ATOLL RESEARCH B U L L E T I N N O * 266
AN ACCOUNT OF THE VEGETATION OF K A V A R A T T I ISLAND, LACCADIVES BY
P - SIVADAS,
B eNARAYANAN
ANDK - SIVAPRASAD
SEPTEMBER 1 9 8 3
island
reef
MANGALORE
E
A N ACCOUNT OF T H E V E G E T A T I O N O F K A V A R A T T I I S L A N D , L A C C A D I V E S
T h e E a c c a d i v e a r c h i p e l a g o , c o n s i s t i n g of a b o u t 2 0 i s l a n d s and separated f r o m the I n d i a n p e n i n s u l a by a b o u t a 2 9 0 k i l o m e t r e s t r e t c h of s e a , o f f e r s a u n i q u e g r o u n d to s t u d y the i n s u l a r f l o r a . A f e w a t t e m p t s h a v e b e e n m a d e to d e s c r i b e the f l o r a of these i s l a n d s i n g e n e r a l ( G a r d i n e r , 1 9 0 6 ; P r a i n , 1890-94). H o w e v e r , t h e o c c u r r e n c e and d i s t r i b u t i o n of the plant s p e c i e s and the e c o l o g i c a l v a r i a t i o n s e x h i b i t e d by t h e m , if a n y , h a v e h i t h e r t o n o t b e e n studied i n these islands. As a p r e l u d e to s u c h a c o m p a r i s o n , the d i s t r i b u t i o n of the p l a n t s of i n d i v i d u a l i s l a n d s i s being studied. A s h o r t a c c o u n t of the c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s and s o i l c h e m i s t r y of K a v a r a t t i Island is m e n t i o n e d before d e s c r i b i n g i t s flora.
K a v a s a t t i , H e a d q u a r t e r s of che Union T e r r i t o r y of L a k s h a d w e e p (Laccadives), l i e s o n a ME-SW a x i s at
~ 0 ' 3 3 " ~ l a t i t u d e a n d 7 2 ' 3 6 ' ~ l o n g i t u d e ( F i g , 1).
T h e l e n g t h o f the Ssland i s 5 . 8 2 km and the maxSmuxn w i d t h i s 1.53 km, the toal a r e a i s 3 . 6 3 s q , km. T h e island has a n extensive lagoon on the western s i d e w h i c h i s s e p a r a t e d f r o m the sea by a c o r a l r e e f *
' ~ e ~ i o n a l C e n t r e , N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e of O c e a n o g r a p h y , C o c h i n - 6 8 2 0 1 8 , India.
2 ~ e s e a r c h F e l l o w , I n d i a n N a t i o n a l S c i e n c e A c a d e m y R e s e a r c h Scheme. P r e s e n t Address: K e r a l a F i s h e r i e s C o r p o r a t i o n , C o c h i n - 6 8 2 0 3 1 , India.
M a n u s c r i p t r e c e i v e d J a n u a r y 1981--Eds.
C L I M A T E
K a v a r a t t i h a s a humid t r o p i c a l c l i m a t e . T h e a n n u a l m i n i m u m t e m p e r a t u r e v a r i e s f r o m 22.6' t o 27'~
w h i l e the a n n u a l m a x i m u m t e m p e r a t u r e v a r i e s f r o m 29.3' to 32.6'~. D e c e m b e r - J a n u a r y a r e t h e c o o l e s t m o n t h s w h i l e A p r i l - M a y a r e the h o t t e s t . T h e i s l a n d h a s t h e b e n e f i t of both S W and N E m o n s o o n s . T h e S W m o n s o o n i s m u c h m o r e s e v e r e , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by h e a v y g a l e s a n d w i n d s . T h e N E m o n s o o n i s milder. T h e t o t a l n u m b e r of r a i n y d a y s v a r i e s f r o m 6 5 to 8 5 . T h e a v e r a g e m o n t h l y r a i n f a l l f o r t h e y e a r s 1 9 7 0 to 1 9 7 5 v a r i e s f r o m 1 3 0 t o 1 9 0 mm.
S O I L
T h e s o i l i s f o r m e d by t h e d e a d , d i s i n t e g r a t e d and w e a t h e r e d s k e l e t o n s of c o r a l s . I t i s e s t i m a t e d to
c o n t a i n 95% c a l c i u m c a r b o n a t e i n t h e f o r m of a r a g o n i t e , T h e pH of the s o i l v a r i e s f r o m 8 to 8 * 4 . P e r c e n t a g e of o r g a n i c c a r b o n i s 1 to 1.4. A v a i l a b l e p h o s p h o r u s i s p r e s e n t at the r a t e of 98.8 k g / ~ a and a v a i l a b l e p o t a s h at t h e r a t e of 65 k g / ~ a , T h e n i t r i f i c a t i o n of the s o i l i s a f f e c t e d by t h e a l k a l i n i t y t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e extent.
T h e s o i l i s of a n o p e n c h a r a c t e r a n d p o s s e s s e s g o o d d r a i n a g e and a e r a t i o n .
V E G E T A T I O W
D u r i n g the p r e s e n t s t u d y , e m p h a s i s w a s g i v e n to d e e e r m i n i n g t h e p l a n t s p e c i e s r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e i s l a n d . T h e p l a n t s a r e t a x o n o m i c a l l y a r r a n g e d
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e B e n t h a m and H o o k e r s y s t e m , F o r t h e c o n v e n i e n c e of c o l l e c t i o n and r e c o r d i n g , t h e w h o l e i s l a n d i s a r b i t r a r i l y d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r z o n e s , and the d i s t r i b u t i o n s of s o m e of t h e p l a n t s h a v e b e e n s h o w n i n F i g s . 2 and 3.
K a v a r a t t i h a s a g o o d v e g e t a t i o n cover. T h e
n o r t h e r n p o r t i o n of the i s l a n d is i n h a b i t e d a n d p l a n t s l i k e M u s a p a r a d i s i a c a , C o l o c a s i a e s c u l e n t a , C a r i c a p a p a y a , A m a r a n t h u s sp., etc., a r e c u l t i v a t e d here.
M o r i n g a o l e i f e r a , A r t o c a r p u s a l t i l i s a n d T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a a r e s e e n g r o w i n g w i l d i n z o n e s 1 and 2. T h e s o u t h e r n end of t h e i s l a n d h a s a s h r u b j u n g l e
c o n s i s t i n g o f p l a n t s l i k e S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a , P r e m n a o b t u s i f o l i a , C a l o p h y l l u m i n o p h y l l u m , P a n d a n u s
o d o r a t i s s i m u s . M o r i n d a c i t r i f o l i a . etc. T r e e s l i k e C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a , Z i z y p h u s m a u r i t i a n a and
T h e s p e s i a p o p u l n e a a r e d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h o u t z o n e s 1 , 2 a n d 3. T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a a n d P e m p h i s a c i d u l a a r e s e e n o n t h e w e s t e r n s i d e of t h e i s l a n d i n z o n e s 3 and 4. F i c u s b e n g a l e n s i s d o e s n o t s e e m t o a d h e r e to a n y s p e c i f i c p a t t e r n of d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d i s s e e n a t r a n d o m i n t h e i s l a n d .
T h e g r o u n d v e g e t a t i o n c o n s i s t s of p l a n t s l i k e S p i n i f e x l i t t o r e u s , A r g e m o n e m e x i c a n , I p o m o e a p e s - c a p r a e , A e r v a l a n a t a , A l y s i c a r p u s m o n i l i f e r , E v o l v u l u s a l s i n o i d e s , C o m m e l i n a b e n g a l e n s i s , etc.
D i s t r i b u t i o n of S p i n i f e x l i t t o r e u s i s r e s t r i c t e d t o c e r t a i n a r e a s i n z o n e s 1 , 3 and 4. Z o n e s 1 and 4 h a v e a n e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e of h e r b s l i k e K y l l i n g a
m o n o c e p h a l a and S e t a r i i t a l i c
.
B l u m e a m e m b r a n a c e i s s e e n d i s t r i b u t e d i n z o n e s 3 and 4. T h e r e i s a ne x t e n s i v e g r o w t h of S t a c h y t a r p h e t a i n d i c i n z o n e s 2 a n d 3 e s p e c i a l l y i n front of t h e Secretariat buildings.
L a n t a n a c a m a r a and B o u g a i n v i l l e a s p e c t a b i l i s a r e t w o p l a n t s o c c u r r i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e i s l a n d . T h e G a n d h i C e n t e n a r y P a r k h a s a n u m b e r of r e c e n t l y i n t r o d u c e d g a r d e n p l a n t s l i k e C o d i a e u m v a r i e g a t u m , I p o m o e a
q u a m o c l i t , H i b i s c u s r o s a - s i n e n s i s , C o s m o s s u l p h u r e u s , N e r i u m i n d i c u m , P e d i l a n t h u s t i t h y m a l o i d e s , etc.
T h e L a k s h a d w e e p a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s m a i n t a i n i n g a n a g r i c u l t u r a l f a r m w h e r e a n u m b e r of c o m m o n v e g e t a b l e s l i k e H i b i s c u s e s c u l e n t u s , S o l a n u m m e l o n g e n a , C a p s i c u m m i n i m u m , T r i c h o s a n t h e s c u c u m e r i n a , C u c u m i s s a t i v u s ,
etc. a r e g r o w n . E u c a l y p t u s sp. i s n o w g r o w n i n t h i s f a r m a s a trial.
I t a p p e a r s that a n a t t e m p t w a s made to c u l t i v a t e O r y z a s a t i v a i n t h i s island l o n g a g o . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e i s l a n d e r s c o r r o b o r a t e s w e l l t h e e v i d e n c e of s o i l r e m o v e d f r o m c e r t a i n a r e a s i n the
i s l a n d to m a k e p a d d y f i e l d s , T h e s o i l t h u s r e m o v e d w a s d u m p e d o n o t h e r p o r t i o n s of the i s l a n d , thus m a k i n g a r t i f i c i a l s a n d d u n e s . H o w e v e r , paddy c u l t i v a t i o n h e r e a p p e a r s to h a v e b e e n u n s u c c e s s f u l . T h i s m a y be b e c a u s e of the h i g h a l k a l i n i t y of the s o i l and the
u n a v a i l a b i l i t y of s u f f i c i e n t f r e s h w a t e r f o r i r r i g a t i o n .
C o c o s n u c i f e r a i s the m a i n p l a n t a t i o n crop. T w o v a r i e t i e s a r e g r o w n ; the c o m m o n t a l l v a r i e t y and the e n d e m i c m i c r o - v a r i e t y . T h e m i c r o - v a r i e t y is s m a l l and i s u n d e r 5' or 6' i n h e i g h t . T h e y i e l d is v e r y h i g h t h o u g h t h e s i z e of t h e f r u i t is c o m p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l . T h e 'Copra' o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e s e c o c o n u t s c o n t a i n s a h i g h l e v e l of o i l w h e n c o m p a r e d t o t h e o r d i n a r y
variety. Some of the islanders are cultivating Piper nigrum and Manihot esculenta i n their private lands.
Piper betle and Areca catechu are the two other common plants grown by the islanders.
There is a sea grass bed consisting of Thalassia
-
hemprichii and
ringod odium
isoetifolium on the bottom of the lagoon, growing from about low water neap tide and continuing out to a distance of about 1 0 0 m. I n certain parts it extends even farther than 1 0 0 rnforming smaller patches i n the lagoon. Usually a huge bulk of dead Thalassia hemprichii is washed ashore and it is possible that it also contributes greatly to the particulate organic carbon of the lagoon.
A total of one hundred and seventeen terrestrial plants have been collected from the 3.629 sq. km island alone. Forty-eight families of angiosperms are
represented h e r e - However, this investigation has not revealed any endemic forms.
New plants are being introduced constantly and the human influence i s quite visible, Plants like
APysicarpus monilifer, Crotalaria fysonii, Codiaeum variegatum, Ipomoea quamoclit seem to have been introduced since they are not recorded by Gardiner (1906). Following is the complete list of plants collected from Karawatti Island:
PAPAVERACEAE
Argemone mexicana L. H 0 0 1 * , Z 1 , 2.20
CAPPARIDACEAE
Cleome viscosa L . I S , Z 1 , 22.
PORTULACACEAE
Portulaca oleracea L * I S , 2 1 , 22, 2 3 , 2 4 .
GUTTIFERAE
CaPophyllum %nophyl%um L * IS, Z 9 , 22, 2 3 , 2 4 . MALVACEAE
Abutilon indicun ( L . ) Sweet 002, 22, 6 3 . Gossypium barbadense L . IS, Z I , 2 2 , 2 3 .
*
H-
Herbarium kept in Regional Centre, N10. (No standard symbol available),IS
-
Identified on sight.Z
-
Zone.i/ - Names followed by have been substituted by the editors to correspond to recent changes or i n some cases for consistency with what seems the best current usage.
Hence they are not the responsibility of the author and his advisors. It is with some hesitation that w e
publish the numerous sight records that are not supported by specimens. F.R.F., ed.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L , Hibiscus esculentus L.
Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol.
ex Correa
IS, 22, I S , 2 2 , 2 3 .
H 003, Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
TILIACEAE
Corchorus trilocula.ris L. H 0 0 4 , 2 2 , 24.
Corchorus capsularis L. I S , 2 3 , 24.
RUTACEAE
Citrus grandis (L.) I S , Z1.
Osbeck I/
Citrus medica L. I S , Z1.
MELIACEAE
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. H 0 0 5 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
RHAMNACEAE Zizyphus
Zizyphus Leea S D .
mauritiana Lamk. H 0 0 6 , H 0 0 7 , VITACEAE
H 0 0 8 , SAP INDACEAE
Dodonaea viscosa L . I S , 2 3 , 2 4 .
Gardiospermum hakicacabum L . I S , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 .
LEGUMINOSAE
Alysicarpus monilifer DC. H 0 0 9 , 741, 2 2 , 2 4 * Crotalaria fysonii Dunn. I S , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
Crotalaria verrucosa L. H 0 1 0 , 22.
Csotalaria setusa L . H 0 1 2 , 22.
Cassia occidentalis L. I S , 2 2 , 23.
Cassia tora L. I S , 2 2 , 23.
Cassia sp. H 0 1 3 , 2 2 , 23.
Clitoria ternatea L . I S , Z 1 , 22.
Desmodium gangeticum (L,)DC, I S , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
Indigofera tinctoria L . H 0 1 4 , 2 2 , % 3 * Phaseolus s p , H 0 1 5 , 22, 2 3 * Tephrosia s p , H 0 1 6 , 2 2 , 2 3 *
COMBRETACEAE
Terminalia catappa L. M 0 1 9 , 21, 2 3 . MYRTACEAE
Psidium g u a j a v a L . I S , 2 2 . ZYTHRACEAE
Pemphis aciduka Forst, I S , 2 3 , 2 4 .
CARICACEAE
Carica papaya L. I S , 2 1 , 2 2 , 23.
CUCURBITACEAE
Trichosanthes cucumerina L. H 0 1 8 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 - Cucumis sativus L . I Z , Z 1 , Z 2 *
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voight H 0 1 9 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
RUBIACEAE
Morinda citrifolia L. IS, 23.
Hedyotis umbellata (L.) Lamk. H 0 2 0 , 2 2 , 24.
COMPOSITAE Blumea membranacea DC
Cosmos sulphureus Cav.
Spilanthes calva DC.
Veronia cinerea (L.) Less.
Tridax procumbens L.
Zinnia sp.
Scaevola sericea Vahl Chrysophyllum cainito Manilkara zapota (L.)
P.V. Royen 11
H 0 2 1 , H 022, H 0 2 3 , H 024, H 0 2 5 , H 026, GOODENIACEAE
H 027, SAPOTACEAE
I S , 22 IS, 22.
APOCYNACEAE
.
*( ~ a m r k . ) Fosberg & Sachet
H
H 0 2 8 , 22.Parsonsia alboflavescens (Dennst.) Mabberly
Nerium oleander var. indicum
(Mill,) Deg. # H 0 3 0 , 22, 23.
ASCLEPIADACEAE
Calotropis gigantea R. Br. I S , 21, 22.
BORAGIMACEAE
Touknefortia argentea ~ . f . H 0 3 1 , 2 3 , 24.
CONVOLVULACEAE
Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) Sweet I S , 22, 23, 24.
Ipomoea macrantha R . & S. # H 0 3 2 , 2 3 , 24.
Evolvulvus alsinoides L. - H 0 3 3 , 21, 2 2 , 24.
Ipomoea quamoclit L.
Cuscuta seflexa Roxb, Capsicum minimum Roxb, Capsicum frutescens L a Datura stsamonium L , Solanum lycopersFcum L , # S o l a n u r n melongena L ,
Tecoma stans (L.) N.B.
Andrographis sp.
Justicia procumbens L.
H 034, 22.
IS, 23.
SOLANACEAE
IS, 22.
IS, 22.
N 0 3 5 , 22, 23.
IS, z 2 * IS, 22.
BLGNONIACEAE
6: K. W 036, 22, 2 3 .
ACANTHACEAE
H 037, Z1,22, 23,24.
IS, 21, 22, 2 3 , 24.
VERBENACEAE
Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn. H 0 3 8 , 22.
Lantana camara L. I S , Z l , 2 2 , 2 3 , 24.
Premna obtusifolia R. Br. - - - --. H 0 3 9 , 23.
Stachytarpheta indica Vahl H 0 4 0 , 2 2 , 23.
Lippia nodiflora (L.) Rich. H 0 4 1 , 2 2 , 24.
LABIATAE
Ocimum sanctum L. I S , 22.
Anisomeles indica 0. Ktze. H 0 4 2 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
Boerhavia diffusa L.
-
Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. ?
Achyranthes aspera L.
Amaranthus gangeticus L.
Amaranthus spinosus L.
Amaranthus caudatus L .
Amaranthus viridis L.
Aerva lanaka ( L o ) Juss.
Celosia argentea L . Pipes nigrum L . Piper betle L . Acalypha indica L . Codiaeum variegatum L . Ricinus communis L.
Pedilanthus tithymaloides Poit.
NYCTAGINACEAE
H 0 4 3 , Z 1 , Z3,Z3.
I S , 2 2 , 23.
AMARANTHACEAE
H 0 4 4 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 239
Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Manihot esculenta Crantz E u ~ h o r b i a tirucalli L.
PIPERACEAE
I S , z 1 , 22.
I S , z 1 , 22.
EUPHORBIACEAE
H 0 4 6 , 2 2 , 23.
H 0 4 7 , 22.
H 0 4 8 , Zl.
(La)
H 0 4 9 , 2 2 , 23.
Euphorbia rosea Retz Euphorbia thymifolia L.
Euphorbia hirta L.
Artocarpus altilis (Park,) Fosberg
Ficus religiosa L.
Ficus bengalensis L .
H 0 5 0 , 22.
I S , z1.
I S , z3e
I S , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 .
r s ,
z 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 =I S , 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 , M O R A C E A E
I S , 2 1 , Z Z . ,
I S , Z 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 , I S , z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
URTICACEAE
Pouzolzia zeylanica(L.)Benn. H 0 5 1 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 24.
CASUARINACEAE
Casuarina equisetifolia L . H 0 5 2 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
CANNACEAE Canna indica L.
Musa paradisiaca L.
I S , 23.
MUSACEAE
I S , z 1 , 2 2 , 23.
A M A R Y L L I D A C E A E
A g a v e sp. I S , 2 2 , 23.
D I O S C O R E A C E A E
I S , 2 1 , 2 2 , 23.
D i o s c o r e a a l a t a L.
L I L I A C E A E
G l o r i o s a s u p e r b a L. H 0 5 3 , 2 2 , 23.
R h o e o s p a t h a c e a (Sw.) S t e a r n I S , 2 2 , 23.
A s p a r a g u s racernosus Willd. I S , 23.
C O M M E L I N A C E A E
C o m m e l i n a b e n g h a l e n s i s L. H 0 5 4 , Z 1 , 2 2 , 23,24.
A R E C A C E A E
A r e c a catechul L. I S , 21.
C o c o s nucifera L. I S , 2 2 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 24.
P A N D A N A C E A E P a n d a n u s odoratissirnus L.f. I S , 24.
A R A C E A E A l o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a (L.)
S c h o t t I S , Z 1 , Z 2 +
C o l o c a s i a e s c u l e n t a (L.) S c h o t t I S , Zl, 22.
C Y P E R A C E A E
C y p e r u s k y l l i n g i a E n d l , ff I S , Z 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 , G R A M I N E A E
S p i n i f l e x l i t t o r e u s Mers. I S , Z 1 , 2 3 , 2 4 .
Saccharurn o f f i c i n a r u m L . S e t a r i a i t a l i c a Beauv.
I S , 2 2 .
IS, Z I , Z 2 , Z 3 , 2 4 . A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S
T h e a u t h o r s w o u l d l i k e to e x p r e s s t h e i r
g r a t e f u l n e s s to ( t h e late) D r . N. K. P a n i k k a r , f o r m e r D i r e c t o r , N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f O c e a n o g r a p h y , G o a , I n d i a , for the i n t e r e s t he took i n this i n v e s t i g a t i o n , to Dr. S. Z. Q u a s i m and Dr. T.S.S. Rao f o r t h e i r h e l p . T h e y would l i k e to thank P r o f . M. 6 . J o h n , Read of the D e p a r t m e n t of B o t a n y , C . M , S . C o l l e g e , K o t t a y a m , T n d i a , and Mr. M. K. M e n o n , T a x o n o m y D i v i s i o n , K e s a l a F o r e s t I n s t i t u t e , P e e c h i , T r i c h u s , T n d i a , for the h e l p r e n d e r e d to i d e n t i f y s o m e of the plants. T h i s w o r k w a s d o n e
d u r i n g the tenure o f a project s p o n s o r e d b y the I n d i a n R a t i o n a l S c i e n c e A c a d e m y (INSA) a n d o n e of u s (K.S.P.)
is t h a n k f u l f o r the award of the f e l l o w s h i p .
REFERENCES
Gardiner, J.S. 1 9 0 6 . The fauna and geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes, being the account of the work carried out and of collections made by a n expedition during the years 1 8 9 9 and
1 9 0 0 , Vol. 2 , Cambridge: University Press.
P r a i n , D. 1 8 9 0 . A list of Laccadive plants.
-
S c . - Mem, Med. Off. Army India, 5: 4 7 - 7 0 .- - -
1 8 9 2 - 9 4 . Botany of the Laccadives, being natural
history n o t e s from H.M.1.M. Survey Steamer
" ~ n v e s t i g a t o r " , ,,J.
-
B o m b a y Mat, Hist. Soc., 7:268-95; 1892; 8 : 5 7 - 8 6 , 1 8 9 3 ; 4 8 8 , 1 8 9 4 .
( R e p r i n t e d in M e m o , and M e m o r , 301-89, 1894.)
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Thalassia on the intertidal areaPlate 2. Huge bulk of dead Thalassia washed ashore -
P l a t e 3. S p i n i f e x l i t t o r e u s c l o s e - u p v i e w
P l a t e 4 . - P e m j h i s a c i d u l a on t h e l a g o o n s i d e o f t h e b e a c h
