ASSESSMENT OF COASTAL PLANT DIVERSITY IN INDIA

 Table-I; No. of Angiosperms collected from the Indian coast. 

 

No. of Families

No. of Genera

No. of Species

Monocot

 21

    124

248

Dicot

105

    425

721

Total

126

    549

969

 Table-II; Family, genera and species distributed in different coastal states in India. 

Region of coast

States/ Parts

No. of Families

No. of Genera

No. of species

East Coast

West Bengal

101

358

568

 

Orissa

112

370

632

 

Andhra Pradesh

103

357

545

 

Tamil Nadu

114

433

727

 

Total

123

480

838

 

 

 

 

 

West Coast

Kerala

105

376

595

 

Karnataka

109

379

597

 

Maharastra

102

350

585

 

Goa

87

254

340

 

Total

114

461

796

 

 

 

 

 

Gujarat Coast

Gujarat

87

318

392

 

 

 

 

 

Andaman & Nicobar

 

66

124

166

 

 

 

 

 

Lakshadweep

 

20

34

40

 Table III; Species with special status with respect to different coastal states/areas. 

Species

Distribution

Status

Artabotrys hexapetalus

East Coast

Restricted

Alphonsea ventricosa

Orissa & Andaman

Restricted

Polyalthia korinthi

East Coast

Restricted

Brassica napus

East Coast

Restricted

Polygala arillata

Coromandal, Malabar and Konkan Coast

Restricted

Salomonia ciliata

Peninsular Coast

Restricted

Polycarpaea spicata

Gujarat & East Coast

Restricted

Tamarix aphylla

Gujarat & Andhra Pradesh

Restricted

Tamarix dioica

Gujarat, Kerala, Maharastra & Orissa

Rare

Bergia capensis

Gujarat, Karnatak & Maharasra

Restricted

Bergia suffruticosa

Gujarat, Karnatak & Maharastra

Rare

Calophyllum apetalum

Coromandal, Malabar & Konkan Coast

Restricted

Calophyllum polyanthum

Coromandal, Malabar & Konkan Coast

Restricted

Abelmoschus moschatus

Kerala, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu & Orissa

Rare

Hibiscus surattensis

Gujarat & West Coast

Restricted

Senra incana

Gujarat

Restricted

Sida ovata

Gujarat, Maharastra & Orissa

Restricted

Heritiera fomes

Mahanadi Delta & Sundarban

Restricted

Heritiera kanikensis

Mahanadi Delta

Restricted

Heritiera littoralis

Mahanadi Delta, Karnatak, Kerala & Andaman

Restricted

Brownlowia tersa

Mahanadi Delta and Sundarban

Restricted

Fagonia indica

Gujarat and Konkan Coast

Restricted

Peganum hermala

Gujarat, Karnatak & Maharastra

Restricted

Zygophyllum simplex

Gujarat & Konkan Coast

Restricted

Quassia indica

Karnatak, Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Suriana maritima

Lakshadweep & Coastal islands of Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Aglaia cucullata

Mahanadi Delta, Sundarban & Andaman

Restricted

Aglaia elaeagnoidea

Gujarat & Konkan Coast

Restricted

Walsura trifoliata

Gujarat & Konkan Coast

Rare

Xylocarpus granatum

Godavari & Mahanadi Deltas, Sundarban  & Andaman

Restricted

Xylocarpus mekongensis

Mahanadi Delta, Sundarban & Andaman

Restricted

Xylocarpus moluccensis

Andaman

Restricted

Scutia myrtina

Malabar and Coromandal Coasts

Restricted

Buchanania axillaris

Karnatak, Maharastra & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Holigarna longifolia

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa

Rare

Rourea minor

Karnatak, Kerala, Orissa & Andaman

Restricted

Alhagi pseudalhagi

Gujarat, Goa, Maharastra

Restricted

Alysicarpus homosus

Gujarat, Orissa & West Bengal

Restricted

Alysicarpus scarious

All through the Mainland Coast

Rare

Crotalaria burhia

Gujarat

Restricted

Crotalaria filipes

Gujarat, Karnatak & Maharastra

Restricted

Crotalaria medicaginea

Gujarat, Tamil Nadu & Orissa

Restricted

Crotalaria superflorens

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Dalbergia spinosa

East Coast

Restricted

Desmodium dichotomum

Karnatak, Kerala & West Bengal

Restricted

Erythrina variegata

East Coast

Restricted

Flemingia strobilifera

Malabar & Konkan Coast

Restricted

Indigofera argentea

Gujarat

Restricted

Indigofera trita

Karnatak, Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh

Restricted

Lotus garcini

Maharastra

Restricted

Macroptilium lathyroides

Konkan & Malabar Coast

Restricted

Macrotyloma dimersus

Karnatak, Kerala, Maharastra

Restricted

Mucuna gigantea

Malabar, Sundarban & Andaman

Restricted

Mucuna pruriens

Sundarban

Restricted

Rothia indica

Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal

Restricted

Stylosanthes fruticosa

Karnatak & Kerala

Restricted

Tephrosia maxima

Orissa & West Bengal

Rare

Tephrosia spinosa

Gujarat, Maharastra & Andhra Pradesh

Restricted

Tephrosia strigosa

Gujarat, Karnatak & Maharastra

Lakshadweep

Uraria lagopus

Karnatak, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu & West Bengal

Rare

Uraria rufescens

Karnatak, Kerala & Maharastra

Restricted

Cynometra iripa

Deltaic islands of Orissa, Sundarban & Andaman

Restricted

Cynometra ramiflora

East Coast & Andaman

Restricted

Delonix elata

Gujarat & West Coast

Restricted

Dichrostachys cinerea

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Intsia bijuga

Deltaic islands of Orissa, Sundarban & Andaman

Restricted

Acacia chundra

Gujarat

Restricted

Acacia senegal

Gujarat

Restricted

Mimosa hamata

Karnatak, Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Prosopis glandulosa

Gujarat

Restricted

Myriophyllum indicum

East Coast

Restricted

Bruguiera cylindrica

East Coast & Andaman

Restricted

Bruguiera parviflora

East Coast & Andaman

Restricted

Bruguiera sexangula

East Coast

Restricted

Ceriops tagal

Orissa, West Bengal, & Andaman

Rare

Kandelia candel

East Coast

Restricted

Rhizophora stylosa

Orissa

Rare

Lumnitzera littorea

Tamil Nadu & Andaman

Restricted

Melaleuca leucadendron

Gujarat & West Coast

Restricted

Memecylon grande

Karnatak, Kerala & Goa

Restricted

Pemphis acidula

Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Lakshadweep

Restricted

Barringtonia asiatica

Andaman

Restricted

Careya arborea

Kerala

Restricted

Sonneratia apetala

Andhra Pradesh, Orissa & West Bengal

Restricted

Sonneratia grifithii

Orissa, West Bengal & Andaman

Restricted

Sesuvium sesuvioides

Gujarat & Maharastra

Restricted

Lasianthus acuminatus

Karnatak

Rare

Lasianthus parvifolius

Karnatak

Rare

Oldenlandia nitida

Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Oldenlandia stricta

Andhra Pradesh & Orissa

Restricted

Randia dumetorium

East Coast

Restricted

Scypiphora hydrophyllacea

Andhra Pradesh & Andaman

Rare

Blumeopsis flava

Karnatak & Andaman

Restricted

Helichrysum cutchicum

Gujarat

Restricted

Kleinia grandiflora

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Launea resedifolia

Gujarat

Rare

Pluchea arguta

Gujarat

Restricted

Sphaeromorphaea australis

Orissa

Restricted

Synedrella nodiflora

Throughout the Mainland Coast

Rare

Scaevola plumierii

Andhra Pradesh & Andaman

Restricted

Manilkara littoralis

Andaman

Restricted

Olea dioica

Karnatak & Kerala

Restricted

Ochrosia oppositifolia

Andaman

Rare

Finlaysonia obovata

Mahanadi Delta, Sundarban & Andaman

Rare

Canscora decussata

Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Exacum pedunculatum

Orissa & West Bengal

Restricted

Adelocaryum caelestinum

Karnatak & Kerala

Restricted

Ehretia acuminata

Karnatak, Maharastra, Orissa & Andaman

Rare

Heliotropium crispum

Saurashtra in Gujarat

Restricted

Sericostema pauciflorum

Gujarat

Rare

Tournefortea argentea

Lakshadweep

Restricted

Hewittia scandens

Gulf of  Mannar & Lakshadweep

Restricted

Ipomoea obscura

Gujarat, Karnatak, Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh

Rare

Limnophila indica

Orissa & West Bengal

Restriction

Lindernia anagallis

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa & West Bengal

Rare

Rhincoglossum obliquum

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Acanthus ebracteatus

Andaman

Restricted

Acanthus volubilis

West Bengal & Andaman

Restricted

Blepharis indica

Gujarat, Maharastra & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Peristrophe paniculata

Gujarat & Maharastra

Restricted

Vitex trifolia

Goa, Karnatak & Kerala

Restricted

Avicennia marina var. acutissima

Gujarat, Orissa & West Bengal

Restricted

Leucas diffusa

East and West Peninsular Coast

Rare

Ocimum gratissimum

Kerala, Maharastra & East Coast

Rare

Pisonea aculeata

Karnatak, Kerala  & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Amaranthus tricolor

Gujarat, Maharastra & Karnatak

Rare

Digera muricata

Karnatak, Maharastra & East Coast

Rare

Nothosaerva brachiata

Karnatak, Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Suaeda fruticosa

Gujarat & Andhra Pradesh

Restricted

Suaeda maritima

Gujarat & West Coast

Restricted

Apama siliquosa

Karnatak

Restricted

Aristolochia tagala

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Litsea nitida

Orissa

Rare

Hernandia peltata

Andaman

Rare

Acalypha brachystachya

Kerala, Lakshadweep & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Antidesma acidum

Tamil Nadu & Orissa

Rare

Bridelia retusa

Gujarat

Rare

Euphorbia atoto

Karnatak & Lakshadweep

Restricted

Euphorbia caducifolia

Gujarat

Rare

Euphorbia heterophylla

Gujarat & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Euphorbia orbiculata

Tamil Nadu, andhra Pradesh & West Bengal

Rare

Jatropha glandulifera

Rameswaram

Rare

Jatropha gossypifolia

Orissa & West Bengal

Restricted

Micrococca mercurialis

Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh

Rare

Sebastiana chamaclea

Kerala

Restricted

Cycas rumphii

Andaman

Restricted

Enhalus acoroides

Rameswaram

Restricted

Halophila stipulacea

Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh

Restricted

Burmannia coelestis

Karnatak & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Bulbophyllum mysorense

Karnatak

Restricted

Coelogynae thailandica

Andaman

Restricted

Phoenix farinaria

Coromandal Coast

Restricted

Phoenix paludosa

Orissa, Werst Bengal & Andaman

Restricted

Nypa fruticans

West Bengal & Andaman

Restricted

Pandanus andamanensium

Andaman

Endemic

Pandanus leram

Andaman

Endemic

Sagittaria guayanensis

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh & Orissa

Rare

Aponogeton crispus

Southern India

Endemic

Halodule uninervis

Maharastra & Andaman

Restricted

Potamogeton malaianus

Tamil Nadu, Orissa & Andaman

Restricted

Syringodium isoetifolium

Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Ruppia maritima

Orissa (Chilka) & West Bengal

Restricted

Acrocerus munroanum

Kerala & West Bengal

Rare

Aristida hystrix

Maharastra & Kerala

Rare

Arthraxon villosus

Maharastra & Kerala

Rare

Bhidea burnsiana

Maharastra & Kerala

Rare

Brachiaria setigera

Gujarat & West Bengal

Restricted

Dimeria lowsonii

Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Rare, Endemic

Eragrostis atrovirens

Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Restricted

Eragrostis coarcata

Maharastra & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Eragrostis subsecunda

Kerala

Rare

Eragrostis tef

Kerala

Restricted

Hymenachne acutigluma

Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Ischaemum santapaui

Maharastra

Restricted

Ischaemum thomsoniannum

Kerala, Maharastra & Tamil Nadu

Rare

Ischaemum vembadense

Maharastra & Kerala

Rare

Panicum miliaceum

Tamil Nadu & Orissa

Restricted

Sacciolepis myosuroides

Karnatak

Rare

Sporobolus coromandelianus

Coromandel Coast

Restricted

  DIFFERENT HABIT OF PLANTS THAT ARE USUALLY RESTRICTED ALONG THE SANDY AND ROCKY COAST IN INDIA

 

MAT FORMING STRAND CREEPERS

Aeluropus lagopoides                                                            Canavalia maritima

Cyperus arenarius                                                                 C. cathartica

C. pedunculatus                                                                      Dolichos ciliatus

C. stoloniferus                                                                         Indigofera asplanthoides

Ipomoea pes-caprae                                                                I. Uniflora

I. repens                                                                                  Launaea sarmentosa

I. tuba                                                                                      Paspalum vaginatum

I. achaemum                                                                           Perotis indica

Sesuvium portulacastrum                                                       Sporobolus virginicus

Trianthema hydaspica                                                              Trachys muricata

Vigna luteola                                                                           Zoysia matrella

 

DIFFUSELY BRANCHING PROSTRATE /ERECT STRAND HERBS & SEDGES

Allamania nodiflora                                                  Anotis carnosa

A. nodiflora var. roxburghii                                       Artiplex repens

Astragalus prolixus                                                     A. stocksii

Borreria articularis                                                     Corchorus depressus

B. sticta                                                                       Crotalaria burhia

Desmodium biarticulatum                                          C. laburnifolia

Enicostema hyssopifolium                                          C. medicagenea

Euphorbia atoto                                                          C. nana

E. rosea                                                                       C. rigida

Fimbristylis spathacea                                                C. striata

F. junciformis                                                             C. trifoliastrum

Geniosporum tenuiflorum                                           C. verrucosa

Gisekia pharmaceoides                                               Glinus oppositifolius

Heliotropium currasavicum                                        Helichrysum cutchicum

Heylandia latebrosa                                                    Hydrophylax maritima

Indigofera cordifolia                                                   Lotus garcini

Mollugo cerviana                                                        Nesaea lanceolata

M. disticha                                                                  Osbeckia zeylanica var. non rostrata

Peplidium maritimum                                                 Phaseolus trilobus

Phyllanthus rotundifolius                                            Polycarpaea corymbosa

Psilostachys sericea                                                    P. spicata

Pulicaria angustifolia                                                 Rothia indica

Scaevola sericea                                                         Synostemon bacciforme

Taverniera cuneifolia                                                  Tephrosia spinosa

Trianthema triquetra                                                  T. strigosa

Xyris indica                                                                 Zornia gibbosa

 

STRAND CLIMBERS

Aristolochia indica                                             Bauhinia anguina

Brewiera evolvuloides                                                             Caesalpinia crista

Capparis sepiaria                                                                    Cassytha filiformis

Cissus quadrangularis                                                            Dalbergia spinosa

Derris uliginosa,                                                                      Fagellaria indica

Heterostemma tanjorensis                                                      Hibiscus tiliaceus

Leptadena reticulata                                                               Mucuna gigantea

Parsonia helicandra,                                                               Pisonia aculeata

Pachygone zeylanica                                                               Sarcolobus carinatus

Sarcostemma acidum                                                              Sapindus emarginatus

Solanum trilobatum                                                               

 

STRAND PLANTS WITH PERENNATING ORGANS

Asparagus dumosus                                          Cholorophyton tuberosum

Crinum asiaticum                                              Portulaca tuberosa,

Crinum defixum                                                 Scilla hyacinthina

Uregina indica

                                               

STRAND SHRUBS AND TREES

 

Tussock and Thicket

Acrostichum aureum (a Strand Fern)                                      Alhagi pseudalhagi

Asparagus dumosus                                                                Clerodendrum inerme

Dimorphocalyx glabellus                                                        Halopyrum mucronatum

Jatropha glandulifera                                                             Limnonium stocksii

 

Rock Strand

Lotus garcini                                                        Myriostachya wightiana

Saccaharum officinarum                                                        Solanum arundo

Sinifix littoreus                                                                        Syzygium rusifolium

Tamarix articulata                                                                  Tamarix troupii

 

STRAND (STUNTED) TREES

Acacia planifrons                                                 Ardisia littoralis

Anacardium occindentale                                                       Atalantia angulata

Borasus flabellifera                                                                 Capparis cartilaginea

Calophyllum inophyllum                                                         Capparis cartilaginea

Calotropis gigantea                                                                Cauarina equisetifolia

C. procera                                                                               Cerbera manghas

Cocos nucifera                                                                        Colubrina asiatica

Commiphora wightii

 

Rock Sand                 

Cordia subcordata                                              Cordia subcordata

Erythrina indica                                                                      Cordia subcordata

Erythrina indica                                                                      Euphorbia caudifolia

Grewia tenax                                                                          E. nivulia

Guettarda speciosa                                                                 Gymnosporia emarginata

Hernandia ovigera                                                                  Heritiera littoralis

Hibiscus tuliaceus                                                                   Hyphaene indica

Ixora coccinea                                                                          Maba buxifolia

Morinda citrifolia                                                                    Messerchimidia argentea

 

Coral Sand

Pandanus tectorius                                               Pemphis acidula

 

Coral Rock

Premna corymbosa                                                                 Pongamia pinnata

P. latifolia                                                                               Samadera indica

P. serratifolia                                                                          Salvadora persica

Scaevola taccada                                                                    Scutia myrtina

Streblus asper                                                                         Suriana maritima

Thespesia populnea