The Journal of Indian Botany/Volume 1/October 1919/Contributions towards a Flora of Baluchistan
CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS A FLORA OF BALUCHISTAN.
From materials supplied by Col. J. E. B. Hotson, I. A. B, 0.
BY
E. Blatter, S. J., P. F. Hallberg and C. McCann.
St. Xavier's Coll., Bombay.
Ranunculaceae.
Clematis L.
Clematis orientalis L. Sp. PL 765. Loc; Sitani, 28° 19' N, 66° 5'E (no. 367, 367 A), about 5,300 ft. 29-VI-18.
Adonis L.
Adonis aestivalis L. Sp. PI. 771. Loc. : Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 155), Garmkan, about 6 miles NE of Panjgur, about 3,125 ft. (no. 155A). El. and fr. in March 1918. Vem. Name : Buchki (Bal. Brah. ?).
Ranunculus L.
Ranunculus aquatilis L. Sp. PI. 781 (partim) var. submersus Gr. and Oodr, Loc. : Sitani, 28° 19' N, 66° 5' E, about 5,300 ft. (no. 365, and 365 A), " at places the irrigation channels were starred with these flowers, like tiny water lilies." (Hotson). El. and fr. in June 1918.
Ranunculus muricatus L. Sp. PL 780. Loc. : Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. M 154). El. and fr. in March 1918. Vem. Name : Kalafs (Bal.).
Ranunculus pseudo-muricatus Blatt. and Hall. spec. nov. Acaulis, humilis, glaber ; folia omnia radicalia, longe-petiolata petiolo 20 mm longo, suborbiculata subreniformia, 13 mm diametro, breviter triloba lobis grosse obtuse-dentatis. Pedunculi foliis breviores, florigeri 10 mm, fructiferi vero 20 mm longi. Elores flavi ; calyx patens sepalis ovatis acutis apice contortis (in herbario tantum ?) ; petala late- oblonga, obtusa, sepalis brevioria. Carpella ca 7, rotundo-ovata ; rostrum disco brevius, recurvum ; margo rostrumque carpellorum viridia, sulcata ; discus brunneus, punctulatus spinis ca 6 curvatis obsitus partem praesertim apicalem et ventralem occupantibus. — This species is distinguished from K. muricatus by being stemless and quite glabrous, by the patent calyx, by the shape and size of the petals, and by the sepals not being setulose. Loc. : Nag ( W. Kolwa), about 83 miles E. by N. of Turbat, about 2,300 ft. (no. 154 A). El. and fr. in April 1918. Vem. Name : Kalafs (Bal.)
Ranunculus arvensis L. Sp. PL 780. Loc. : Khudabadan, mile N. of Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 182).E1. in March 1918. Vem. Name : Zard Phul (Bal).
Menispermaceae.
Cocculus DC.
Cocculus cebatha DC. Syst. I (1818) 527. Loc. : Kanoti, 47 miles N. of Las Bela, about 3,200 ft. (217A) ; W. side of Burida Pass, 140 miles SSW of Kalat, below 4,250 ft. (no. 217). " Every time I have seen this plant it has been growing out of a rock and hanging down the face of a cliff." (Hotson). 5-X-17 and 30-VIII-17. Uses : Is reputed to make water cold and to thicken it (Hotson). Vem. Name : Zamor (Bal., Br.).
Cocculus villosus DC. Prodr. I. 98. Loc. : Baran Lak, 28 miles S. of Wad, about 3,900 ft. (no. 380). Fl. in Oct. 1917.
Berberidaceae.
Berberis L.
Berberis lycium Boyle III 64. Locality not T given.
Berberis vulgaris L. Sp. PL 472. Loc. : Harboi, 18 miles ESE of Kalat, 9,000 ft. (21A,B,C). Fruit ripening about the time of the wheat harvest in the valleys, say June in these parts or early July. Uses : The small red berries are eaten by men and animals. The roots are boiled and give a decoction good! for fever, especially high fever ; it is said to make the chest " narm ". (Hotson). Vem. Name : Zarch Brah.
Papaveraceae.
Hypecoum pendulum L. Sp. PI- 181. Loc. : Khudabadan, £ mile N. of Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 19l); Garmkan, 1 mile NE of Panjgur, about 3,125 ft. (no. 167). Fl. and fr. in March 1918.
Fumariaceae.
FUMARIA'L.
Fumaria parviflora Lam. Encycl. II (1786) 567. Loc. : Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. M 173) ; Khudabadan, 1 mile N of Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. M 180) ; Fl. in March 1918— Fr. in March 1918. Vem. Name : Kankechk (Bal.), Kahurkah ? (Bal.).
Cruciferae.
Arabis L.
Arabissp. prope A. tibeticam H. f. & T. Loc. : Rakhshan river bed at Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. Fl. and fr. in March 1918 (no. 16).
Arabis sp. prope A. purpuream Sibth. & Sm. — Fructus immaturus. Loc. : Khudabodan, } mile N. of Panchgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 157 B). Fl. and fr. in March 1918. Vern. Name : Grabust (Br. and Bal.).
Barbarea E.Br.
Barbarea plantaginea DC. Syst. II, 208. Loc. : Rakhshan river bed at Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 160). Fr. in March 1918.
Farsetia Turret,.
Farsetia Jacquemonti Hook. f. and T. in Proc. Linn. Soc. v. 148. Loc. : Panjgur (no. M. 336). Fr. in May 1918.
Farsetia aegyptiaca Turr. Diss. p. 1, tab. I. Loc. : Garmkan, 1 mile NB of Panjgur, about 3,125 ft. (no. 165). Fl. and fr. in March 1918.
Farsetia sp. Fortassis specimen nanum Farsetiae Hamiltonii Royle.Loc. : Dokop lOi miles E of Mand, about 650 ft. (no. 67). Fl. and fr. in March 1918.
Farsetia sp. Loc. : Manguli, 26° 45' N, 65° 21' E, about 2,600 ft. (no. 291). Fl. in April 1918.
Farsetia sp. Loc. : Kuldan (W. Kolwa), about 85 miles E. by N, of Turbat about 2,400 ft. (no. 244). Fl. just coming out in April 1918, Vern. Name : Alant (Bal.).
Farsetia sp. Loc. Nag (W. Kolwa), about 83 miles E. by N. of Turbat, about 2,300 ft. (no. 241). Vern. Name : Kular.
Malcolmia B. Br.
Malcolmia africana B. Br. Kew. IV. 121. Loc. : Not given.
Malcolmia Bungei Boiss. Fl. Or. I. 226. Loc. : Khudabadan, ± mile N. of Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no M 188). Fl. and fr. in March 1918. Vern. Name : Jadanik, Sochaku (Bal.).
GOLDBACHIA DC.
Goldbachia hispida Blatt. & Hall. spec. nov. Herba annua (?) glauca, 20 cm alta, a basi ramosissima, radice simplici, caule striato glabriusculo. Folia radicalia petiolata spathulata integra 4 cm longa, caulina oblanceolata — obtusa vel linearia obtusa basi breviter auri- culata, margine remote et breviter hispido, costa media inferiore prominente. Flores racemos terminales ebracteatos, multiflores laxos formantes, minimi, (petalis roseis uti videtur) ; pedicelli ca 2 mm longi, floribus subaequilongi, filiformes, fructificantes incrassati reflexi 5 mm longi. Siliqua unilocularis indehiscens, monosperma 6 mm longa, vel disperma 9 mm longa, inter semina contracta, coriacea turgidal 2 mm lata basi attenuata, apice in stylum trian- gularem planum obtusum contracta, cujus margines decurrunt secus siliquce latera ; facies siliquos costa media plus minusve distincta ornatoe, interdum prominenter reticulata? et bituberculatae si siliqua est monosperma, vel tetratuberculatae si siliqua est disperma ; tuber- culis presentibus constrictio inter semina minus distincta. Semina anguste oblonga, subcylindrica, faciebus oppositis sulcata. — This species differs from Goldbachia laevigata in the following points : The margin of the leaves is hispid, the siliqua is sometimes 1-seeded, never 3-seeded, the siliqua shows distinct dimorphism. Note : As there is no doubt that this species belongs to the genus Goldachia, a slight change in De Candolle's diagnosis of the genus should be made. He says that there are 2 or 3 cells in the siliqua, superimposed in one row. According to the present knowledge of the genus we must say that there are 1-3 cells in the siliqua. Loc. : Harbud, about 55 miles E of Panjgur, about 3,700 ft. (no. 247 A). Fl. and fr. in April 1918, Vern, Name : Kularbahar (Bal.).
Sisymbrium All.
Sisymbrium Sophia L. Sp. PI. 922. Loc. : Khudabadan, mile N. of Panjgur, about 3,100 feet (no. M. 181), Kalat, about 6,350 ft. (no. 395). Fl. and fr. in March 1918, Fr. in July 1918, at the higher locality. Vern. Name : Kahurkah ( ? Bal.).
Sisymbrium thalianum Gay & Monn. in Gaud. Hcly. IV. 348. Loc. : Nagak (W. Kolwa), about 87 miles E. by N. of Turbat, about 2,400 ft. (no. 138 A). Fr. in April 1918. Vern. Name: Baharo (probably wrong according to Hotson).
Brassica L.
Brassica campestris L. Loc. : Nal, 27° 41' N, 66° 13' E, 3,834 ft., probably only from au accidentally dropped seed, a mile or more from any water in a barren stony plain (no. 337). Fl. in September 1917. Vern. Name: Mashna Muli (Brah.)
ERUCA DC.
Eruca sativa Lam. Fl. Fr. II. 496. Loc. not given. Fl. and fr. in August 1917.
Capsella DC.
Capsella bursa pastoris Moench. Meth. 271. Loc. : Rakhsban river bed at Panjgur, about 3,100 ft. (no. 115 A), growing in a dry stony river bed. Vern. Name : Halaku (Bal.).
Lepidium L.
Lepidium draba L. Sp. Pi. 645. Loc : Mazarjuh, about 28° 11' N, 69° 2' E, about 5,200 ft., found among wheat stubble (no. 157 E) ; Teghab, 107 miles S. of Kalat, about 4,150 ft. (no. 184) ; Panjgur, about 3,100 ft (no. M 157) ; Harbud (no. 157 C) ; Kochau, 122 miles SSW of Kalat, 4,150 ft. (no. 184 A) ; Harbud in Gichk, about 55 miles E. of Panjagur, about 3,700 ft. (no. 157 C). Fl. in March and April 1918. Uses: Cooked and eaten like " palak " or spinach Vern- Name : Garbust (Bal. Br.). " Garbust seems to be a general name for various edible plants with little else in common." (Hotson).
Lepidium propinquum F. & M. in Hohen. Talysch Enum. 142. var. auriculatum Boiss. Fl. Or. I, 357. Loc. not given. Fl. in Aug. 1917.
Lepidium sp. Loc. : Hazarganji, 27° 28' N, 66° 12' E, about 3,600 ft. (no. 184 B). Vern. Name : Garbust (Bal. Br.).
ISATis L.
Isatis latisiliqua Stev. Mem. Mosq. Ill (1812) 267. Loc. : Mitasing, about 17 miles ESE of Panjgur, about 4,000 ft. (no. 318, 318A). Fl. and fr. in April 1918. Vern. Name : Karkikah (Bal.).
Isatis minima Bunqe Del. Sem. Rort. Dorp. (1843) 7. Loc. : Harbud, about 55 miles E. of Panjgur, about 3,700 ft. (no. M 312). Fl. and fr. in April 1918. Vern. Name : Khulif (Br.).
Physorhynchus Hook.
Physorhynchus brahuicus Hook. Ic. PI. tab. 821 and 822. Loc, Cracks in rocky sides of Anjiri, hills S. of Chambar (Kolwa), 26° 9' N.
781-8 64° 42' E, 1,900-2,200 ft. (no. 266, 266A, 266B). Fl. and fr. in April 1918. Note : The lower joint of the siliqua contains sometimes one seed, each loculus of the upper joint is either seedless or 1-seeded.
Capparidaceae.
Cleome L.
Cleome brachycarpa Vahl in DC. Prodr. I. 240. Loc. : Zahren Kahur, 16 miles N. of Pasni, about 200 ft. (no. M 38) ; Eari Dan, 170 miles S. by W. of Kalat, 2,300 ft. (no. 286) ; Korak Pelar, 180 miles S. by W. of Kalat, 1,900 ft, (no. 279). Fl. and fr. in Sept, 1917. Uses : The leaves are said to be crushed in oil and rubbed on the arms, etc., as an embrocation for high fever (Hotson). Vern. Names : Miskok (Bal.), Pawal (Brah.).
Cleome Hotsonii Blatt. it Hall. spec. nov. Herba perennis, basi lignosa, glauca, glaberrima, caulibus gracilibus ascendentibus, 25 cm altis, angulosis. Folia uniformia, elliptica, obtusiuscula, subobliqua, basi subacuta, valde obscure trinervia, carnosa, remote sparsa, infima maiora 25 mm attingentia (petiolo incluso), longepetiolata petiolo gracillimo tertiam vel dimidam partem laminae attingente, superiora minora, floralia (bracteae) minima. Eacemi terminales, pauciflori, laxissimi. Pedicelli patentes fructiferi 8 mm longi, florigeri breviores. Calyx minutissimus, divisus paene ad basim, lobis ovatis, acutis, reticulatim venosis duobus tribus aliis longioribus. Petala 4, longa 7 mm, apice subulata, trinervia. Stamina 6 diversae longitudinis, petalis breviora. Gynophorus, ovarium necnon stylus in nostris speciminibus valde obscura (an rudimentaria ?). Siliqua pendula, linearis, recta, utrimque attenuata, 65 mm longa, 2i mm lata, aliquantulum compressa, membranacea, striata, stipite gracili 4 mm longo, apice cuspidata. Semina disciformia lanata, margine obtusa. This species comes nearest to C. glauca DC, bub is distinguished by the following points : The petioles are much longer, the leaves are elliptic not ovate, the siliqua has a sharp cusp, is longer and narrower. Loc. : Hills near lspikan, about 20 miles NE of Mand, 1,200—1,500 ft. (90, 90 A). Fl. and fr. in March 1918. Vern. Name : Shwanko (Bal.). "The name was given doubtfully" (Hotson).
MAERUA Forsh.
Maerua crasstfolia Forsk. Fl. Aegypt. Arab. p. 113. Maerua uniflora Vahl. Loc. : Hodal Pass (N. side), about 80 miles S. of Panjgur, 2,200—2,900 ft. (no. M 15 B) ; Nasirabad, 23 miles W. of Turbat, about 400 ft. (no. M 15 B). Common on both side of the Hodal Pass which leads from Kilkaur to Kolwa. Fl. in April 1918. Vern. Name : Jogar (Bal.).
Capparis L.
Capparisdecidua Pax in Engl. Prantl Nat. Pflanzenr. 111,2, p. 231. --C. aphylla Roth. Loc. : Jatu Pass (S. side), about 36 miles S. by W. of Panjgur, 3,250 ft., comparatively uncommon in this neighbourhood (no. M 64 A) ; W. side of the Burida Pass, from Bhani to Jebri, fully 140 miles SSW of Kalat, below 4,250 ft. (no. 218) ; Rek Chah 11 miles E. of Chambar (Kolwa), about 1,800 ft. (no. M 64B, 64C) ; throughout the Kolwa plain the chief feature of the landscape is the vast number of Kaler trees, all in flower (13-IV-18). The shades vary from pale salmon to deep red, but the general aspect is far more autumnal than spring-like ; Siman river, 15 miles SE of Khozdar, about 3,700 ft. (no. 218 A bis) ; 2 miles W. of Tump i.e. 48 miles W. of Turbat, about 600 ft. (no. M 64). Fl. and fr. in March 1918, April 1917 and 1918, Sept. 1917. Uses : The fresh young twigs (tips only) are crushed and soaked in water. The water is strained off — sometimes this is done two or three times. The residuum is dried and allowed to solidify. A tiny peace of it is eaten with butter and gives relief from pain after a bruise or fall. Also makes a very strong plaster. (Hotson). Vem. Name : Kalir (Bal.), Kaler (Br.).
Capparis spinosa L. Sp. PL 720. Loc. : On SE side, near summit, of Gar Pass between Rakhshan and Grichk valleys, about 22 miles ESE of Panjgur, about 4,200 ft. (no. M. 286, 28 C). Fl. and fr. in April 1918. Uses : The berries are crushed ; they give a lot of juice, but if they are dry, a very little water is added, and the juice is poured, not heated, into the ear as a cure for ear-ache. (Hotson). Vem. Name : Krap (Bal.).
Capparis spinosa var. canescens Coss. Not. pi. Grit. I, 28. Loc. : Gar Pass, about 22 miles E. by S. of Panjgur, about 4,200 ft. (no. 28 B, 28 D) ; hills near Ispikan, about 20 miles NE of Mnad about 1,200—1,500 ft. (no. 28A) ; Ornach, 3,080 ft. (no. 140A) ; Kuldan (W. Kolwa), about 85 miles E. by N. of Turbat, about 2,400 ft. (no. M 246) ; near Korak (Pelar), 180 miles S. by W. of Kalat, 1,900 ft. (no. 281) ; Gwambuk, about 50 miles S. by E. of Panjgar, about 2,700 ft. (no. M 28). Fl. in April 1918. Fr. in April 1918. Uses: Used as medicine for goats. The leaves are very bitter (Hotson). Vem. Names : Krap (Bal.), Karap (Br.), Khaf Khandar (Br. Bal.). Capparis spino;a var. parviflora Boiss. Fl. Or. I, 4,20. Loc. : Kalgali Kaur, N. of Zayaki Jangal, about 4,800 ft. (no. M 28F). Shadadzai, 72 miles S. of Kalat, 5,100 ft. (no. 140). Fl. in Aug. 1917. Uses : Is boiled in water and applied as a poultice for boils. Also makes water cold. (Hotson). Vem. Names : Krap (Bal.), Khalkandir Khafkhandar (Br.).
Resedaceae.
OCHRADENDS Del.
Ochradenus baccatus Del. Fl. Eg. 15, tab. 34, fig. I. Loc. : Dokop, 60 miles W. of Turbat, about 700 ft. (no. M 17) ; junction of Raghai and Sichk rivers, about 3,600 ft. (no. M. 307) ; Taloi Sunt, about 50 ft. (M 17B) ; Hazarganji, 27° 28' N, 66° 82' E, about 3,600 ft. (no. 334). Fl. in Feb. 1918, April 1918, Sept. 1917, Dec. 1917. Uses : The twigs, leaves and flowers are fried, ground to a powder, mixed with a little neshar and applied dry to wounds and sores to kill maggots, etc. (Hotson). Vem. Names : Kalir Ram, Kirmkush (Bal.).
(To be continued).