastemon yamamotoi (Mitrastemonaceae): a Root Parasite of Rare Occurrence in North East India

Abstract

Mitrastemon yamamotoi Makino
(Mitrastemonaceae) is the only species of the
genus found in the state of Meghalaya, North East
India. The present study is a recollection of the
species for the second time after a gap of about
45 years. In addition to its detailed taxonomic
description, habitat characterization, threats
operating on the species and related conservation
implications are also discussed

Full text

June 2016TheJournal of Japanese Botany Vol. 91 No. 3179
J. Jpn. Bot. 91: 179–183 (2016)
Aabid Hussain Mira, Krishna Upadhayab,* and Clarence G. Khonglaha:
A Note on Mitrastemon yamamotoi (Mitrastemonaceae): a Root Parasite of
Rare Occurrence in North East India
aDepartment of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, INDIA;
bDepartment of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, INDIA
*Corresponding author: upkri@yahoo.com
Summary: Mitrastemon yamamotoi Makino
(Mitrastemonaceae) is the only species of the
genus found in the state of Meghalaya, North East
India. The present study is a recollection of the
species for the second time after a gap of about
45 years. In addition to its detailed taxonomic
description, habitat characterization, threats
operating on the species and related conservation
implications are also discussed.
The genus Mitrastemon is represented by
two species, i.e., Mitrastemon matudae Yamam.
and M. yamamotoi Makino. The former is found
in Central America, and the latter in tropical
and subtropical Asia. The genus belongs to the
family Mitrastemonaceae, grows as herbs and
lives as parasites on roots of some trees. In India,
the genus is represented by only one species i.e.,
Mitrastemon yamamotoi, and it is found only in
Khasi Hills of Meghalaya (Meijer and Veldkamp
1993).
Mitrastemon yamamotoi is a unique root
parasite and is considered a good example of
transpacic distribution. It was rst reported by
Makino in 1909 from Japan as Mitrastemma
yamamotoi (Makino 1909), and was later
corrected as Mitrastemon yamamotoi (Makino
1911). In India, this species was rst collected in
1969 by Rao and Balakrishnan from Mawsmai
forest in East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya (Rao
and Balakrishnan 1972). Since then the species
has not been collected from the state (Nayar and
Sastry 1990). The species was listed as ‘Rare’
by Walter and Gillett (1998) and is classied as
‘Endangered’ in the Red Data Book of Indian
Plants (Nayar and Sastry 1990). Even in Japan
the species is considered ‘Rare’ (Makino 1911).
In the present study, a detailed distribution,
plant description, habitat characterization,
threat operating on the species and conservation
measures that need to be adopted are discussed,
so as to prevent the species from extinction in
India.
During a recent floristic exploration carried
out in Cherrapunjee and adjoining areas in East
Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, we came
across this interesting species. After a critical
examination, comparison with the original
description and available literature (Makino
1909, 1911, 1928, Hayata 1913, Matuda
1947, Rao and Balakrishnan 1972, Huang and
Gilbert 2003) as well as comparison with the
herbarium specimens of Botanical Survey of
India, Eastern Circle, Shillong, its identity was
confirmed as Mitrastemon yamamotoi. The
vegetation of the area, where the species was
collected falls under subtropical broadleaved
wet-hill forests (Champion and Seth 1968). The
dominant canopy trees of the forests include
Castanopsis tribuloides (Sm.) DC., Castanopsis
kurzii (Hance) Biswas, Echinocarpus murex
Benth., Elaeocarpus spp., Lith ocar pus
dealbatus Rehder, L. elegans (Blume) Hatus. ex
Soepadmo, Quercus glauca Thunb., Syzygium
spp. and Schima khasiana Dyer. Whereas, the
sub-canopy layer is dominated by Casearia
glomerata Roxb., Coffea khasiana Hook. f.,
Eurya spp., Macropanax dispermus (Blume)
Kuntze, Microtropis discolor (Wall.) Meisn.,

180植物研究雑誌 第 91 巻 第 3号2016 年6月
Fig. 1. Mitrastemon yamamotoi during different growth stages. A. Budding stage. B. Blooming stage. C. Mature
individuals showing intimate attachment with roots. D. Dehiscent stage. E. Dead individuals. F. Remaining marks on
plant roots. All taken from Mawmluh, Cherapunjee, Megalaya, India. A. 3 Dec. 2014. B, C. 5 Feb. 2015. D. 10 Mar.
2015. E. 26 Mar. 2015. F. 7 Apr. 2015.

June 2016TheJournal of Japanese Botany Vol. 91 No. 3181
Psychotria spp., Schefflera hypoleuca (Kurz)
Harms, Schefflera venulosa (Wight & Arn.)
Harms, Symplocos spicata Roxb., Sarcococca
pruniformis Lindl. and Vernonia volkameriifolia
DC.
Taxonomic description
Mitrastemon yamamotoi Makino in
Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 23: (326), t. (1909), ut
‘Mitrastemma’, & in Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 25:
255, t. 7 (1911); Rao & Balakrishnan in Indian
Forester 98(4): 234 (1972).
Cylindrical body, 3–7 cm tall, stem erect
with tuberous base. All parts off-white when
young and dark brown when dry. Volva 1.5–2.5
× 0.5–2 cm. Scales 12, decussately opposite,
imbricate, in three tiers of four each, sub-erect
ascending, ovate, ovate-oblong, or lanceolate,
1–2.7 × 0.5–2 cm. Perianth fleshy white when
young and brown when old, cupular, 0.5 ×
1–1.9 cm, mouth entire or undulate. Staminal
tubule, 14–20 mm long, anther many celled,
honey-combed in a 2–6 mm broad ring. Ovary
globose to ellipsoid, superior, sessile ca. 12 × 9
mm, unilocular; placentae parietal with sinuately
intruding lamellae masking the single locule.
Ovules many on slender stalks, anatropous. Style
stumpy, conical, stout, 3–4 mm long. Stigma
subglobose, 4–5 mm long, 5–7 mm thick. Fruits
subglobose-ovoid, 20–25 mm in diameter, dark
brown, enclosed in dark brown scales. Seeds
many, 3 mm long, brown (Figs. 1, 2).
Flowering and fruiting period: The plant
is seen only during the winter season and it
completes the whole life cycle from November
to April.
Specimens examined: INDIA. MEGHALAYA: East
Khasi Hills: Laitryngew near Cherrapunjee, 5 February
2015, A. H. Mir 87863 (ASSAM); Mawmluh, 5 February
2015, A. H. Mir 87864 (ASSAM). Khasi and Jaintia Hills:
1966, A. S. Rao 37958 (ASSAM); 1971, A. S. Rao 38222–
38224, 38285 (ASSAM); 1969, Balakrishnan 34188
(ASSAM).
The plant is reported from India (Meghalaya),
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam China (Fujian,
Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan), Japan
(Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands), Sumatra,
Borneo and New Guinea. In Meghalaya, the
species was thought to be restricted only to the
Mawsmai area (Rao and Balakrishnan 1972),
but during the current study, in addition to the
previous site, it could be collected from three
fragmented forest patches located in Mawmluh
and Laitryngew (Table 1).
Mitrastemon yamamotoi is a root parasite
on many tree species and grows in thick, moist
virgin forests (Rao and Balakrishnan 1972). The
species grows so closely with the host that it
seems to be a part of the host plant. The species
grows mainly in moist and shady areas of the
forests. Earlier it was reported to grow mainly on
roots of Engelhardia spicata Blume, Castanopsis
tribuloides, Vernonia volkameriifolia and
Elaeocarpus lancifolius Roxb. (Rao and
Balakrishnan 1972). But during our survey, in
addition to above species it was found to grow
on roots of Lithocarpus elegans, Psychotria
adenophylla Wall., Calophyllum polyanthum
Choisy and Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume as
well. The majority of the individuals were found
to grow on the roots of Lithocarpus elegans
and Psychotria adenophylla. The habitat of the
species is characterized by low light intensity
(6–30 µmol m−2 s−1), low air temperature (10–19
°C), high relative humidity (80–97%) and high
rainfall (11,000 mm per year). However, there
Table 1. Site characteristic of forest patches with Mitrastemon yamamotoi in Khasi Hills, Megalaya, India
Site Area (ha) Latitude (N) Longitude (E) Elevation (m) Disturbances Population size
Law Spurba, Mawmluh 948 25°14.903ʹ 91°41.968ʹ 1115 low large
Law Saiawmih, Mawsmai 86 25°14.354ʹ 91°43.841ʹ 1074 moderate small
Law Arliang, Laitryngew 4.05 25°19.921ʹ 91°44.159ʹ 1603 high small
Law Pjah, Laitryngew 3.02 25°19.748ʹ 91°44.069ʹ 1582 high small

182植物研究雑誌 第 91 巻 第 3号2016 年6月
is low or no rainfall during the winter months
(December–February). Except rainfall, these
environmental parameters are more or less
similar to those of other parts of the world
where this species is growing (Matuda 1947). It
has also been observed that the plant exudates
a honey like fluid in order to attract birds and
insects, which aid the plant in pollination (Fig.
1D).
The population size of the species in the
studied sites was very small and is in the danger
of extinction. The major threats operating in
the area of its occurrence are fragmentation and
habitat destruction due to shifting cultivation,
Fig. 2. Mitrastemon yamamotoi. A. Longitudinal section of a plant. B. Volva. C. Transverse section of the ovary. D. Scales.
E. Bracts. All from Mawmluh, Cherapunjee, Megalaya, India.

June 2016TheJournal of Japanese Botany Vol. 91 No. 3183
deforestation for small timber and fuel wood
collection, medicinal plant collection for
commercial purposes, forest fires and mining
of coal, limestones and sand (Upadhaya et al.
2013). The ever increasing forest fragmentation
is changing the microclimatic conditions of
the forests, hence making the environment
unfavorable for the growth of this species.
Moreover, because of its parasitic nature,
cultivation of this species seems to be very
difficult (Nayar and Sastry 1990). So far no
conservation measures have been taken for the
species in India. In order to conserve the species
from extinction from the country, these forest
patches in which the species occurs needs strict
protection. In addition, regular monitoring of the
population is needed.
The authors are thankful to Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF & CC) for the financial support
(No.14/25/2011-ERS/RE) and Botanical Survey
of India (Eastern Circle, Shillong) for the help.
The cooperation from the Headmen and the local
people during the study is also acknowledged.
References
Champion H. G. and Seth S. K. 1968. A Revised Survey
of the Forest Types of India. Manager of Publications,
Government of India, Delhi.
Hayata B. 1913. On the systematic position of Mitrastemon.
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Huang S. M. and Gilbert M. G. 2003. Rafflesiaceae. In:
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China 5: 270–271. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri
Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
Makino T. 1909. On Mitrastemma yamamotoi. Makino,
gen. et sp. nov. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 23: (325)–(327).
Makino T. 1911. Observations on the ora of Japan. Bot.
Mag. (Tokyo) 25: 251–257.
Makino T. 1928. A contribution to the knowledge of the
ora of Japan. J. Jap. Bot. 5: 18.
Matuda E. 1947. On the genus Mitrastemon. Bull. Torrey
Bot. Club. 74: 133–141.
Meijer W. and Veldkamp J. F. 1993. A revision of
Mitrastema (Rafesiaceae). Blumea 38: 221–229.
Nayar M. P. and Sastry A. R. K. 1990. Red Data Book of
Indian Plants.Volume III. Botanical Survey of India,
Calcutta.
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yamanotoi (Makino) Makino (Rafflesiaceae) – A
unique root parasite new to the Indian flora. Indian
Forester 98(4): 234–235.
Upadhaya K., Thapa N., Lakadong J. N., Barik S. K. and
Sarma K. 2013. Priority areas for conservation in North
East India: A case study in Meghalaya based on plant
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A. H. Mira，K. Upadhayab，C. G. Khonglaha：北東イン
ド稀産の寄生植物─ヤッコソウ（ヤッコソウ科）
ヤッコソウ Mitrastemon yamamotoi Makino（ヤッコ
ソウ科）はインドでは北東部のメガラヤ州 Khasi Hills
でのみ知られていたが，最近になって同所で 45 年ぶり
に採集された．これが二度目の報告となる．本稿では，
新しく得られた材料にもとづいて，ヤッコソウの詳しい
記載，生育地の特性，種の現況と保全への方策を示した．
（aインド・North-Eastern Hill University，
Department of Environmental Studies，
bインド・North-Eastern Hill University，
Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences）