Argyreia fulgens Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve

14. Argyreia fulgens Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve View in CoL 6: 415. 1834. Type: INDIA. s. loc., Wallich Cat. 1394/1 [ K000830711 digital image!]. Fig. 6a–d View Fig

A huge climbing shrub; older stems semi-woody,

glabrous, rough, young stem purple or green,

terete,appressed strigose, wiry, herbaceous toward apex. Leaf lamina elliptic, 10–14 × 3–7 cm, basally rounded, apically caudate-acuminate, margins entire, undulate in mature leaves, glabrous above,

densely silvery strigose beneath; secondary veins

18–22 pairs, veins purple colored in young leaves;

petiole 3–7 cm long, terete, appressed strigulose,

dorsally grooved, with two protuberances like glands at point of attachment with lamina.

Inflorescence axillary dichotomously branched cyme, 5–7-flowered; peduncles 2–2.5 cm long,

shorter than the pedicels. Flowers pedicellate,

bracteate; pedicel up to 1 cm long, shiny strigose like petiole, slightly elongates in fruiting. Bracts 2,

linear oblong, c. 10 × 1–2 mm, caducous, hairy like leaf. Sepals equal, widely ovate, c. 0.5–0.7 × 1 cm; outer two narrow than inner three, hairy except overlapped areas; inner three sepals with hyaline margins. Corolla funneliform, dark purple, 2.5–

3.5 cm long, 2–2.5 cm across, sparsely hairy on midpetaline bands. Stamens 5, unequal, 2 long

1.3–1.5 cm long while 3 short 0.9–1.2 cm long;

filaments dilated at base, glandular hairy; anthers basifixed, 3–4 mm long, white in color. Ovary pale green; stigma biglobose, papillate. Berries brown,

dry, 0.5–0.7 cm across, 2–4-seeded.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to September and fruiting from October to December.

Habitat: It grows along roads or as an element of secondary forests at an altitude 800–1000 m.

Distribution: India ( Kerala and TamilNadu); endemic.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ fulgens ’ is genitive form of ‘fulgentis’ meaning shining or glittering. Named because of its silvery shiny ventral surface of leaves.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki District, Kumily trau, Dec. 1910, A. Meebold

760, 310681 (CAL); Trivandrum District,

Bonaccord, 27.07.1994, T. Shaju 02099, 9369

(TBGT); Agasthyamala, Bonaccord, 19.05.1991,

T. Mohanan 10827, 9367 (TBGT); Agasthyamala,

Bonaccord, 19.05.1991, T. Mohanan 11747, 9368

(TBGT); Idukki District , Cheruthany, 19.02.1983 ,

C.N. Mohanan 76251 (MH [MH00139557]);

Idukki District, Cheruthany, 19.02.1983,

C.N. Mohanan 76251 (MH [MH00139556]);

Ponmudi, 16.08.1980, M . Mohanan 69255 (MH

[ MH00139555 ]); Trivandrum District , on the way to Ponmudi, 28.10.2018, P. R. Lawand 012

(NCK). Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Cheruthana , 19.02.1983, C . N . Mohanan 76251 ( CAL); Madura ,

Cumbum R. F., 28.09.1925, K. C . Joseph 17749 (MH

[MH00139582]).

Conservation status: The taxon has very restricted extent of occurrence (EOO) as it is known from few localities from Kerala. Its area of occupancy (AOO) does not exceed 500 km 2 and known from three localities from Kerala and one from Tamil Nadu. The number of mature individuals in each population is less than 250. Here we propose that Endangered as a conservation status (EN, B1, B2a and C2ai) ( IUCN, 2024).

Uses: The leaves of the species possess aphrodisiac properties.

Notes: The species can be easily identified by its silvery, shiny lower leaf surface, purple secondary veins in young leaves, and dry, brown-colored berries. Argyreia fulgens shares morphological similarities with Argyreia mollis (Burm.f.) Choisy , as both species possess elliptic leaves with silvery, shiny lower surfaces and flowers of similar size and shape. However, A. fulgens can be distinguished by the presence of a gland at the base of the petiole, a higher number of secondary veins, caducous bracts, and its characteristic dry, brown berries. Additionally, A. fulgens produces dry, brown berries similar to those of A. cuneata and A. nervosa .