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SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page574
Phyto-morphological diversity
and distribution of the Genus
Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) in
Bangladesh Agricultural
University Botanical Garden
Umma Salma Ruba, Md Jahid Hasan Jone, Md
Ashrafuzzaman*
ABSTRACT
The genus Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) is the largest in the tribe Ixoreae, which
consists of various shrubs and tree species from humid rainforest. Ixora spp. is
mainly distributed in Asia and the Pacific, although little is known about the
ecology, taxonomy and distribution of the endemic species. The present study
aimed to make primary documentation through a taxonomic study of the
species available in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden
(BAUBG). There were fifteen species (including 9 varieties of two species)
recorded at BAUBG based on the morphological observations of
taxonomically significant characteristics. The maximum leaf size (450.49 cm2)
was reported in I. superba, followed by I. nigricans ‘White’ (83.13 cm2) and
Ixora polyantha (81.54 cm2). However, minimum leaf size was noticed in Ixora
pavetta (1.97 cm2) and Ixora chinensis ‘Red’ (2.158 cm2). A table showing their
nomenclature with the conservation status has been presented in the text.
Photographs of all available species and some graphs showing variations in
leaves are provided as well. The current study is a pioneer study that offers a
glimpse of the enormous species diversity of single genera from BAUBG. It
will serve as a benchmark for future conservation and management study on
these wild species.
Keywords: Ixora, Rubiaceae, Diversity, Medicinal Uses, BAUBG, Bangladesh
1. INTRODUCTION
Rubiaceae, the madder family (Order: Gentianales), consists of 611 genera
with more than 13,150 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, distributed
primarily in tropical areas of the world (Davis et al., 2009). The family
Rubiaceae is represented by a total of 165 species in Bangladesh (Das, 2014).
Apart from the recorded species, there are some specimens of this family
enlisted in different Herbaria of Bangladesh that remain unidentified (Das and
Rahman, 2011).
Species
23(72), 2022
To Cite:
Ruba US, Jone MJH, Ashrafuzzaman M. Phyto-morphological Diversity
and Distribution of the Genus Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) in Bangladesh
Agricultural University Botanical Garden. Species, 2022, 23(72), 574-580
Author Affiliation:
Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Resources, Department of Crop Botany,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author
Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Resources, Department of Crop Botany,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh- 2202,
Bangladesh
Email: ashrafcbot@bau.edu.bd
Peer-Review History
Received: 16 November 2022
Reviewed & Revised: 21/November/2022 to 25/November/2022
Accepted: 29 November 2022
Published: 03 December 2022
Peer-Review Model
External peer-review was done through double-blind method.
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
DISCOVERY
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page575
Ixora L. is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, the only genus in the tribe Ixoreae, comprising about 530 species
of shrubs and trees (Davis et al., 2009), is the third-largest genus in the family. Though the genus is native to the tropical and
subtropical regions, it is widely distributed all over the globe, especially in Tropical Asia. Its greatest species density is found in the
Malaysian Archipelago with its maximum in Borneo (Bremekamp, 1937a). Ixora is also found commonly in subtropical climates in
the United States, where it is locally known as West Indian Jasmine. Other common names include “Jungle flame” and “Jungle
geranium” among others. Ixora can be a suitable choice for bonsai making. It is a popular choice for hedges in parts of South East
Asia as well. In tropical climates, they flower year-round and are commonly used in Hindu worship, as well as in Indian folk
medicine and Ayurveda (Dontha et al., 2015).
The present study was designed to carry out phyto-diversity and distribution of Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) in the Bangladesh
Agricultural University Botanical Garden (BAUBG), investigate niche partitioning of prevalent Ixora species at the BAUBG and
update the database of Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) based on morpho-taxonomic characteristics including inflorescence, floral and leaf
characteristics. This primary research may seem beneficial to a large number of people interested to collect, conserve or research
Ixora. Photographs of each species were included in the paper for better identification.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area
Bangladesh Agricultural University is one of the well-equipped and largest universities in Bangladesh which has a well-established
Botanical Garden, situated on the west bank of the old Brahmaputra River. The garden conserves about 1800 plant species under
168 families and 287 genera (https://bg.bau.edu.bd/). The geographic location of the garden is E90°26'29.6'' and N24°43'26.8'' with
dominating Tropical Monsoon climates that have relative humidity between 80-84% and an average rainfall of about 2000mm at
BAU and its surrounding area (Jone et al., 2022).
Survey, Data collection and Processing
The present study has been planned to prepare primary documentation through a taxonomic study of all the Ixora spp. available in
the Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden (BAUBG). All the data were generated through field visits in the garden
and those were cross-checked with The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org/) and the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of
Bangladesh (Siddiqui et al., 2007) for taxonomical study. Leaf samples were collected on July 03, 2022; the average temperature of
the lab area was about 32 ℃ and the relative humidity was 72%. These samples were kept in an electric oven at 65℃ for 72 hours.
After that, on July 06, 2022, the final and constant dry weights were measured. The average temperature of the lab area at the time
of weight measurement was about 33℃ and relative humidity was 65%. Microsoft Excel 2019 spreadsheet was used to process and
analyze collected data.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Around 15 species with 9 varieties of two species of the genus Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) have been documented in the Bangladesh
Agricultural University Botanical Garden (BAUBG). The species are arranged in e linear way around the Medicinal zone, Cactus
zone, Cycas zone and Chittagong zone as a hedge plant. Ixora is a dense, multi-branched evergreen shrub of 2-3 meters in height.
They have glossy, leathery, oblong/acuminate leaves sometimes with a wavy margin. In the case of Ixora Small, tubular, scarlet
flowers in dense rounded clusters are blooms generally rainy season in Bangladesh. The documentation found that due to the
amount of sunlight the color of the flowers may be light or deep. Fruits formed after the blooming of flowers. The following species
are identified from the Ixora group from BAUBG.
Among 15 species with 9 varieties of 2 species, the conservation status of about 11 species is not available anywhere, seven (7)
species were categorized as Conservation Dependent according to IUCN Conservation Status. Rest two (2) species are categorized
as Least Concerned and one (1) as Vulnerable and one (1) as Data Deficient (Table 1).
Diversity among different species of the genus Ixora is not limited to the characteristics of its inflorescence. The morphological
characteristics of leaves show a great variation from each other. From Figure 1 to Figure 3 it is obvious that anyone can differentiate
Ixora species by studying their leaves only. Ixora superba has the highest leaf area and weight among all other available species
(Figure 01), while I. pavetta has the lowest (Figure 02). Again, the leaf area, weight and specific leaf area change continuously with
different growth stages as the leaf produces and stores maximum food materials in younger stages while minimum in adults
specifically before senescence.
SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page576
Table 1 List of Ixora with their scientific name and conservation status (CS)
SL
Common Name
Scientific Name
CS
1
Nata Rangan
Ixora acuminata Roxb
CD
2
Shurovi Rangan
Ixora arborea Roxb. Ex Sm.
NA
3
Lal China Rangan
Ixora chinensis ‘Nana Red’
CD
4
China Rangan
Ixora chinensis ‘Nana Lutea’
CD
5
Komola China Rangan
Ixora chinensis ‘Prince of Orange’
CD
6
Lal China Rangan
Ixora chinensis ‘Red’
CD
7
Jhumka Phul
Ixora coccinea L.
LC
8
Rangan Phul
Ixora coccinea ‘Lancasteri’
NA
9
Lal Rangan
Ixora coccinea ‘Magnifica’
NA
10
Gulapi Jhumka Phul
Ixora coccinea New Pink
NA
11
Lal Jhumka Phul
Ixora coccineaRed
NA
12
Java Rangan
Ixora javanica (Blume) DC.
DD
13
Shada Rangan
Ixora lanceolata Lam.
NA
14
Rangan
Ixora macrothyrsa (Teijsm. & Binn.) T. Moore
NA
15
Dikranga
Ixora nigricans ‘White’ R. Br. ex Wight & Arn.
CD
16
Variegated Rangan
Ixora parviflora ‘variegated’ Lam.
NA
17
Rangan
Ixora pavetta Andr.
VU
18
Chuang Giri
Ixora polyantha Wight
NA
19
Holud Rangan
Ixora singaporensis hort.
NA
20
Boro Rangan
Ixora superba
NA
21
Polok Jui
Ixora undulata Roxb.
CD
22
Bonno Rangan
Ixora sp.
LC
CS=Conservation status: LC= Least Concerned, CD= Conservation dependents, NA=Not Available, DD= Data Deficient, VU= Vulnerable
Twenty leaves of each species were collected for the assessment of leaf characteristics such as leaf area, fresh weight and dry
weight. Among all these species, the maximum leaf size (450.49 cm2) was reported in I. superba, followed by I. nigricans ‘White’
(83.13 cm2) and Ixora polyantha (81.54 cm2). However, minimum leaf size was noticed in Ixora pavetta (1.974 cm2) and Ixora chinensis
‘Red’ (2.158 cm2) (Figure 1).
Again, the maximum dry weight (6.948 g) was reported in I. superba, followed by I. nigricans ‘White’ (0.716 g), and Ixora arborea
(0.56 g). However, minimum dry weight was noticed in Ixora pavetta (0.0028 g) and Ixora chinensis ‘Red’ (0.028 g) (Figure 2). The leaf
area and the weight of the leaf are directly related to each other. Figure 3 indicates the relative succulence or relative density of a
plant the lower the value, the higher the succulence. Here, it is evident that I. superba has the maximum succulence and I. pavetta has
the minimum succulence.
Therapeutic Properties of Ixora
Though Ixora spp. Is widely distributed and commonly available in every natural habitat of Bangladesh, local people are quite
unaware of its uses other than its ornamental values. Previous research based on a few Ixora spp. stated that they are great sources
of medicine precursors as most of them are used by some ethnic tribes worldwide. Pharmacological studies suggest that Ixora
coccinea L. possesses some antioxidative, antibacterial, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal and chemo-preventive
effects (Dontha et al., 2015). Besides this, they have anti-inflammatory (Ratnasooriya et al., 2005), anti-thelmic (Surana et al., 2011),
anti-asthmatic (Naskar et al., 2013) and wound healing activities (Nayak et al., 1999). Other species like Ixora chinensis, Ixora
finlaysoniana, Ixora macrothyrsa, Ixora javanica, etc. have similar properties to Ixora coccinea L. Ixora extracts have the potential to
develop antimicrobial agents, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus flexneri (Marimuthu et al., 2014).
SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page577
Figure 1 Variations of average leaf area (cm2) of Ixora species
Figure 2 Variations of average dry weight (g) of Ixora species
0.0028
0.028
0.096
0.1
0.162
0.106
0.184
0.198
0.292
0.268
0.326
0.424
0.248
0.412
0.354
0.56
0.536
0.362
0.716
6.948
012345678
I. pavetta
I. chinensis ‘Red’
I. coccinea Red
I. acuminata
I. chinensis ‘Prince of Orange’
I. parviflora ‘variegated’
I. chinensis ‘Nana Lutea’
I. javanica
I. coccinea New Pink
I. sp.
I. lanceolata
I. singaporensis
I. coccinea ‘Magnifica’
I. coccinea
I. undulata
I. arborea
I. macrothyrsa
I. polyantha
I. nigricans ‘White’
I. superba
Average dry weight (g) per leaf
1.974
2.158
8.414
12
17.3936
17.84
22.644
26.9408
31.164
33.213
34.8
38.526
43.115
48.05
61.574
65.132
71.424
81.542
83.132 450.492
0 100 200 300 400 500
I. pavetta
I. chinensis ‘Red’
I. coccinea Red
I. acuminata
I. chinensis ‘Prince of Orange’
I. parviflora ‘variegated’
I. chinensis ‘Nana Lutea’
I. javanica
I. coccinea New Pink
I. sp.
I. lanceolata
I. singaporensis
I. coccinea ‘Magnifica’
I. coccinea
I. undulata
I. arborea
I. macrothyrsa
I. polyantha
I. nigricans ‘White’
I. superba
Average leaf area per leaf (cm2)
SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page578
Figure 3 Variations of Specific leaf area (cm2/g) of Ixora species
Figure 4 A. Ixora acuminataRoxb. B. Ixora arborea C. Ixora chinenesis‘Nana Red’ D. Ixora chinensis‘Nana Lutea’ E. Ixora chinensis‘Prince
of Orange’ F. Ixora chinensis‘Red’ G. Ixora coccinea L. H. Ixora coccinea‘Lancasteri’ I. Ixora coccinea‘Magnifica’ J. Ixora coccineaNew Pink
K.Ixora coccineaRed L. Ixora javanica (Blume) DC.
I. superba
I. sp.
I. coccinea New Pink
I. arborea
I. chinensis ‘Prince of
Orange’
J
L
K
G
I
H
D
F
E
A
C
B
SPECIES l ANALYSIS ARTICLE
© 2022 Discovery Scientific Society. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2319–5746 EISSN 2319–5754 l OPEN ACCESS
Page579
Figure 5 A.Ixora lanceolataLam. B. Ixora macrothyrsa (Teijsm. & Binn.) T. MooreC. Ixora nigricans‘White’ R. Br. ex Wight & Arn. D.
Ixora parviflora‘variegated’Lam. E. Ixora pavettaAndr. F. Ixora polyanthaWight G. Ixora singaporensisHort. H. Ixora superba I. Ixora
undulataRoxb. J. Ixora sp
4. CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study confirm the general understanding that BAUBG has very divergent species of Ixora. According to De
Block (1998), the complexity of Ixora in Asia and the Pacific is the result of diversification in the genus’ inflorescence structures.
Most species have very similar inflorescence structures but few differences, for instance, in the arrangement of lateral axes
branching of inflorescence or the ultimate flower triads may separate them. This was reflected in the present study that
reproductive traits (inflorescence, floral and fruits) were important in explaining the diversity within species. Although some of the
total variations were observed, it may not truly reflect the inherent diversity in the genus as well as not to mention the genus as a
whole, because the study was limited to a particular area. However, much work is recommended to elucidate the extent of its
morphological diversity, identity and taxonomic alignment to possibly reveal the exact number of Ixora species in Bangladesh,
especially in the Mymensingh region.
A
C
B
D
F
E
G
I
H
J
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Page580
Authors’ contributions
U.S. Ruba, M.J.H. Jone and M. Ashrafuzzaman identified the research problem and des igned the research outlines. U.S. Ruba and
M.J.H. Jone surveyed the study area and collect all the required data and all three authors contributed to taking photographs. U.S.
Ruba identified all the species documented and the other two authors rechecked and confirmed the botanical name. U.S. Ruba
collected leaf samples and took morphological data; M.J.H. Jone documented the first draft and prepared all the graphs added. M.
Ashrafuzzaman reviewed, revised and modified the drafts. And finally, all three authors revised and approved the final paper.
Ethical approval
Genus Ixora L. (Rubiaceae) was observed from Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden. The ethical guidelines for
plants & plant materials are followed in the study for sample collection & identification.
Funding
This study has not received any external funding.
Conflicts of interests
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests .
Data and materials availability
All data associated with this study are present in the paper.
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