Taxonomic revision of the genus Murdannia royle Commelinaceae in India

Abstract

The work entitled Taxonomic revision of the genus Murdannia Royle (Commelinaceae) in India is the result of extensive field and herbarium studies carried out during the period 2008 2013. The thesis is presented in 6 chapters. The chapter 1 deals with general features of Commelinaceae and the genus Murdannia followed by the relevance of the study, review of literature and area of present study. In the review of literature, earlier taxonomic and extra taxonomic treatments on the genus are briefly discussed. The materials and methods are presented in chapter 2. The systematic treatment is presented in chapter 3. It includes correct nomenclature, typification, citation, relevant synonymy, detailed description, ecology and distribution on the genus. An artificial key to the species of Murdannia in India is also provided. The species are treated alphabetically.SEM studies of seeds and its significance in the taxonomy of Murdannia is given in chapter 4. The foliar epidermal studies and their taxonomic significance are discussed in chapter 5. A discussion on comparative morphology and the summary of the investigation are presented in chapter 6. A morphometric analysis of twenty six Indian species of Murdannia is also included in this chapter. Seven appendices are given, dealing with the list of papers published/communicated, list of herbaria consulted, model data sheet of Murdannia, list of floras consulted, the distribution, the chromosome numbers and the data matrix for morphometric analysis of Indian species of Murdannia newline