Osbeckia saddlepeakensis Prashob, Manudev, Sibichen & Nampy, Phytotaxa

Osbeckia saddlepeakensis Prashob, Manudev, Sibichen & Nampy, Phytotaxa 344 (2): 185–190. Type: INDIA, North Andaman Islands , Saddle Peak, 690 m, 29.09.2010, Santhosh Nampy & K.M. Manudev 3526 (holo CAL; iso CALI, DEV, MH).

Fig. 4 View Fig

Erect, branched, annual herbs, 1.5–8 cm tall. Stems quadrangular, sparsely covered with patent thin hairs, laxly villous. Petioles 1–3 mm long; lamina ovate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.3–1 cm, apex acute, base obtuse, margins ciliate, both sides sparsely clothed with ascending to patent thin hairs, 3-nerved. Inflorescence a terminal short panicle, 3–5- flowered, subtended by 1 or 2 pairs of leaves. Flowers tetramerous, 1–2 mm; pedicels 0.3–1.0 mm long, covered with thin hairs; bracts triangular, 0.3– 0.8 mm long, ciliate. Hypanthium obconic, 1.8–2.5 × 1.5–2.3 mm, sparsely covered with emergences on lower portion, upper portion glabrous. Intersepalar emergences 0.5–1.0 mm long; head stellate with a few long persistent hairs; stalk terete, 0.2–0.5 mm long, glabrous. Other emergences sessile, smaller in size, restricted to lowermost part of hypanthium. Sepals 4, lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, ciliate, caducous. Petals 4, obovate, 1.5–3.0 × 1–2mm, with few hairs at apex, pink. Stamens 8; filaments 2–2.5 mm long, pink; anthers ovate, 1–2 mm long, glabrous, acute at apex, not twisted; pore single, oblique on dorsal side, connective with conspicuous collar having two small dorsal lobes or tubercles and two ventral lobes. Ovary 4-locular, 1.8– 1.5 mm long, united with hypanthium for about half its length; anther pockets present; crown absent; style 2–4 mm long, glabrous; stigma capitate. Capsules obconic, 4-ribbed, 1.8–2.5 × 1.5–2.3 mm, many seeded; seeds 0.2–0.5 mm long, minute, curved.

Flowering & fruiting: August–November. Habitat: Grows as a forest under growth at elevation between 650–700 m.

Distribution: Endemic to India.

Notes: The species is named after the type locality ‘Saddle Peak’, the highest peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Osbeckia saddlepeakensis is similar to O. muralis and O. brachystemon , but differs by its small flowers ( 2–4.5 mm across), triangular bracts, obconic hypanthium with emergences on basal portion only, short stalked intersepalar emergences, lanceolate and ciliate sepals and oblong to narrowly ovoid anthers with a single apical pore.