The identity and occurrence of Primula reidii Duthie var.

reidii
from Shivalik hill ranges, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Keywords:
Primula reidii, identity, Churdhar, Shivaliks, Himachal Pradesh.
ABSTRACT:

Primula reidii var reidii is reported and identified its presence from Shivalik
Hill Ranges of Himachal Pradesh. Earlier records pertaining to occurrence &
distribution of the species, detailed description and other ecological parameters
including its photograph, have been discussed and detailed.
104-108 | JRPS | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 2
This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution, and
reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
www.plantsciences.info
Authors:
Subramani SP* and
Kapoor KS.


Institution:
Himalayan Forest Research
Institute (HFRI), Conifer
Campus, Panthaghati,
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh,
171009, India.

* Present Address: Institute
of Forest Genetics & Tree
Breeding (IFGTB), Forest
Campus, R.S. Puram,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,
641002, India.















Corresponding author:
Subramani SP.


Email:
subramanisp@icfre.org


Web Address:
http:/www.plantsciences.info
documents/PS0022.pdf.


Dates:
Received: 13 Feb 2012 Accepted: 18 Feb 2012 Published: 19 Jun 2012
Article Citation:
Subramani SP and Kapoor KS.

The identity and occurrence of Primula reidii Duthie var. reidii
from Shivalik hill ranges, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1(2): 104-108
Original Research
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences
J
o
u
r
n
a
l

o
f

R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h

i
n

P
l
a
n
t

S
c
i
e
n
c
e
s

An International Scientific Research Journal
Journal of Research
in Plant Sciences
An International Scientific
Research Journal


INTRODUCTION
The genus Primula L. is represented by about
425 species, distributed across Northern Temperate
Zone, Europe, Ethiopia, North America, Java and
Sumatra, however, it has maximum diversity in the
Himalayan mountain chain and Western China
(Mabberley, 2008). It is a most widespread genus of the
family Primulaceae, occurring in a variety of habitats and
exhibits itself as one of the typical herbaceous element in
marshy meadows. It also received early scientific
recognition in Darwins (1877) pioneering work on
heterostyly, the dominant breeding system in the group.
Owing to interesting and unique morphology of its
vegetative parts, the representatives of this genus are
cultivated for their attractive flowers as pot plants and in
gardens which lead Green (1976) to publish an account
of Asiatic Primulas with special reference to their
gardening.
The first account on Primulas was compiled by
Linnaeus during 1753 after fairly investigating its
taxonomy and the efforts beyond in this direction were
continued by Pax (1889). Pax and Kunth (1905), also
monographed the family twice in Englers Das
Pflanzenreich. Duthie (1881), published a list of
north-western Indian plants in which 17 species of
Primulas were recorded. Hooker (1882), in his Flora of
British India, recognized 43 species on the basis of their
leaf characters, venation, inflorescence and the flower
characteristics. Earlier investigations of Watt
(1904-1905, 1913-1914), revealed that the Indian
Primulas are largely studied. On the basis of available
literature for north-west Himalayas, Ludlow (1951),
published the Primulas of Kashmir Himalayas whereas
Gosh (1981), reported about 113 taxa of Primulas and
their occurrence in the specified areas of Eastern
Himalayas thereby, indicating the Indian elements. In the
state of Himachal Pradesh, the genus is represented by
16 species (Collett, 1902; Chowdhery and Wadhwa,
1984; Aswal and Mehrotra, 1994; Dhaliwal and Sharma,
1995; Kaur and Sharma, 2004; Jishtu, 2005).

STUDY AREA
Churdhar Wild-life Sanctuary situated
in-between 30 48' 37'' to 30 54' 39'' N latitude and
77 23' 32'' to 77 29' 49'' E longitude in Shivalik Hill
Region of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh with its
altitude varying from 1900m to 3647m above msl. Lying
in the strategic part of the state, the sanctuary is one of
the micro-endemic zone of the country. Literally known
as the tresses of Shiva and as Manak Parbat during
ancient times, the Shivalik Ranges encompass portions
of the districts of Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and
the lower parts of Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur
(Balokhra, 2002).
While undertaking the field surveys for
assessment of population status of rare, endemic and
endangered plants from ecological and taxonomical point
of view in this sanctuary, a rare species of Primula was
collected and photographed in flowering condition
(Fig. 1). Further studies and critical analysis of this
taxon lead to its identity as Primula reidii Duthie var.
reidii and no one in the recent past had brought to light
any information as far as the distribution of the species in
Shivalik Hill Ranges is concerned in this state.
Accordingly, a detailed account with relevant notes and
photograph on the species has been provided to enable its
Subramani and Kapoor, 2012
105 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1(2): 104-108
Fig. 1. Primula reidii var. reidii
easy identification in the field. The voucher specimens
have also been deposited in the Herbarium of Himalayan
Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla.
Specimen Collected and Examined
Collection made from the Nohra beat of
Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary, district Sirmaur
on way to Chur Peak, 3040 m on 19.07.2006,
Vouchers specimens: SPS 3734, 4048.
Primula reidii Duthie var. reidii Report
Saharanpur, Bot. Gard. 30, 1885; Hook. f. in Curtis Bot.
Mag. t. 6961. 1887 ; Watt, G. in J. Roy. Hort. Soc., 29:
298-307; Pax in Engler, Pflanzenr. 22 : (iv. 237). 67.
1905 ; Smith, W.W. & H.R. Fletcher in J. Linn. Soc.,
52 : 328. 1941; Gould in Hara et al., Enum. Flow. Pl.
Nep. 3: 73 (1982); Polunin & Stainton, Fl. Himalaya,
252. 1984.
An efarinose pubescent herb, upto 15 cm high.
Leaves 4-12 x 2-3.5 cm, oblong-elliptic, membranous,
upper surface convex, laxly silky villous, apex obtuse,
margins coarsely lobulate-dentate or crenate, base
narrowed to a winged petiole which is shorter than the
leaf-blade. Scape stiff, up to c 11 cm long; bracts broad,
3-4 mm long; flowers 1-3, subsessile, nodding,
ivory-white, fragrant, c 2-2.5 cm across; calyx c 6-9 mm
long, campanulate, white-farinose within, with broad,
rotundate, obtuse, glandular ciliate lobes; corolla
5-lobed, lobes broad-oblong, closed in a globe, the apex
2-cleft with a tooth between; sometimes slightly retuse.
Capsule subglobose, membranous, included in the calyx,
seeds c 1 mm long, brown.
Flowering & Fruiting: June to August.

NOTES
This species was first described by Duthie in
1885 (Duthie 3133, Kew) based on a plant collected from
Ralam-Thal of Kumaon, presently in Uttarakhand, India
on the wet rocks at an altitude of 4000-4300 m above
msl. Hara et al., (1982), considered two varieties of
Primula reidii of which var. williamsii Ludlow is upto
20 cm high, having bluish flowers and considered as
endemic to Western and Central Nepal in Eastern
Himalayas (Shrestha, 2006) whereas, the other
var. reidii, is a small one, with one umbel of nodding
ivory-white flowers found in Western Himalayas even
upto Pakistan. Later, Nayar (1996), recorded its
distribution as endemic to Western Himalayas right from
Kashmir to central Nepal.
The species is found growing on damp
rocky cliffs covered with thick mats of moss and also
a s un d er - gr owt h i n t h e f or e s t s of
R h o d o d e n d r o n c a mp a n u l a t u m D. Don ,
Betula utilis D.Don, Quercus semecarpifolia J.E.
Smith and Abies spectabilis (D.Don) Mirbel in
sub-alpines. The mossy bed basically holds moisture and
soil which is sufficient for the growth of the species.
The other associated plants are Fragaria vesca L.,
Viola biflora L., Dienia muscifera Lindl.,
Corydalis govaniana Wall., Bergenia stracheyi (Hook.f.
& Thoms.) Engl., Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All.,
Primula denticulata Smith, Trillium govanianum Wall.
ex D.Don., Swertia cordata (G.Don) Wall. ex Clarke,
Galium elegans Wall. ex Roxb., G. aparine L.,
Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet,
Polemonium caeruleum L., Lactuca macrorhiza (Royle)
Hook.f., Meconopsis aculeata Royle, Impatiens
micranthemum Edgew., Polygonatum verticillatum (L.)
All. and Hylotelephium ewersii (Ledeb.) Ohba.
In the entire area, the species was found localised
in one place only with very few individuals and
accordingly, the avenues are open to record further
occurrence/ distribution of the species if any, within this
sanctuary or in adjacent areas of Shivalik Hills,
Himachal Pradesh. This restricted distribution and the
low number of species has to sustain admist habitat
fragilty, habitat destruction, trampling and under biotic
pressure mainly because of grazing by the live-stocks of
Gujjar community staying in the sanctury and also by the
pilgrims those who visit Chureshwar Temple at Chur
Subramani and Kapoor, 2012
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1(2): 104-108 106


peak for most part of the year. There are all doubts
as to whether the existing population of
Primula reidii Duthie var. reidii will continue to survive
in those localities or not. In view of the heavy biotic
pressure, it becomes imperative to conserve this
interesting endemic prime rose as forest genetic resource
and its habitat as well. Gardening of Primulas as also
mentioned in the initial paras, those interests the farmers-
floriculture bring one of the remunerative option and
having the marketing potential -can also help generating
livelihood for the farmers/ people especially for those
who live on the fringes of forests on one hand and
linking them with the forestry sector on the other.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are thankful to the Director, Himalayan
Forest Research Institute, Shimla for allowing us to use
the related facilities and for encouragement during the
study. Thanks are also due the PCCF (Wild-life),
Himachal Pradesh State Forest Department for according
necessary permission to undertake studies in the
Sanctury Area and to the Head, Systematic Botany
Branch of Botany Division, Forest Research Institute,
Dehradun for allowing consultations and matching of the
species in DD Herbarium, Dehra Dun. We are also
thankful to S/Sh Purushotham Ram, Forester and
Dushyant Kumar RA Grade II, HFRI Shimla for their
valuable help at different stages of the study.

REFERENCES
Aswal BS and Mehrotra BN. 1994. Flora of Lahaul-
Spiti (A Cold Desert in North West Himalaya). Bishen
Singh Mahendra Pal Singh , Dehra Dun. 761.

Balokhra JM. 2002. The Wonderland Himachal
Pradesh. H.G. Publication, New Delhi.

Chowdhery HJ and Wadhwa BM. 1984. Flora of
Himachal Pradesh, Analysis. Vol. 1-3. Botanical Survey
of India, Calcutta. 860.
Collett H. 1902. Flora Simlensis: A Handbook of the
Flowering Plants of Simla and the Neighbourhood.
Thacker Spink and Co., Calcutta. 652.

Darwin C. 1877. The different forms of flowers on
plants of the same species. J Murray, London.

Dhaliwal DS and Sharma M. 1995. Flora of District
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal
Singh , Dehra Dun. 744.

Duthie JF. 1881. List of N.W. Indian plants 1-120.

Gosh RB. 1981. An analysis on the distribution of de
Indian taxa of the genus Primula L. in the eastern
Himalaya with remarks on the species of Assam. An.
Aula Dei, 14(3/4):300-308.

Green R. 1976. Asiatic Primulas: A Gardeners Guide.
Alpine Garden Soc., Publications, Lye Link, Surrey 163.


Hara H, Chater AO and Williams LHJ. 1982. An
enumeration of flowering plants of Nepal. Vol. 3. British
Museum (Natural History), London. 73.

Hooker JD. 1882. Primulaceae in Hook.f. The Flora of
British India L. Reeve & Co., London. III:482-506.

Jishtu V. 2005. Studies on the floristics and associated
mycorrhiza of Baspa Valley in Kinnaur, Himachal
Pradesh. Ph.D. Thesis, FRI, Deemed University, Dehra
Dun. 393 .

Kaur H and Sharma M. 2004. Flora of Sirmaur
(Himachal Pradesh). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ,
Dehra Dun. 770.

Ludlow F. 1951. The Primulas of Kashmir. J. Roy. Hort.
Soc., 76:191-206.

Mabberley JD. 2008. The Plant-Book. A portable
dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Third
Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Subramani and Kapoor, 2012
107 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1(2): 104-108
Nayar, MP. 1996. Hot spots of endemic plants of India,
Nepal and Bhutan. Tropical Botanic Garden and
Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.

Pax F. 1889. Monographische uebersicht uber die arten
der gattung Primula. Engler Bot. Jahrb., In A Engler, ed.
Bot ani s che Jahr buch er fur Sys t emat i k,
Planzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. Engelmann,
Leipzig. 10:75-241.

Pax F and Kunth R. 1905. Primulaceae. Pages 1386
In: A Engler, ed. Das Pflanzenreich. Engelmann,
Leipzig.

Shrestha MR, Rokaya MB and Ghimire SK. 2006. A
checklist of Trans-Himalayan dicot flora of Dolpo and its
surrounding region in northwest Nepal. Scientific World
4(4):84-95.

Watt G. 1904-1905. Observations on Indian Primulas. J.
Roy. Hort. Soc., 29:295-326.

Watt G. 1913-1914. Observations on Indian Primulas.
J. Roy. Hort. Soc., 39:196-218.
Subramani and Kapoor, 2012
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1(2): 104-108 108
Submit your articles online at www.plantsciences.info

Advantages
Easy online submission
Complete Peer review
Affordable Charges
Quick processing
Extensive indexing
You retain your copyright


submit@plantsciences.info

www.plantsciences.info/Submit.php.