Pleione 11(2): 440 - 454. 2017. © East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy doi:10.26679/Pleione.11.2.2017.440-454 ISSN: 0973-9467 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India Arpita Bora, Moonmee Devi and Debjyoti Bhattacharyya1 Plant Taxonomy & Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar 788 011. Assam, India. 1 Corresponding Author, e-mail: dbhattacharyya_aus@yahoo.in [Received 13.11.2017; Revised & accepted 25.11.2017; Published 31.12.2017] Abstract A total of 66 species (53 species of grasses and 13 species of bamboos) of Gramineae (Poaceae) are enumerated here from Barail Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India. These are distributed under 41 genera and 11 tribes. The study was based on fresh collection of specimens from the sanctuary during 2012 – 2014, consultation of herbarium specimens and scrutiny of literature. A list of species is provided with updated nomenclature, vernacular name(s), phenology, occurrences in the study area and habit. Field photographs of some selected members are also provided for ease of identification. Keywords: Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, Barak Valley, Cachar, Gramineae, Poaceae, Southern Assam. INTRODUCTION Grasses and bamboos, the members of Gramineae Juss., nom. cons. (Poaceae Barnhart, nom. cons. et nom. alt.), are very distinctive from other flowering plant species owing to their unique vegetative and floral morphology, habitat diversity and moreover for their immense economic importance. Gramineae is the fourth largest among the angiosperm families in terms of species diversity (Watson & Dalwitz 1994). According to Soreng et al. (2015), the family comprises of ±12074 species under 771 genera belonging to 51 tribes and 12 subfamilies in the world. Members of the family exhibit great variations in their vegetative and reproductive morphology and is of paramount importance to human economy mainly for food grains (cereals and millets). Apart from this, the forest grasses and bamboos are used as fodder, building materials, paper pulps, thatching materials and also used for making ropes, mats, brooms, musical instruments, agricultural and hunting materials, etc. (Rawat 2008). The family is monophyletic [Grass Phylogeny Working Group (GPWG) 2001; Soreng et al. 2015] and comprises mostly herbaceous species (grasses) to shrubs and tall trees (bamboos) with terete stem and paniculate inflorescence. They are easily recognizable morphologically by their spikelet inflorescence with two empty glumes and one to many lemmas; each lemma subtending a palea, presence of 2 – 3 lodicules, versatile anthers, feathery stigmas and caryopsis fruit type in most of the species. Grasses are cosmopolitan in distribution and they occupy various habitats like grassland, marshy and swampy areas of wetland ecosystems, savannas, deep and open forests, etc. They are mainly abundant in tropical to sub-tropical belt of the earth and extended up to Arpita Bora et al. 441 warm-temperate regions (Clayton & Renvoize 1986). On the other hand, bamboos also have a wide natural distribution pattern occurring between 460 N latitude to 470 S latitude with altitudinal ranges from sea-level up to 4300 m (http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/research/ bamboo/ index.html). In India, Gramineae is the largest angiosperm family representing c.1300 species under 263 genera and 25 tribes (Benjamin et al. 2012); of these, c. 430 taxa are endemic to the country (Jain 1986). Sampson et al. (2001) categorized India into two grass zones viz., (i) Temperate Himalayan region along with Indo-Gangetic plains and (ii) Tropical Peninsular region. Tropical Peninsular region of the country shows the highest grass diversity with a great extent of endemism, i.e., 55% of total endemic grasses of India (Sampson et al. 2001). Grasslands occupy about 3.9% of the total land area of India (Nair & Thomas 2001). In Assam, Gramineae was recorded as the largest family comprising of 303 species under 104 genera (Chowdhury 2005). N.L. Bor (1940) documented the grass flora of the then Assam for the first time. Shukla (1996) enumerated the grasses of Northeast India. Grasses and bamboos of southern Assam (popularly known as Barak Valley) attracted many botanists to work on these. Reports from the region were made by Hooker (1896), Gupta (1972), Majumder (1983), Malakar (1995), Bhattacharjee (2002), Sharma et al. (2002), Das and Dutta Choudhury (2003), Das et al. (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013), Das (2008), Nath and Das (2008), Barbhuiya et al. (2013), Baruah (2013), Baruah et al. (2013), Devi and Bhattacharyya (2013a, 2013b, 2013c, 2014, 2015, 2016) and Baruah and Dutta Choudhury (2014, 2015). Barail Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) represents the sole wildlife sanctuary of the Barak Valley region of Assam. The area was declared and notified as Wildlife Sanctuary in June 2004 (Anonymous 2006). The present study was attempted to develop a comprehensive account on the diversity of grasses and bamboos in BWS by morpho-taxonomic investigation. The data presented here may act as baseline information of grasses and bamboos in the sanctuary which will be helpful for future monitoring, management and conservation of species. Study area Barail Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is located in Cachar district in the southern part of Assam (Barak Valley). BWS is divided into two administrative parts: (a) Barail Reserve Forest Table 1. Geographical and meteorological data of the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary [Source: Anonymous 2006] Latitude 24058ʹ – 2505ʹ N Longitude 92046ʹ – 92052ʹ E Area 326.24 sq. km Climate Humid tropical to sub-tropical Annual rainfall 200 cm to >600 cm Average humidity 72% to 90% Minimum temperature 80C Maximum temperature 380C Soil texture Sandy stony to clayey Altitudinal range < 100 m to 1867 m 442 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary Figure 1. Location map of Barali Wildlife Sanctuary (East block), and (b) North Cachar reserve forest (West Block) (Figure 1). Barail Reserve Forest is under Cachar Forest Division and North Cachar reserve forest is under Karimganj Forest Division. Table 1 shows the geographical and meteorological data of the sanctuary. As per the classification of Champion and Seth (1968), tropical wet evergreen to semievergreen forest types are prevalent in the sanctuary. Major portion of the sanctuary is virgin although there is human habitation in several villages (8 in East Block and 19 in West Block) located in and around the sanctuary (Anonymous 2006). BWS shows a very rich biodiversity owing to its unique geographical position, varied topography, high rainfall and tropical to subtropical climatic conditions (Anonymous 2006). Arpita Bora et al. 443 Figure 2. Bar diagram showing the number of taxa under each tribe MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was based on field surveys conducted in different habitats of the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary during 2012 to 2014, scrutiny of literature and study of all accumulated herbarium specimens housed in ASSAM and CAL herbaria. Places surveyed during the study were: Bandarkhal, Bhaluknala, Damcherra, Durbintila, Indranagar, Malidar, Jatinga river bank, Kalain, Kayang river bank, Kumba, Lakhicherra, Madhura khuwari and Marwacherra. Collections were made throughout the year more particularly during premonsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Collection, poisoning, preservation and mounting of specimens were done following routine herbarium practices as recommended by Jain and Rao (1977) and Singh and Subramaniam (2008). After collection, the specimens were critically examined and the flowers were dissected under Olympus SZ61 Stereo Zoom Dissecting Microscope; finer structures were studied under Labomed Vision 2000 compound microscope. Identifications of taxa were done following relevant taxonomic keys available in authentic floras like Hooker (1896), Bor (1940, 1960), Sreekumar and Nair (1991), Shukla (1996) and Kabeer and Nair (2009). The identity of the collected specimens was further authenticated by comparing at ASSAM and CAL. In addition, type specimens were also studied for confirmation of identity of species. Digital images available in different foreign herbaria databases were consulted too. Collections made by the authors during present study (vouchers) have been deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar. Classification of Clayton and Renvoize (1986) was followed for arranging the taxa. Species under each genus is/are arranged alphabetically. All the taxa are provided with correct nomenclature which were updated following International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (McNeill et al. 2012), International Plant Names Index (IPNI) (http://www.ipni.org) and The Plant List (http:// www.theplantlist.org). The vernacular names and phenological data were compiled from the authors’ personal observations made during field studies after consulting local inhabitants in the peripheral villages of the sanctuary, existing literature and webpages (Ohrnberger 1999; Barooah & Ahmed 2014; Liese & Köhl 2015; Banik 2016; https://sites.google.com/ site/bamboosthailand/, https://www.cabi.org/isc/) and notes on earlier preserved herbarium sheets. All specimens examined have been annotated properly. Photographs provided here have been taken by the authors during field trips. 444 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary RESULTS The present floristic study in the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary revealed the occurrence of a total of 66 species (with 2 varieties) of grasses and bamboos under 41 genera. These are distributed under 11 tribes of Gramineae. Table 2 enumerated all species from the sanctuary along with their vernacular names, voucher specimen number(s), phenology, occurrence in the sanctuary and habit. Field photographs of some of the species are also presented in PLATES I (A-I) and II (A-I). Table 2. List of species of the family Gramineae enumerated from Barail Wildlife Sanctuary [Abbreviations used: Vernacular Names: Ass.= Assamese; Beng.= Bengali, Cach.= Cachari; Eng.= English; Gar.= Garo; Kha.= Khasi; Kuk.= Kuki; Manip.= Manipuri; Mizo.= Mizo; Sylht.= Sylheti. Habit: H = Herb; S = Shrub; SC = Shrubby Climber; T = Tree] Sl. Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher No. Specimen no. I. Tribe: Bambuseae Genus: Bambusa Schreb. 1. Bambusa balcooa Roxb.; Bhaluka-banh (Ass.), Balku bans (Beng.), Wamnah (Gar.), Wah long (Kha.), Sil-barua (Sylht.); AB/DB-11773, dtd. 18.05.2013 2. B. cacharensis R.B. Majumdar; Bethua banh (Ass.), Betu bans (Beng.); AB/DB-11355, 11356, dtd. 12.12.2013 and MD 12296, dtd. 08.03.2014 3. B. jaintiana R.B. Majumdar; Bijuli banh (Ass.); MD/DB-12301, dtd. 08.03.2014 and HAB-1040, s.d. 4. B. tulda Roxb.; Jati-banh, Nal banh (Ass.), Jowa (Beng.), Wamuna, (Gar.); Ka-shang (Kha.); Rongite (Kuk.); AB/DB-11774, dtd. 18.05.2013 5. B. vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl.; Kolochibanh, Tansti banh (Ass.), Bakal (Beng., Manip.), Wasshuti (Gar.), Wa-malang (Kuk.); AB/DB11772, dtd. 24.04.2014 Genus: Dendrocalamus Nees 6. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn. ex Munro; Kekowa-banh (Ass.), Kako banh (Beng.), Wanok (Gar.), Ka-sejlei (Kha.), Pecha (Sylht.); AB/DB-11354, dtd. 12.12.2013 and AB/DB11680; dtd. 24.04.2014 7. D. longispathus (Kurz) Kurz; Bor bhuluka banh (Ass.), Khang (Beng.), Unal (Manip.), Rawnal (Miz.); MD/DB-10854, 10861; dtd. 11.03.2012. 8. D. strictus (Roxb.) Nees; Shal-banh (Ass.), Karail (Beng.), Male Bamboo (Eng.); MD-10827, 10831, 10849, dtd. 04.03.2012 and MD/DB10889, dtd. 06.04.2012 Genus: Melocalamus Benth. 9. Melocalamus compactiflorus (Kurz) Benth.; Beti-banh (Ass.), Daral, Lata-bans (Beng.); MD/DB-12297, dtd. 08.03.2014 10. M. indicus R.B. Majumdar; Lata-bans, Nal-bans Phenology Area of occurrence Habit May Indranagar T December – Durbintila (way to March Bandarkhal), Madhura T Not seen Madhura S May Madhura khuwari, Borail Range T Not seen Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala T December – April Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal) and Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala T Not seen Marwacherra S Not seen Madhura, Malidar S Not seen Madhura SC Not seen Near Malidar SC Arpita Bora et al. Sl. Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher No. Specimen no. I. Tribe: Bambuseae Genus: Bambusa Schreb. 10. M. indicus R.B. Majumdar; Lata-bans, Nal-bans (Beng.); HAB-525, dtd. 24.04.2011 Genus: Schizostachyum Nees 11. Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) R.B. Majumdar; Dolo-banh (Ass., Beng.), Wadrow (Gar.); HAB-5, dtd. 23.04.2011, MD/DB-10890, dtd. 06.04.2012 and MD/DB-12295, dtd. 08.03.2014 Genus: Melocanna Trin. 12. Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz; Muli banh (Ass.), Muli-bans (Beng.), Wah-thi (Cach.), Wahthri (Gar.), Mao (Miz.); MD/DB-10870, dtd. 11.03.2012 and MD/DB-10886, dtd. 06.04.2012 13. M. clarkei (Gamble ex Brandis) P. Kumari & P. Singh; Not known; MD/DB-10860, dtd. 11.03.2012 II. Tribe: Oryzeae Genus: Oryza L. 14. Oryza rufipogon Griff.; Tatua (Ass., Beng.); AB/DB-11757; 26.11.2014 Genus: Leersia Sw. 15. Leersia hexandra Sw.; Erali-bon (Ass.), Arail (Beng.), Southern cut grass (Eng.); HAB-208, dtd. 12.09.2010 III. Tribe: Centotheceae Genus: Centotheca Desv. 16. Centotheca lappacea (L.) Desv.; Not known; AB/DB-11379, dtd. 12.12.2013 and MD/DB10833, dtd. 04.03.2012 Genus: Lophatherum Brongn. 17 Lophatherum gracile Brongn.; Not known; MD/DB-12289, dtd. 08.03.2014 IV. Tribe: Arundineae Genus: Arundo L. 18 Arundo donax L.; Gabnol (Ass.), Gahanal (Beng.), Giant reed, Switch-cane (Eng.); MD/DB-10847, dtd. 04.03.2012 Genus: Phragmites Adanson 19. Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud.; Nalkhagra (Ass.), Nal (Beng.); HAB-1042; s.d. 445 Phenology Area of occurrence Habit Not seen Near Malidar SC Not seen Durbintilla, Madhura, West Block, 15 No Hill S – Madhura, Marwacherra S March April Not seen Marwacherra S October – Near Kalaincherra November H June March – Gumra H October February – Damcherra, Malidar H October – Durbintilla December H October March H – Malidar April – BWS November V. Tribe: Thysanolaeneae Genus: Thysanolaena Nees 20. Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) March Honda; Jharu-bon (Ass.), Jharu gaachh (Beng.); June AB/DB-11631, dtd. 07.04.2013 and MD/DB10848, dtd. 4.3.2012 VI. Tribe: Eragrostideae Genus: Neyraudia Hook.f. – Madhura khuwari (Indranagar), Malidar H H 446 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary Sl. Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher No. Specimen no. Genus: Neyraudia Hook.f. 21. Neyraudia reynaudiana (Kunth) Keng ex Hitchc.; Boronga-bon (Ass.), Burma reed (Eng.); AB/DB-11366, dtd. 12.12.2013 and AB/DB11408, dtd. 12.12.2013 Genus: Tripogon Roth 22. Tripogon filiformis Nees ex Steud.; Not known; MD/DB-10830, dtd. 04.03.2012 Phenology Area of occurrence Habit August – December Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal) and Kayang River bank H August March Malidahar H Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal) Madhura khuwari (Indranagar) H Marwacherra H Malidahar, Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal), Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala and Maruwacherra, Madhura H Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal), Malidar H – Genus: Eragrostis Wolf 23. Eragrostis amabilis (L.) Wight & Arn.; Not April – known; AB/DB-11346, dtd. 12.12.2013 August 24. E. atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.; Not known; April – MD/DB-10888, dtd. 06.04.2012 and AB/DB- February 11635, dtd. 07.04.2013 25. E. pilosa (L.) P.Beauv.; Not known; MD/DB- May – June 10917, dtd. 06.05.2012 26. E. unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud.; Not known; August – MD/DB-10882, 10884, 10885, dtd. 06.04.2012 October and AB/DB-11360, dtd. 12.12.2013 Genus: Eleusine Gaertn. 27. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.; Bhubusa-bon (Ass.), Crowfoot grass, Yard grass (Eng.); MD/DB-10843, dtd. 04.03.2012 and AB/DB11347, dtd. 12.12.2013 Genus: Sporobolus R.Br. 28. Sporobolus indicus var. major (Buse) Baaijens; Not known; MD/DB-10837, dtd. 04.03.2012 VII. Tribe: Cynodonteae Genus: Cynodon Richard 29. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.; Dubori (Ass.), Durba (Beng.), Devil grass (Eng.), Phaitnahlaya (Miz.); AB/DB-11711, dtd. 12.12.2013 and MD/DB-10901, dtd. 06.05.2012 VIII. Tribe: Paniceae Genus: Oplismenus P.Beauv. 30. Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv.; Banhpotia-bon (Ass.); AB/DB-11378, 11410, dtd. 12.12.2013 and MD/DB-12298, dtd. 08.03.2014 Genus: Panicum L. 31. Panicum auritum J. Presl ex Nees; Not known; MD/DB-10834, 10840, dtd. 04.03.2012 32. 33. 34. 35. July October – H April – Malidar December H November – June H Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal), Madhura September – Damcherra and Kayang November River bank, Durbintilla August – October P. brevifolium L.; Not known; AB/DB-11319, May – dtd. 05.04.2012 and MD/DB-10836; dtd. December 04.03.2012 P. dichotomiflorum Michx.; Not known; MD- April – 10898, dtd. 06.04.2012 and AB/DB-11667, dtd. October 24.04.2014 P. incomtum Trin.; Not known; MD/DB-10835, July – April dtd. 04.03.2012 P. luzonense J. Presl; Not known; HAB-03, dtd. July – H Malidar H Madhura khuawari, Damcherra, Malidar H Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala, Madhura H Malidar H Sindhuri H Arpita Bora et al. 447 PLATE-I. A. Schizostachyum dullooa; B. Bambusa cacharensis (flowering twig); C. Melocanna clarkei (Culm-sheath); D. Melocalamus compactiflorus; E. Panicum notatum; F. Themeda villosa; G. Oplismenus compositus; H. Arundo donax; I. Saccharum longisetosum 448 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary Sl. No. 35. Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher Phenology Specimen no. P. luzonense J. Presl; Not known; HAB-03, dtd. July – 10.09.2010 October 36. P. notatum Retz.; Not known; AB/DB-11384, September – dtd. 12.12.2013 and MD/DB-12287, dtd. October 08.03.2014 37. P. sarmentosum Roxb.; Not known; MD/DB- November – 12309, dtd. 08.03.2014 February Genus: Sacciolepis Nash 38. Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase; Not known, MD- July – 10904, dtd. 06.05.2012 and AB/DB-11655, dtd. November 07.04.2013 Genus: Cyrtococcum Stapf 39. Cyrtococcum patens (L.) A. Camus; Not known; September – MD/DB-10852, dtd. 11.03.2012 and AB/DB- February 11663, 11665, 11670, dtd. 24.04.2014 Genus: Acroceras Stapf 40. Acroceras tonkinense (Balansa) C.E. Hubb. ex August – Bor; Not known; MD-10897, dtd. 06.04.2012 November Genus: Echinochloa P. Beauv. 41. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link; Bioni-bon (Ass.), Summer – Jungle rice grass (Eng.); MD/DB-10841, dtd. Winter 04.03.2012 and AB/DB-11657, dtd. 24.04.2014 Genus: Brachiaria (Trin.) Griseb. 42. Brachiaria subquadripara (Trin.) Hitchc.; Not July – known; MD/DB-10933, 10942, dtd. 06.05.2012 February Genus: Paspalum L. – 43. Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius; Not known; May MD/DB-10832, dtd. 04.03.2012 and AB/DB- September 11365, dtd. 12.12.2013 44. P. scrobiculatum L.; Not known; MD/DB-10839, May dtd. 04.03.2012 and AB/DB-11377, 11381, dtd. November 12.12.2013 Area of occurrence Habit Sindhuri H Damcherra, Durbintilla H Durbintilla H Madhura khuwari (Indranagar) H Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala and Maruwacherra H Madhura H Malidar, Maruwacherra H Marwacherra H Durbintila (way to Bandarkhal) and Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala, Malidar – Damcherra, Malidar Genus: Axonopus P. Beauv. 45. Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. Beauv.; Not July – Durbintila (way to known; MD-10887, dtd. 06.04.2012 and AB/DB- November Bandarkhal) 11362, dtd. 12.12.2013 Madhura Genus: Setaria P. Beauv. 46. Setaria palmifolia (J. Koenig) Stapf; Not known; July – April Malidar MD-10846, dtd. 04.03.2012 47. S. pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.; Not known; Almost Indranagar AB/DB-11756, dtd. 18.05.2013 throughout the year Genus: Digitaria Haller 48. Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler; Not known; May – Durbintila (way to MD/DB-10842, 10845, dtd. 04.03.2012 and October Bandarkhal), Malidar AB/DB-11348, dtd. 12.12.2013 49. D. setigera Roth; Not known; MD-12294, dtd. Throughout Durbintilla 08.03.2014 the year 50. D. violascens Link; Not known; MD-10881,dtd. April – Madhura H H H H H H H H Arpita Bora et al. 449 PLATE-II. A. Pennisetum polystachion; B. Sacciolepis indica; C. Leersia hexandra; D. Imperata cylindrica; E. Cynodon dactylon; F. Sporobolus indicus var. major; G. Polytrias indica; H. Cymbopogon nardus; I. Hemarthria protensa 450 Sl. No. 50. Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher Specimen no. D. violascens Link; Not known; MD-10881,dtd. 06.04.2012 Genus: Pennisetum Rich. 51. Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult.; Not known; MD/DB-10865, dtd. 11.03.2012 IX. Tribe: Isachneae Genus: Isachne R.Br. 52. Isachne globosa (Thunb.) Kuntze; Not known; HAB-218,dtd. 12.09.2010 X. Tribe: Arundinelleae Genus: Arundinella Raddi 53. Arundinella bengalensis (Spreng.) Druce; Hialnejia-bon (Ass.), Jaru-bon (Beng.); HAB-35, dtd. 10.09.2010, HAB-955, dtd. 27.08.2012 and MD/DB-12282, dtd. 8.3.2014 XI. Tribe: Andropogoneae Genus: Saccharum L. 54. Saccharum longisetosum (Andersson) V.Naray. ex Bor; Not known; MD/DB-10829, dtd. 04.03.2012 55. S. officinarum L.; Kuhiyar (Ass.), Kushiar (Beng.), Sugarcane (Eng.); AB/DB-11708, dtd. 24.09.2013 56. S. rufipilum Steud.; Not known; NCM-41, dtd. 20.09.1991 57. S. spontaneum L.; Kahua (Ass.), Kash (Beng.), Wild sugarcane (Eng.); MD/DB-12286, dtd. 08.03.2014 and HAB-204, dtd. 12.09.2010 Genus: Imperata Cirillo 58. Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.; Not known; MD-10892, dtd. 06.04.2012 and AB/DB-11710, dtd. 24.04.2014 Genus: Polytrias Hack. 59. Polytrias indica (Houtt.) Veldkamp; Not known; MD-12293, dtd. 08.03.2014 Phenology April January Area of occurrence – Madhura July – April Marwacherra Habit H H August – Near Gumra November H August October H – Barail WLS, near Sindhuri, Kalaincherra, Durbintilla November – Malidar May S Autumn Bandarkhal S September – Damcherra March July – Durbintilla September S April August – Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala, Madhura August – Madhura November Genus: Pogonatherum P.Beauv. 60. Pogonatherum crinitum (Thunb.) Kunth; Not May – Madhura khuwari known; MD-10893, dtd. 06.04.2011 and AB/DB- September (Indranagar) and 11638, dtd. 07.04.2013 Lakhicherra near Bhaluk Nala 61. P. paniceum (Lam.) Hack.; Not known; MD/DB- August – Malidar 10828, dtd. 04.03.2012 June Genus: Microstegium Nees – Malidar 62. Microstegium fasciculatum (L.) Henrard; July Kharika (Ass.), MD/DB-10838, 10844, dtd. March 04.03.2012 Genus: Chrysopogon Trin. 63. Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.; Bon-guti April – Madhura (Ass.), Chorkanta (Beng.), Pilipiliula (Eng.); November MD-10883, dtd. 06.04.2012 Genus: Cymbopogon Spreng. 64. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle; Not known; July – April Durbintila (way to S H H H H H H H Arpita Bora et al. Sl. Scientific Name; Vernacular Name; Voucher Phenology Area of occurrence No. Specimen no. 64. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle; Not known; July – April Durbintila AB/DB-11712, dtd. 12.12.2013 Bandarkhal) (way 451 Habit to H Genus: Hemarthria R. Brown 65. Hemarthria protensa Steud.; Not known; April – June Jatinga river bank H MD/DB-10920, dtd. 06.05.2012 Genus: Themeda Forsskal 66. Themeda villosa (Lam.) A. Camus; Not known; August AB/DB-11359, dtd. 12.12.2013 January – Durbintila (way to H Bandarkhal) DISCUSSION A total of 66 species of grasses and bamboos were recorded from the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary in this present study, of which 13 species were bamboos and remaining 53 species were grasses. These were distributed under 11 tribes of the family Gramineae out of the total 39 recognized in the world by Clayton and Renvoize (1986). Among the tribes, Paniceae was found as the largest with maximum number of 22 species, followed by Andropogoneae and Bambuseae with 13 spp. each. Tribe Eragrostideae was represented by 8 species, while, Arundineae, Centhotheceae and Oryzeae by 2 species each and Arundinelleae, Cynodonteae, Isachneae and Thysanolaeneae by single species each. Similarly, in terms of generic diversity, the tribe Paniceae was the largest (12 genera), followed by Andropogoneae (9), Bambuseae and Eragrostideae (5 each). Tribes Arundineae, Centhotheceae and Oryzeae were represented by two genera each and rest of the tribes (four tribes, viz. Arundinelleae, Cynodonteae, Isachneae and Thysanolaeneae) by single genus each (Figure 2). The most dominant genus of the sanctuary was Panicum with seven species followed by Bambusa with five species, Eragrostis and Saccharum with four species each, Dendrocalamus and Digitaria with three species each, Melocalamus, Melocanna, Paspalum, Pogonatherum and Setaria with two species each and remaining thirty genera were represented by single species each. Grasses are the main components of soil cover which help in preventing soil erosion and landslides. Due to various anthropogenic activities and other biotic factors like grazing of wild and domesticated animals, flood, landslides, etc. many species in the sanctuary are facing serious threats. Extraction of bamboos is also a common practice in the region. Therefore, it is now felt urgent to conserve the flora of the sanctuary immediately involving local people, NGOs, other academic and research institutes. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar for providing necessary facilities. They are also thankful to the Forest Department of Assam for providing permission to conduct field surveys within the sanctuary. First author thanks University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for financial support under UGC-MRP scheme [F. No. 40 – 334/2011 (SR) dated 30th June 2011] and second author thanks the same funding agency for non-NET fellowship scheme. 452 Grasses and bamboos of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary LITERATURE CITED Anonymous, 2006. Management Plan of Barail Wildlife Sanctuary. Cachar & Karimganj Forest Division, Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Assam. Barbhuiya, H.A.; Dutta, B.K.; Das, A.Kr. & Baishya, A.K. 2013. 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