Botanical

Communication

Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. 9(3): 406-414 (2016)

Morphological screening of endangered medicinal

plants of milkweed family from Thar desert,

Rajasthan, India

Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

The indigenous systems of medicine in India are Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani. These traditional systems of medicine

together with homeopathy and folkcare medicine play an important role in the health care system of the popula-

tion. Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. and Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. belongs to the milkweed family i.e. Asclepiadace,

distributed in various habitats in semi-arid region of Thar desert of Rajasthan. This work was carried out to explore

morphological pecularities of whole plant of both the representatives of the family. Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br.

is used to cure diarrhoea, oedema, stomach problems and tuberculosis. Ceropegia bulbosa is used to cure deafness,

tubers are used in the treatment of kidney stone, urinary tracts diseases and they are eaten by ladies to enhance fer-

tility and viability. Pollinial apparatus is a signi cant feature of Asclepiadaceae to characterize species and genera.

Morphological study revelaed principle characteristic differences and similarities in both the representatives plants.

True xerophytic features of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. are, presence of milky latex, highly reduced leaves, green

globarous stem, and strong tap root af xed  rmly in stony and rocky substratum in association with other xero-

phytic plants of stressed conditions. Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa and var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f. is perennial,

twining, herb of sandy substratum, bearing tubers, needs support of other xerophytic bushes/ shrubs. Both the repre-

sentative genera under study are almost endangered. Since no report on systematic and comparative morphological

analysis of whole plant of both the representatives is available, an effort has been made to prepare a protocol to

provide the keys for taxonomy and better understanding of  ora.

KEY WORDS: ASCLEPIADACEAE,

CEROPEGIA BULBOSA

ROXB., ENDANGERED, LATEX, MORPHOLOGY, POLLINIA,

SARCOSTEMMA

VIMINALE

(L.) R.BR., TUBER.

406

ARTICLE INFORMATION:

*Corresponding Author: jnvusunitarora@gmail.com

Received 12

July, 2016

Accepted after revision 20

Aug, 2016

BBRC Print ISSN: 0974-6455

Online ISSN: 2321-4007

Thomson Reuters ISI ESC and Crossref Indexed Journal

NAAS Journal Score 2015: 3.48 Cosmos IF : 4.006

reserved.

Online Contents Available at: http//www.bbrc.in/

Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal plant products have a long history of indige-

nous use in india as well as other countries (Hinemath et

al., 2000). The research on medicinal plants are impor-

tant leading area in the world (Boomibalagan et al.,

2014) . Several medicinal plants remain associated with

antifertility properties (Madhumita and Saral, 2009).

The plants of family Asclepiadaceae remains distributed

from south East Asia, India, Madagascar, Tropical Ara-

bia, Canary Island, Africa except Mediteranean region,

new Guinea and north Australia (Bruyns, 2003; Dyer,

1983). The family Asclepiadaceae was previously ranked

as family and now it is treated as a subfamily of Apoc-

ynaceae. This view was also upheld by the Angiosperm

Phylogeny Group (APG 2003, 2009). It is comprised of

approximate 130 genera and 2000 species tropical as

well as subtropical, mostly shrubs, often twining or per-

ennial herbs (Indhumathi and Kalvimoorthi, 2010).

Both of the plant representatives under study

were reported from semi arid and stressed regions of

Rajasthan, the biggest state of India is situated in the

north western part. A striking geological feature of the

state is the Aravalli range which divides the state into

two physiographic regions, the 2/3 sandy arid plain is

unproductive, Thar Desert and 1/3 eastern fertile region

is comparatively rich in vegetation. The Thar Desert

encompasses about 70% of total landmass of Rajasthan

and hence it is identi ed as the “Desert state of India”.

The average temperature in winter ranges from 8° to

28°C (46° to 82° F) and in summer the average tempera-

ture range from 25° to 46°C (77° to 115° F).

Sarcostemma is a genus of at least 35 species of  ow-

ering plants. The plants are well adapted to xeric condi-

tions of Thar Desert. It inhabits dry and rocky areas on

hills. The soft stem is  lled with milky white latex that is

poisonous and caustic in some species, so often named

as caustic vine. The  owers have a ring of thick tissue

at the base which extends into hollow spherical append-

ages within the  ower corolla (GRIN, 2011). It is more

branched, leaves are either absent or highly reduced,

grows always in association with Euphorbia caducifolia

(Shetty and Singh, 1993).

Ceropegia is old world tropical genus of climbers and

it contains about 200 species, of which 49 species are

found in India. It grows sporadically in red lateritic soil.

Flowering occurs during July-September. This genus has

always been a lure to the researchers because of struc-

tural and adaptive strategies (Percival, 1969). Flower

design, corolla size, shape and coloring pattern etc. are

some special characters of this genus. Among different

species Ceropegia bulbosa is one of the widely distrib-

uted species but still threatened (Yadav and Kamble,

2008). Two varieties of Ceropegia bulbosa were ana-

lyzed morphologically i.e. Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var.

bulbosa and Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. The former one is characterized by broad leaves

while the later is a narrow leaved variety (Cooke, 1958).

Several species of Ceropegia are facing different threats

and almost 16 species have been recorded under dif-

ferent categories in Red Data Book (Nayar and Sastry,

1987-89).

The main objective of this paper was to investigate

the morphological parameters of Sarcostemma viminale

(L.) R.Br. and Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. to understand the

strategies, these plants develop to survive in stressed

desertic conditions of Thar Desert.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. was collected from

Jodhpur district, that is centrally situated in the west-

ern region of the state, and covers a total geographical

area of 22850 Sq. Kilometers. It lies between 26°0’ and

27°37’ north latitude and 72°55’ and 73°52’ east lon-

gitude. The district lies at a height of 250-300 meters

above sea level. Ceropegia bulbosa was collected from

Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorghar, Udaipur and Karoli

district of Rajasthan. All the plant specimens were col-

lected during month of July-September 2015. “The Flora

of Indian Desert” (Bhandari, 1978) was also consulted

for identi cation, and then the specimens were  nally

authenticated by BSI (Botanical Survey of India), Jodh-

pur (Rajasthan). Photomicrographs of the plant in its

original habitat were taken in the  eld to display the

surface feature of the leaf, stem, root and  ower. These

organs were photographed in closer views. The speci-

mens of both plant species were packed in air-tight poly

bags. The specimens were sprayed with fungicide & pes-

ticides for preparing herbarium sheets.

For morphological studies  owering twigs & herbar-

ium samples were examined through the conventional

taxonomical procedure adopted by Bentham and Hooker

(1873) and Prain (1903). Morphological parameters of

taxonomic value were determined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The study revealed valuable differences and similarities

in morphology of two representatives genera of same

family. Remarkable differences were observed in their

habit, habitat, height, leaf appearance (size, shape and

color) and in  oral appendages.

(1) Botanical Name: Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. Ceropegia

bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

Local name: Art khadula, Barbatta, Khaparkundis

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS MORPHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MILKWEED FAMILY 407

Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

Global Distribution: India and Pakistan

Indian Distribution: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil

Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab,

Orissa and West Bengal.

Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f. :

Local name: Hedulo, Solari,

Global distribution: India and Pakistan

Indian distribution: Karnataka, Kerala,Tamil Nadu and

Rajasthan.

Habit

Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa and var. lushii

(Grah.) Hook.f. both are small, perennial herbs grows

amongst thorny and spiny bushes of Capparis deciduas

and Prosopis julifera on which they climbs and also gets

protected against grazing animals. It requires sandy soil

mixed with some stony fraction. It was observed that both

varieties were growing together at same place (Fig. 1)

Root

10 specimen from different location were used for

recording texture, type and measured by calculating

mean value. Roots of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bul-

bosa emerged out from turnip like tuber (4x2.5 cm) that

is glabrous, creamish brown, globose to elliptical, broad

at top and narrows down, edible. Maximum 11 roots of

variable length were observed emerging from the tuber,

root hairs are very small. The tubers and roots grow

approximately 6-8' beneath the substratum.

Roots of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. shows similar morphological characters except

its size that varies between 3x2.4-3x2.8cm (Fig. 2)

Stem

Morphological feature and measurements were recorded

using 10 specimens from different location and data were

analysed; stem of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

is herbaceous, dark green climber, cylindrical, smooth,

branched with nodes and internodes of variable distances,

highest intermodal distance measured is 10 cm.

Stem of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. shows similar morphological characters except

the color that is less green and the maximum internodal

distance is 6.7 cm (Fig. 3).

Leaf

Leaf measurement (length and width) were recorded

using 10 leaves of plant, mean value was recorded and

FIGURE 1. (A) Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa (B) Ceropegia bulbosa

Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f.

FIGURE 2. (A) Tuber of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa (B)

Tuber of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f.

408 MORPHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MILKWEED FAMILYG BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

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Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

FIGURE 3. (A) Stem of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa (B) Stem of

Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f.

FIGURE 4. (A, B) Bifoliate and trifoliate leaves of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

detailed morphological parameters are as follows; leaf of

Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa develop on nodal

region of the stem, abaxial surface dark green, adaxial

surface light green, petiolate (1.8-2.3 cm), base rounded,

simple, glabrous,  eshy, stipulate, 2-3 leafs arises at

each node, opposite, superposed, margin slightly undu-

late, diameter varies between 3-3.8x2.5-3.3cm, ellip-

tic-oblong, lowest almost orbicular, largest leaves are

present almost at the middle of the stem, apex acute-

mucronate, pinnate venation.

Leaf of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. shows almost similar morphological characters

except the color that is less green and shape that is lin-

ear, diameter varies between 12-15x0.8-1 cm, elliptic or

elliptic lanceolate, petioles 4-8mm (Fig. 4).

Flower

10 specimens were analyzed for recording  oral meas-

urement;  ower of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

are pendunculate (1-2.5cm), pedicillate (0.5-2 cm), simple

umbel or cymose type, arises from axil of leaf, pentamer-

ous, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, regular, white at base

and purple at top, sepals; 5, free at top, 2-3mm long, lan-

ceolate, smooth, valvate, petals; 5, broad and fused at base,

narrower and free at top, ends enrolls and make a tube like

structure to make a cage (corona) that is a nectar produc-

ing region, showing conservative pollination system that

may employ only small insects, hairy at top, maximum

length reaches to 3.3cm, valvate, stamens; 5, adnate at

base of 5 styles, pollinarium is present at base of each

style making gynostegium, ovary; bicarpilary, bilocular,

apocarpous, placentation marginal with many ovules.

Flower of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. is almost morphologically similar except its

color that is whiter and less purple at top (Fig. 5).

Fruit

Fruit of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa is a pair of

follicles originate oppositely, 8-10x0.5 cm long, glabrous,

tapering at ends, dehisces longitudinally, many seeded.

410 MORPHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MILKWEED FAMILYG BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

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Fruit of

Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f. is morphologicaly similar with var. bulbosa ,

except its diameter that is 11-13x0.4 cm (Fig. 6).

Seed

Seeds of both species are morphologicaly similar, except

diameter, usually the seeds are  at, ovate-oblong and

are crowned by a membranous margin, hairy, these hairs

facilitate the dispersal of the seeds by wind, the embryo

is large. Seeds of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

are 6-7 x 2-3 mm, while seeds of Ceropegia bulbosa

Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f. is 7-8x2-3 mm (Fig.7).

(2) Botanical name- Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br.

Syn. Euphorbia viminalis L.

Accepted Scienti c Name is Cynanchum viminale

(L.) L.

Local name- Caustic vine, khir-khimp, somlata,

Melktou, Rapunzel

“Sarco” is Greek word meaning  eshy while

“Stemma” refers to the  eshy inner corona. The ‘caustic’

in the common name referring to the burning power of

the released latex.

Global Distribution: Myanmar, South Africa, Botswana,

Namibia and all inland parts of southern Africa, Kenya,

India, Burma, in coastal regions of Australia, China,

Philippines, Thailand and New Caledonia,

Indian Distribution: Keralas, Bengal and Rajasthan

Habit

Vigorous shrub, rarely tree-like, erect trailing or twin-

ing, perennial, grows more luxuriantly during rainfall,

requires rocky habitat with soil as a component, grows

in association with Euphorbia caducifolia, it may be a

type of indirect interaction that allows facilitation of

congeneric species. When traits have diverged within

genus, the competition is relaxed, that allows the coex-

istence of species. All parts of the plant exude milky

latex when damaged (Fig.1).

FIGURE 5. (A,B) Flowers of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa (C)

Flower of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.) Hook.f.

FIGURE 6. (A) Fruits of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. bulbosa

(B) Fruits of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var. lushii (Grah.)

Hook.f.

FIGURE 7. (A,B) Seeds of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. var.

bulbosa

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Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

Root

10 specimens from different location were used for

recording texture, type and measured by calculating

mean value. Primary as well as secondary (adventitious)

root is present, as branches whenever comes in contact

with substratum, they forms stolons. Primary root pro-

fusely branched, as compared to adventitious root, root

hairs are present all along the length of branches. Pri-

mary roots pale-brown goes 15-20 cm down, the sub-

stratum (Fig.2).

Leaf

Leaves are highly reduced they develops on nodal region

of stem, sessile, simple, opposite, exstipulate, apex acute,

margin slightly crenate, caducous or turns scaly, 2-3

mm long (Fig.3).

Stem

Cylindrical, rigid at base, radius 3.5 cm, erect, trailing,

sprawling, scrambling or lianescent, with or without a

main stem, green, succulent, pubescent when young,

FIGURE 1. (A) Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. growing in association with

Euphorbia caducifolia (B) Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. when Euphorbia

caducifolia was removed

FIGURE 2. Roots of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. (A) Branching in

primary root (B) Secondary root formation in stolon

FIGURE 3. Leaf of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. (A)

Side view (B) Front view

glabrous when mature, internodes 9-14cm long, some-

times 2 opposite branches arises from node rather than

origin of leaf, base woody and with a very thick corru-

gated corky bark when old(Fig. 4).

Flower

Floral diameter was recorded with 10 specimens from

same plant. The details of measurement and  oral fea-

tures is as follows; shape when closed is like an embossed

star, aroma of jasmine, many  owers originate from a

common point on pedicel (30-40 in a bunch), simple

umbel, the main axis ends at a summit of peduncle;

maximum length of pedicel reaches upto 1.2cm, her-

maphrodite, regular, tetra-pentamerous, actinomorphic,

412 MORPHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MILKWEED FAMILYG BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

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hypogynous, glandular, bracteates; (1mm in length),

fused at lower ends, glabrous, acute; sepals; 5 (maximum

length 5mm), creamish yellow, facing inwards, obtuse,

imbricate, membranous, alternating with bracts, petals;

fused to make 2 membranous rings (outer and inner) like

structures bearing stigma and staminal column; stami-

nal column fused with stigma to form gynostegium and

the gynostegium is in direct contact with inner coronary

 ap, that in turn is attached with outer coronary  ap,

staminal column bears translator, nectarines present at

angle of pollinia and stigmatic disc, pollinia; sabsessile,

 attened and lanceolate, creamish yellow; ovary; bicar-

pellary, apocarpus, style free, stigma makes a pentan-

gular disc to support translator, marginal placentation,

many ovules/locules (Fig.5).

Fruit

A follicle, maximum length reaches up to 10.5cm, width

vary between 0.6-0.8cm, many seeded, tapering at distal

end, broad at proximal end, turns brown when ripe, it

splits along one suture, it is produced from bicarpillary

superior ovary (Fig.6).

Seed

0.8-0.9mm x 0.2-0.3mm, aril absent, oblong, conical at

one end and broader at another end, one surface  at-

FIGURE 4. (A,B) Stem of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br.

FIGURE 5. (A,B,C,D) Flower of Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. (D)

Gynostegium with pollinia

FIGURE 6. (A,B) Fruits of Sarcostemma viminale (L.)

R.Br.

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS MORPHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MILKWEED FAMILY 413

Sunita Arora and Sonam Meena

tened another convex, endospermic, uneven surface,

edges sharp, with pappus (coma) at conical end, blackish

brown, membranous (Fig. 7).

Plant morphology may help to understand basic con-

ceptual aspects as new approaches need to correct a past

draw back. Morphological description may serve as a

conceptual framework to link with other approaches,

thus this approach may be seen as an integrated and

continuous process that goes through reference points.

The precise morphological description of Sar-

costemma viminale (L.) R.Br. is still lacking and we have

tried to describe it at our best.

The family Asclepiadaceae is unique due to the pres-

ence of pollinia and milky latex. Present investigation

reveals several interesting morphological similarities

and differences in both plants belonging to same family,

even some differences have been observed in two varie-

ties of same genus i.e. Ceropegia bulbosa. The author has

reported differences right from habitat that occurs till

seed formation. All the plants under study have success-

fully adapted to harsh and stressed climate by showing

remarkable adaptation like leaf less condition, lanceo-

late-linear leaves reducing transpiring zone, green stem

substituting the absence of leaves. Twinning habit also

protects them against strong winds of Thar. Thick tex-

ture of leaves of Ceropegia supports them against high

wind currents.

Ceropegia is therefore example of a large genus that

has diversi ed despite an apparently functionally spe-

cialized (Fenster et al., 2004; Ollerton et al., 2007).

Sarcostemma is a genus that shows peculiar morpho-

logical features to adapt in Thar desert. We always have

reported it growing in association with Euphorbia cadu-

cifolia, most probably it facilitates Sarcostemma for its

survival and shows commensalistic relationship. Ration-

ale of this ‘proxy’ is Darwins idea that congeneric species

are similar in many habits and constitituation, have high

overlapping niches and therefore compete more strongly

than species of distant genera (Violle et al., 2011).

Burns and Strauss (2011) demonstrated that most spe-

cies germinate well at conspeci c and congeneric sites

and less well at confamilial and distant relative sites.

Leaf less habit, photosynthetic substitution, presence of

more amount of latex, strong tap root and rocky - stony

habit preference are some of the strategies that the plant

adapt to stay in stressed climatic conditions.

Both the plants under study are typically endan-

gered so they need most care and conservation. Recently

Ceropegia species have attracted attention of several

workers due to its rare occurrence, it is dif cult to prop-

agate, cultivate and maintain in gardens and hence its

conservation is a major challenge to biologists (Sagar et

al., 2014).

Once the description of plant forms is available then

the role played by genes and proteins in the mainte-

nance or stability of shapes will be better understood, it

strongly needs an elaborative and theoretical approach

towards morphology rather than sophisticated experi-

mentation that may be required later on to unveil

molecular status.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to Prof. P.K. Kasera for provid-

ing academic support and the CAS Department of Bot-

any JNV University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) for providing

infrastructure and technical support.

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