Revision of Genus Crescentia L . ( Bignoniaceae ) in India

The genus Crescentia L. in India is taxonomically revised. A key to the species, nomenclatural citation of each species, their synonyms, type details, taxonomic description, phenology, distribution in India and worldwide, exsiccata, ecological and taxonomical notes if any, have been provided. Line drawing of the habit and dissected parts of each species have been given.


Introduction
Genus Crescentia L. (Bignoniaceae) is represented by ca.7 species distributed in tropical America, Asia and Malesia [1].In India, the genus is represented by two introduced species viz., C. alata Kunth and C. cujete L. Due to ornamental values, these species are planted in many states of India.C. B. Clarke (1884) in "Hooker's Flora of British India" has not included the genus Crescentia L. [2].Later, the genus has been dealt with one species C. cujete L. by several workers [3][4][5][6][7] from different parts of India.Singh et al. (2001) further included Crescentia alata Kunth in Flora of Bihar Analysis [8].

Materials and Methods
The present revisionary account is based on the detailed study of live collections, herbarium specimens received on loan from all the national herbaria and with relevant literature from India and neighbouring regions.Thorough scrutiny of all the general herbarium specimens from the herbaria of CAL, DD, LWG, BSD, BSA, ASSAM and BSHC has been critically evaluated.
Ecology: Prefers full sun to partial shade and moderate to heavy watering.
Uses: An excellent ornamental tree for its curious flowers and fruits.The seeds are edible and high in protein with licorice-like sweet taste.
Flowering and fruiting May-July.Distribution: India: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.Native of Tropical America.Widely distributed in America and other tropics; throughout Malesia.
Ecology: Grows in shade, excellent host for epiphytes.Uses: Dried fruits are commonly used to make bowls, containers from the woody epicarp after removal of the pulp and musical rattles known as maracas [9].Planted in gardens as an ornamental, sap once used for dying silk black.Seeds yield a fixed oil similar to groundnut and olive oils [10].
Note: Gentry (1976Gentry ( , 1980) ) designated Herb.Linnaeus No. 779.1 as type of Crescentia cujete L. [11], but the proposal points out that this was not available to Linnaeus in 1753 so cannot be the type (Spermatophyta committee, Taxon 43: 274.1994).