Inventory of the threatened medicinal species of the Fabaceae for determining their conservation status in the flora revealed that 7 recorded species belonging to 7 genera are critically endangered according to IUCN criteria. Examination of the herbarium specimens preserved at different herbaria revealed that they are very limited in their distribution. Survey of all published relevant and local floristic literature also ensured the findings. Each species, as cited in the enumeration, revealed that threat to individual species is mostly habitat loss. All these species, recognized as threatened to Bangladesh, are found to be widely distributed in many countries and highly potential for their medicinal properties and uses.
Enumeration of the threatened taxa of Fabaceae
Enumeration of threatened taxa is prepared where each species is cited with current nomenclature, synonym(s), medicinal use(s), status of occurrence, probable threat, first and last authentic record, occurrence in Bangladesh, global distribution and list of examined herbarium specimens. The abbreviation
Inc is used here to denote “locality not cited.”
1. Canavalia maritima Thou. in Desv., Journ. Bot. 1:80 (1813).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Canavalia obtusifolia DC. (1825),
Dolichos obcordatus (Roxb.) Voigt (1832),
Canavalia podocarpa Dunn. (1922).
Medicinal uses
Boils, Cold, Labor, Leprosy, Malaria, Poisonous, Rheumatic pain.
First and last authentic record
Prain (1903) first recorded it from Sundarban (
lnc) and Chittagong (
lnc). Recently it was reported also from Sundarban (
lnc) area by
Rahman et al., (2015) after a long time. No colletion of the species is available at BNH, BFRIH, DUSH, HCU and BCSIRH.
Threat to the species
Restricted occurrence
. Neither any collection nor any report from Chittagong could be made since
Prain (1903).
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Sundarban (
lnc).
Global distribution
Cosmopolitan.
Specimen examined
No specimen available in BNH, BFRIH, DUSH, HCU and BCSIRH.
2. Derris ferruginea (Roxb.) Benth. in Miq., Pl. Jungh. 1: 252 (1852).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Robinia ferruginea Roxb. (1832).
Medicinal uses
Fish poison.
First and last authentic record
Baker (1878) first recorded it from Sylhet (
lnc). Thereafter it was reported by
Cowan and Cowan (1929) from North Bengal (
lnc). Since then, there is no other published report regarding its occurrence in Bangladesh but only one collection made by Alam in 1982 from Rangamati (Kaptai) is available at BFRIH.
Threat to the species
Habitat degradation. Rare in specific areas.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
North Bengal (
lnc), Rangamati (Kaptai), Sylhet (
lnc).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar.
Specimen examined
Rangamati
Kaptai, 17.07.1982,
Alam 4409 (BFRIH).
3. Desmodium concinnum DC., Prodr. 2:335 (1825).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Desmodium paucinervium DC. (1825),
D. pendulum Wall. (1829),
D. concina (DC.) O.
Kuntze (1891).
Medicinal uses
Indigestion.
First and last authentic record
Khan et al., (1996) first recorded it’s occurrence in Bangladesh from Sylhet (
lnc). There is no other published report of its occurrence from elsewhere in the country is available but three collections from Chittagong (Hathazari, Korerhat) and Rangamati (Raikhali) are available at BFRIH.
Threat to the species
Loss of habitat.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Chittagong (Hathazari, Korerhat), Rangamati (Raikhali), Sylhet (
lnc).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan.
Specimen examined
Chittagong
Hathazari, 24.09.1988, Das 6151 (BFRIH), Korerhat, 08.09.1983, Alam 4703 (BFRIH);
Rangamati
Raikhali, 26.09.1988, Das and Alam 6161 (BFRIH).
4. Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) Retz., Obs. Bot. Fasc. 4:29 (1786).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Hedysarum linifolium L. f. (1781).
Medicinal uses
Amenorrhoea, Boils, Bowel complaints, Febrile eruptions, Fractured bone, Liver diseases, Menstrual troubles, Scorpion bite, Sores and Wounds.
First and last authentic record
Datta and Mitra (1953) recorded this species from Dhaka (
lnc). No other published report of its occurrence from elsewhere in Bangladesh is available but
Huq et al., collected it from Dinajpur (Kantanagar, Ramsagar) in 1980 and
Mia et al., collected it from Rajshahi (RU campus) in 1991 which are available at BNH.
Threat to the species
Habitat destruction.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Dhaka (
lnc), Dinajpur (Kantanagar, Ramsagar), Rajshahi (RU campus).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Africa and Australia.
Specimen examined
Dinajpur
Kantanagar, 19.10.1976,
Huq et al., H. 2874 (BNH), Ramsagar, 11.10.1980,
Huq et al., H. 4724 (BNH);
Rajshahi
RU Campus, 01.05.1991,
Mia et al. M. 2827 (BNH).
5. Millettia extensa (Benth.) Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:109 (1876).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Robinia macrophylla Roxb. (1832),
Otosema extensa Benth. (1852),
Millettia auriculata Baker
ex Brandis (1876),
M. macrophylla (Roxb.) Kurz (1877).
Medicinal uses
Used for poisoning, menstrual problems.
First and last authentic record
Cowan and Cowan (1929) first recorded its occurrence from North Bengal without citing any locality. No other published report of its occurrence from elsewhere in Bangladesh is available but one collection made by
Huq et al., (1983) from Madhupur forest of Mymensingh is available at BNH.
Threat to the species
Habitat degradation. Only one location is known.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Mymensingh (Madhupur).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Indo-China, Sri Lanka.
Specimen examined
Mymensingh
Madhupur N/P area, Rasulpur, 12.05.1983,
Huq et al., H. 5710 (BNH).
6. Smithia sensitiva Ait., Hort. Kew. ed. 1(3): 496 (1789).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Medicinal uses
Fever, Headache, Gravel, Difficulty in Micturition.
First and last authentic record
Its occurrence was first recorded by
Roxburgh (1814) from Bengal (
lnc). Thereafter, it was recorded by
Prain (1903) from all over the Bengal,
Datta and Mitra (1953) from Dhaka (
lnc) and
Sinclair (1956) from Cox’s Bazar (
lnc). There is no other published report of its occurrence from elsewhere in Bangladesh. It was collected by Khan and Mia in 1996 from Cox’s Bazar (St. Martin’s Island) which is available at BNH.
Threat to the species
Habitat degradation.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Dhaka (
lnc), Cox’s Bazar (St. Martin’s Island).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, tropical Asia and Africa.
Specimen examined
Cox’s Bazar
St. Martin’s Island, 27.10.1996, Khan and Mia K. 9672 (BNH).
7. Vigna luteola (Jacq.) Benth. in Mart., Fl. Bras. 15:194, t. 50, f. 2 (1850).
Ahmed et al., (2009).
Dolichos luteolus Jacq. (1770),
Vigna glabra DC. (1825).
Medicinal uses
Boils, Cuts, Coughs, Cold, Control lipid and Cholesterol level, Syphilis, Ulcer.
First and last authentic record
Baker (1878) first recorded its occurrence from Sundarban (
lnc).
Prain (1903) also recorded it from Sundarban (
lnc).
Rahman et al., (2015) recorded its occurrence from Sundarban (
lnc). There is no other published report of its occurrence from elsewhere in Bangladesh. Collection from DUSH from Khulna made by Khan in 1963 also support its occurrence in only Sundarban.
Threat to the species
Restricted occurrence.
Occurrence in Bangladesh
Khulna (Chadpai, Sundarban).
Global distribution
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Israel, Kenya, Sudan, Argentina, Costa Rica and the USA.
Specimen examined
Khulna
Chadpai, 10.02.1963, Khan 543 (DUSH).