Taxonomy and distribution of species of the genus Acanthus (Acanthaceae) in mangroves of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

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DOI https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d160218
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2015)
Section
Articles

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P RAGAVAN ♥
Department of Ocean studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus
ALOK SAXENA
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
P M MOHAN
Department of Ocean studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus
R S.C JAYARAJ
Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam
K. RAVICHANDRAN
Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Administration

Abstract

Ragavan P, Saxena A, Mohan PM, Jayaraj RSC, Ravichandran K. 2015. Taxonomy and distribution of species of the genus Acanthus (Acanthaceae) in mangroves of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Biodiversitas 16: 225-237. A recent floristic survey
revealed the occurrence of three species of Acanthus in mangroves of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Of these Acanthus
ilicifolius and A. ebracteatus are shrubs, whereas A. volubilis is a climbing shrub. All the three Acanthus species were recorded from the
Andaman Islands, but only A. ilicifolius from the Nicobar Islands. A. volubilis is easily distinguished from other two species by its
unarmed and twining delicate sprawling stems, un-serrated elliptical leaves, white corolla and absence of bracteoles. A. ilicifolius and A.
ebracteatus are differentiated based on the presence and absences of bracteoles, corolla color, and position of Inflorescence and
direction of stem axial spines. A key for the species of Acanthus of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is also provided.

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