Flemingia mukerjeeana S.K. Gavade, Survesw., Maesen & Lekhak, 2019

2. Flemingia mukerjeeana S.K. Gavade, Survesw., Maesen & Lekhak View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 6 View Fig , 7 View Fig

Flemingia mukerjeeana differs from F. gracilis and F. nilgheriensis by its robust habit; long petiole, ovate to linear-lanceolate leaflets 2.5–4.5 by 1.5–2.2 cm, stipule persistent.

Type. India, Maharashtra, Satara District, Kas plateau, 12 Sept. 2017 ,

Gavade 200 (holo CAL; iso BSI, MH, SUK).

Etymology. The species is named after Dr.Susil Kumar Mukerjee (1909– 1997), former Curator and Keeper of the Central National Herbarium (then Calcutta) for his contributions in the field of plant taxonomy.He also provided a synopsis of the genus Flemingia for India and Burma in 1953.

Decumbent herbs, 20–45 cm long with branched stem; roots tuberous, elongate, 2–3 in cluster, underground; stems 2–3 mm diam, terete, densely hairy with long brown, silky antrorse hairs, gland-dotted. Leaves 6–11 cm long; stipules 10–10.5 by 4–5 mm, ovate, acute, fused, splitting at maturity, basifixed, persistent, many-nerved, gland-dotted, densely hairy; hairs antrorse; petioles 3–7 cm long, densely pubescent with brown silky hairs, gland-dotted; leaflets 2.5–4.5 by 1.5–2.2 cm, ovate to linear-lanceolate, middle leaflet cuneate at base, lateral leaflets asymmetrical or oblique at base, hairy on both surfaces, abaxially gland-dotted, margin hairy; glands orange-red; petiolules 1–2 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescences terminal heads, 15–30-flowered; peduncles 1–8 cm long; Flowers 1.2–1.5 cm long, pedicellate, bracteate; pedicels 1–2 mm long, hairy; bracts 10–12 by 4–5 mm, ovate, acute, persistent, many-nerved, gland-dotted, densely hairy; hairs antrorse. Calyx 9–13 mm long, hairy, hairs brown silky, gland-dotted on outer surface; hairs brown, silky, antrorse; calyx tube 3–3.5 mm long, campanulate, hairy, gland-dotted; calyx teeth 5, equal, 7–8 by 2–2.5 mm, linear to lanceolate, acute, connate for 1/3 of its length, many-nerved. Corolla purple; standard 1.1–1.2 by 1.1–1.2 cm, rounded, retuse at apex, hairy, gland-dotted on outer surface, clawed with 2 auricles at base; wings 10–11 by 5–6 mm, oblong, pubescent, gland-dotted on outer surface, with claw and auricle, claw 3 mm long, auricles c. 1 mm long; keel petals 8–8.5 by 3–3.5 mm, slightly falcate, hairy, gland-dotted on outer surface, with claw and auricle, fused 1/2 of its length at lower side, claw 4 mm long, auricle less than 1 mm. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9+1); staminal tube 6–7 by 1.5–2 mm; anthers uniform, < 1 mm, basifixed; filaments of fused stamens 3–4 mm long, that of free stamen 7–8 mm long. Ovary 2–2.5 by 1–1.5 mm, sub-sessile, hairy, gland-dotted; ovules 2; style 6–8 mm long, glabrous, swollen at middle; stigma, capitate, hairy. Fruit a pod, 11–12 by 3–4 mm, 1-seeded, included within the calyx, beaked, turgid, glabrous; beak less than 1 mm long. Seeds 3 by 2 by 2 mm, brown, ellipsoid, hilum less than 1 mm long, position ± central.

Flowering & Fruiting — October to November.

Distribution — Maharashtra (Kaas plateau and Chalkewadi plateau, Satara District); endemic. This species is restricted to the type locality.

Habitat & Ecology — Flemingia mukerjeeana grows on a high altitude lateritic plateau in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra. It occurs at an altitude of c. 1100–1200 m asl. The common associates of the species are Cyanotis fasciculata (B.Heyne ex Roth) Schult. f., Drosera indica L., Flemingia gracilis (Mukerjee) Ali , Habenaria heyneana Lindl. , Hitchenia caulina (J.Graham) Baker , Impatiens lawii Hook. f. & Thomson, Iphigenia stellata Blatt. , Memecylon umbellatum Burm. f., Murdannia lanuginosa G.Brückn. , Rhamphicarpa longiflora Wight ex Benth. , Strobilanthes sessilis Nees.

Additional specimens examined. INDIA, Maharashtra, Bombay , s.d., Dalzell s.n. ( DD) ; Satara District, Chalkewadi plateau, 17 Aug. 2010, Lekhak 330 ( SUK) ; Kas plateau, 16 Oct.2014, Gavade 5 ( SUK) ; ibid., 26 Sept. 2015, Gavade 104 ( SUK) ; ibid., 22 Oct.2015, Gavade 110 ( SUK) ; ibid., 5 Oct.2016, Gavade 145 ( SUK) ; ibid., 19 Nov. 2016, Gavade 150 ( SUK) .