Ceropegia bhatii S.R.Yadav & Shendage, Kew Bull.

Ceropegia bhatii S.R.Yadav & Shendage, Kew Bull. View in CoL 65(1): 107. 2010; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 29. 2013. Type: INDIA, Karnataka, Davangere district, Malebennur Ghat , 15.09.2008, S.M. Shendage 2550 (holo CAL!; iso BSI!, SUK!). Fig. 17 View Fig

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 cm; roots a few, fibrous. Stem c. 1 m long, 1–2 mm diam., terete, twining, unbranched, pubescent below, glabrous above. Lamina 4.2–7.3 × 0.3–1.65 cm, linear-lanceolate, hairy along margins, above and midrib beneath, dark green above, pale below; petioles 5–7 mm long, channeled above, ciliolate along margins, glabrous otherwise. Flowers solitary or 2-flowered cymes, extra-axillary; peduncles c. 5.5 mm long, glabrous; bracts c. 2.5 × 1 mm, linear-subulate, sparsely hairy at apex, glabrous otherwise; pedicels c. 1.1 cm long, terete, glabrous. Sepals c. 4.5 × 0.35 mm, subulate, glabrous. Corolla c. 4.8 cm long; tube c. 2.8 cm long, slightly curved, gradually dilated towards base, funnel-shaped at throat, narrow at middle, lower 2/3 rd portion blotched with purple within, upper 1/3 rd portion striated with dark purple lines up to the throat within (at mouth of tube blotching is deep purple otherwise tube is yellowish-green within); lobes c. 2 cm long, linear, slightly reflexed on their back, connate at the tip forming an ovoid-cage, glabrous. Corona bi-seriate, stipitate, c. 4.5 mm long; outer of 5-bifid lobes, c. 2.3 × 3 mm, saucer-shaped, ciliate along margins, green-yellow; inner of 5 erecto-divergent lobes, c. 2.8 mm long, sparsely hairy at the tip, deep purple. Pollinarium c. 0.2 × 0.15 mm. Follicles c. 8–9 cm long, tapering towards both ends, glabrous. Seeds c. 3.7 × 0.15 mm, ovate-oblong; coma c. 1.7 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: August–November.

Habitat: Grows in grasslands of dry deciduous forests, in association with Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guillem. & Perr. , Cymbopogon caesius (Hook. & Arn.) Stapf , Dolichandrone spathacea Seem. and Tylophora fasciculata Buch.-Ham. ex Wight.

Distribution: Endemic to Karnataka, India.

Specimen examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Davangere district, Malebennur Ghat , 08.08.2011, S. S . Kambale 12 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: So far the species is known from only type locality where the area of occupancy is less than 10 sq. km. The fragmented populations observed contain a few undivided which are facing severe threat due to habitat destruction. Taking these facts into consideration and evaluation against criteria of IUCN (2017), species is assessed as Critically Endangered [ CR: B1 a,b (i, ii, v)] .

Notes: This is the only species in series Attenuatae H. Huber having a twining habit. Ceropegia bhatii is closely similar to C. noorjahaniae Ansari , but differs in its twining habit, 2-flowered cymes, gradually dilated corolla tube and straight corolla lobes.

Ceropegia ciliata Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. View in CoL 4(1): 15, t. 1262. 1848; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India. 4: 73. 1883; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2: 858. 1921; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 68. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India. 16: 13. 1984; S.R. Sriniv. in Henry et al., Fl. Tamil Nadu, Ser I, Analysis 2: 83. 1987; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 176. 1988; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 219. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 72. 2002; T.S. Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Kerala 85. 2006; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 161. 2009. Lectotype (designated by Kambale & Yadav, 2014): INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Neilgherries [Nilgiris], Kaitie [Katie] Falls, s.d., R. Wight s.n. ( K000894274 image!; isolectotype K000894273 image!). Fig. 18 View Fig

Perennial hirsute twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 2–3 × 1.5–2 cm, roots fibrous. Stem c. 1 m long, unbranched, hirsute. Lamina 8.3–10.5 × 0.3–2.7 cm, ovate-lanceolate, attenuateacute at apex, rounded at base, coarsely pubescent on both sides, hairy on the veins beneath, ciliolate along margins; petioles c. 6 mm long, channeled above, hairy. Cymes umbellate, 6–15-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 3.3–10.5 cm long, hispid; pedicels c. 1.8 cm long, hispid. Sepals c. 5 mm long, linear, hispid. Corolla 1.9–2.8 cm long, green; tube 1.2–1.8 cm long, straight-slightly curved, abruptly dilated at base, narrow at middle, cylindrical at throat, deep purple within at lower half, whitish green at upper-half; lobes c. 7–8 mm long, linear, connate at the tip forming globular cage, lobes slightly reflexed on their back, glabrous, faint green at upper 3/4 th portion and greenish white at lower 1/4 th part. Corona bi-seriate, stipitate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, c. 2 × 1 mm across, saucer to bowl-shaped, ciliate along margins and within; inner of 5 erect spathulate lobes, c. 1.6 mm long, alternate with outer corona. Follicles c. 8 cm long, tapering towards apex, blunt at tip.

Flowering: July–September.

Habitat: Grows amidst grasses on hill slopes.

Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats

(Kerala and Tamil Nadu), India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district, Munnar , 18.08.2010, P. M . Sheeba 66250 ( TBGT!) . Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Anamalay hills, 1921, s.coll. s.n. ( MH!); Nilgiris district , s.loc., 09.1883, J. S . Gamble 12415; Ebbanad , 11.09.1970, G. V . Subbarao 6635 ( MH!); Ibid., 09.08.2014, A. R . Gholave , S. R . Yadav & S. S . Kambale SSK 260; Ibid. , 19.09.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 316; Ibid. , 06.10.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 322 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: The populations are fragmented and habitats are lost due to tea and coffee plantations. It is assessed here as Critically Endangered [CR: B2 a, b (iii,iv,v)].

Notes: Ceropegia ciliata is closely allied to C. ensifolia Bedd. , but differs from it in having hirsute habit (vs. glabrous to puberulous), globular cage of corolla lobes (vs. ovoid cage) and corolla lobes shorter than tube (vs. corolla lobes and tube equal in length). It resembles to a great extent to C. hirsuta Wight & Arn. in its vegetative morphology but differs in having globular cage of corolla lobes (vs. ovoid cage) and saucer-shaped outer corona with 5 shallowly bifid lobes (vs. bowl-shaped with deeply bifid lobes).

Ceropegia ensifolia Bedd., Madras J. Lit. Sci. Ser. View in CoL 3(1): 52. 1864; Icon. Pl. Ind. Or. 1: 15, t.173. 1874; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India. 4: 75. 1883; Gamble, Fl. Madras. 4: 859. 1921; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India. 16: 14. 1984; S.R. Sriniv. in Henry et al., Fl. Tamil Nadu Ind., Ser I, Analysis 2: 83. 1987; Bruyns, Rheedea 7(2): 111. 1997; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 221. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 77. 2002; T.S. Nayar et al. Fl. Pl. Kerala 85. 2006; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 161. 2009. C. ciliata Wight subsp. ensifolia (Bedd.) H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. View in CoL 12: 69. 1957; Lectotype: INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Annamallay hills, R.H. Beddome s.n (K000894276 image!).

C. albiflora Hook.f., Fl. Brit. View in CoL India 4(10): 75. 1883. Lectotype (designated by Singh, 2015): INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Peerumade , 3500 ft., s.d., R.H. Beddome s.n. ( K000894277 image!; isolectotype K000894278 image!, BM001014218 image!)

C. ciliata auct . Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 176. 1988, non Wight, 1848. Fig. 19 View Fig

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock a sub-globose tuber; roots fibrous. Stem branched, glabrous. Lamina 5.5–14 × 0.4–0.7 cm, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, rounded at base, coarsely hairy above and on the veins beneath, ciliolate along margins, glabrous otherwise; petioles 0.3–1.3 cm long, channeled above, decumbent, hairy. Cymes umbellate, 4–10-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1.9–2.3 cm long, hispid; pedicels c. 6 mm long, hispid. Sepals c. 3 mm long, subulate, glabrous. Corolla 3–4.1 cm long, greenish-white; tube 0.8–1.9 cm long, straight, abruptly dilated at base, narrow at middle, sub-cylindrical at throat; lobes c. 2.2 cm long, linear, connate at the tip forming ovoid cage, lobes reflexed on back, glabrous, faint green. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 ciliate bifid lobes, saucer-shaped, emarginate; inner of 5 erect, ligulate lobes, alternate with outer corona. Follicles long, slender, tapering towards apex, blunt at the tip.

Flowering & fruiting: August–September.

Habitat: Grows amidst grasslands on hill slopes.

Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district , Kulamavu, 03.10.1983, C . N . Mohanan 79958 ( MH!); Kottayam district , Kurisumala, 30.07.1985, V . T . Antony 1207 ( MH!); Palakkad district , Karasuryamalai, 30.10.1976, E . Vajravelu 48769 ( MH!); s.l., 20.10.2014, Prabhu Kumar SSK 329 ( SUK!) . Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari district , Balamore, 05.10.1980, M . K . Vayal 68934 ( MH!); Madurai district , way to high wavy Ghats, 06.09.1925, K . C . Jacob 17535 ( MH!); Theni district , Meghamalai, 08.08.2014, S . S . Kambale & S . Surveswaran SSK 259; Ibid., 09.10.2014, S . S . Kambale & S . Surveswaran SSK 323 ( SUK!) .

Notes: Ceropegia ensifolia is closely similar to C. ciliata , but differs from it in having glabrous habit, ovoid cage of corolla lobes, and longer corolla lobes.

Ceropegia evansii McCann, J. View in CoL Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 45: 209. 1945; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 15. 1984; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 222. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 132. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 350. 2001; M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 230. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 77. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 161. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 31. 2013. C. evansii McCann var. evansii View in CoL auct. H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Broter. 12: 67. 1957. Lectotype (designated by Kambale & Yadav, 2015): INDIA, Maharashtra, Khandala, 13.09.1942, H. Santapau 920 B (BLAT image!). Fig. 20 View Fig

Vernacular name: Kurput (Marathi).

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 2–3.5 cm diam., sub-globose; roots fibrous. Stem c. 2–4 m long, usually single from tuber, terete, glabrous-pubescent at young stage, green to dull purple. Lamina 6–14 × 1.3–7 cm, lower ovate-lanceolate, upper lanceolate, acute or acuminate at apex, rounded to sub-cordate at base with few glands on either side at the base, membranous, sub-coriaceous, hairy above and along margins and midnerve below, glabrous otherwise, dark green above, pale below; petioles 1.5–3 cm long, deeply channeled above, hairy along margins, glabrous otherwise. Cymes umbellate, 3–8-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1.1–4 cm long, terete, puberulous; bracts 3–5 mm long, linear-subulate, glabrous, slightly pubescent along margins; pedicels 0.5–1.2 cm long, slender, glabrous. Sepals 5.5–6.5 mm long, linear-subulate glabrous. Corolla 3–4 cm long; tube 2.3–2.8 cm long, curved, abruptly dilated at base, cylindrical at middle, funnel-shaped at throat, glabrous within and outside, blotched with few green and brownish red spots at throat; lower half purple within, greyish outside; lobes 0.8–1 cm long, obovate-oblong, folded longitudinally on the back, connate at tip and forming an obovoid-cage, glabrous outside, puberulous within, lower half has downwardly pointed hairs, yellow at upper-half, white at lower half with green at margins. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, 3 × 4 mm across, saucer-shaped, ciliate within and along margins, yellow at base, deep purple along margins; inner of 5 linear lobes, c. 2.5 mm long, connivent, yellow with purple at the base. Pollinia minute, ellipsoidoblong, attached by very short caudicles to the corpusculum, yellow. Follicles in pairs usually unequal, blunt at tip, 7.5–15 cm long, tapering at both ends, glabrous. Seeds c. 7 × 3 mm, compressed, marginate, comose; coma c. 2 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: July–October.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 ( Gosavi et al., 2012).

Habitat: Grows along hill slopes and amidst bushes, usually in association with Strobilanthes callosa Nees.

Distribution: Endemic to northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Kolhapur district, Patgaon, Faye , 04.08.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 56; Ibid. , 08.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 258 ( SUK!); Pune district, Khandala, below Dukes Nose , 08.1945, C . McCann 6527 ( CAL!); Lonawala, Ambavane , Kate Pani forest , 27.07.1964, B. V . Reddi 99331 ( BSI!); Ratnagiri district, Gothane , 28.07.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 53; Ibid. , 08.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & A. R . Gholave SSK 257; Ibid. , 19.09.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 311 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: As tubers are eaten by local inhabitants it is under threat. Very few populations have been located in the field. Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Vulnerable.

Ceropegia fantastica Sedgw., J. View in CoL Indian Bot. 2: 124. 1921; Blatter & McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36: 536. 1933; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 64. 1957; B.D. Sharma et al., Fl. Karnataka, Analysis 166. 1984; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 15. 1984; R.S. Rao, Fl. Goa, Diu, Daman, Dadra & Nagarhaveli 2: 262. 1986; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 56. 1987; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 222. 1999; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 350. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 77. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 161. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 33. 2013. Lectotype (designated by Singh, 2015): INDIA, Karnataka, Sulgeri, North Kanara, 08.1918, T.R.D. Bell 4252 (K000894267 image!; isolectotype K000894266). Fig. 21 View Fig

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers sub-spherical, 2.5–3 cm in diam.; roots fibrous. Stem twining, c. 3 m high, usually 1 from single tuber, 2–3 mm in diam, cylindrical, glabrous. Lamina 8.3–14.0 × 6.5–10 cm, lower ones large, ovate-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate at apex, rounded-cordate at base, wavy along margins, membranous, pubescent above and along margins, glabrous beneath, with glands at the base of lamina, upper ones small 6.3–13.3 × 1.8–4.3 cm long, lanceolate, acute at apex, cuneate at base, distinctly curved at apex, hairy along margins, glabrous otherwise; petioles 0.7–3.9 cm long, channeled above, glabrous. Cymes sub-umbellate, extra-axillary; peduncles 1.8–8.3 cm long, terete, hirsute, deep purple. Flowers 6–10; bracts 1.5–1.8 × 0.15 cm, linear–subulate, hairy at the tip, glabrous otherwise, purple; bracteoles 0.5–1 × 0.1 cm, linear–subulate, glabrous, purple; pedicels 0.8–2.4 cm long, terete, glabrous, purple. Sepals 4.3–5.1 × c. 0.1 cm, linear–subulate, slightly hooked at tip, exceeding corolla, glabrous, purple. Corolla 3.2–4.4 cm long; tube 2.5–3.4 cm long, slightly curved, abruptly dilated towards base, sub-cylindrical to funnel-shaped at mouth, funnel-shaped above, hairy at mouth with downwardly pointed trichomes, faint green at dilated part, blotched with deep purple from base to upward, blotching maximum at upper-half up to the base of corolla lobes, deep purple at lower 2/3 rd portion within, lower half of dilated part cream-yellow coloured, upper 1/3 rd portion tube blotched with purple; lobes 0.7–1.0 cm long, folded at their back, connate at the tip to form sub-globose head, hairy along margins and within, density of hairs is high at the top, greenish interspersed with white at the middle of lobe, purple along margins within, variously coloured, blotching with purple is high. Corona bi-seriate, stipitate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, c. 3 × 3.5 mm, bowl to cupular-shaped, ciliate along margins and within, yellow; inner c. 2.5 mm long, connivent at tip, yellow at upper-half with purple blotching, deep purple at lower half. Pollinarium c. 2.5 × 3 mm. Follicles 9–9.5 × c. 0.3 cm, ash coloured; seeds c. 8 × 3 mm, brownish with yellow reflexed wings, comose; coma c. 2 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: August–September.

Habitat: Grow in open semi-evergreen forests amidst bushes and along forest edges in wet evergreen forests.

Distribution: Endemic to northern Western Ghats (Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra), India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Goa, South Goa district, Canacona, Ordofond forest , way to Tudal , 24.08.1963, K. C . Kanodia BSI 89489 About BSI ( BSI!); Loliem , s.d., V. C . Joshi & S . Rajkumar s.n. (Goa University Herbarium); Sanguem , Netravali , 10.07.2012, S. S . Kambale SUK 2575 View Materials ; Ibid. , 21.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 282 ( SUK!) . Karnataka, North Canara, way from Kadra to Sulgeri , 16.09.2011, A. N . Chandore ANC 1431 About ANC ( SUK!) . Maharashtra, Kolhapur district, Ajara , s.d., S. P . Gaikwad 468; way from Ajara to Amboli , 04.09.1999, S R . Yadav s.n.; Gavase , 16.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2583 View Materials ; Ibid. , 15.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & A. N . Chandore SSK 269; 19.09.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 317 ( SUK!); Ratnagiri district, Gothane , 19.09.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 312 ( SUK!); Sindhudurg district, Amboli , s.d,. S. R . Yadav 5913 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Endangered or possibly Extinct based on the data available then. However, the species is known from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra by few populations. The habitat modification is the major threat to the species.

Notes: Ceropegia fantastica closely resembles C. evansii and C. oculata in having hirsute, ovate-lanceolate leaves. However, it can be distinguished by its considerably longer sepals.

Ceropegia hirsuta Wight & Arn., Contr. Bot. View in CoL India 30. 1834; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 71. 1883; T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 2: 242. 1905; Gamble, Fl. Madras 4: 859. 1921; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Broter. 12: 63. 1957; Stevens in Saldanha & Nicolson, Fl. Hassan Dist. 444. 1976; K.M. Matthew, Fl. Tamilnadu Carnatic 2: 936. 1983; B.D. Sharma et al., Fl. Karnataka, Analysis 166. 1984; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 16. 1984; S.R. Sriniv. in Henry et al., Fl. Tamil Nadu Ind., Ser I, Analysis 2: 83. 1987; Kamble & S.G. Pradhan, Fl. Akola District, Maharashtra 130. 1988; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 177. 1988; B.V. Shetty & V. Singh, Fl. Rajasthan 2: 478. 1991; S.D. Deshp. et al., Fl. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra 1: 360. 1993; Hanumanthappa in Pull. & Moulali, Fl. Andhra Pradesh 2: 585. 1997; H.O. Saxena & Brahmam, Fl. Orissa 2:1087. 1995; Bruyns, Rheedea 7(2): 113. 1997; Naik, Fl. Marathwada 1: 545. 1998; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 223. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 81. 2002; Boonjaras & Thaithong, Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 31: 1. 2003; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 350. 2001; T.S. Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Kerala 85. 2006; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 161. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 33. 2013. Lectotype (designated by Ansari, 1984): INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiris, s.d., R. Wight Cat. n. 1510 (K000894263 image!; isolectotype E00179553 image!).

C. hirsuta var. stenophylla Hook.f., Fl. Brit. View in CoL India 4: 72. 1883; Gamble, Fl. Madras 4: 859. 1921; K.M. Matthew, Fl. Palni Hills, S. India 2: 803. 1999. Type: Not located or apparently not known.

C. jacquemontiana Decne., Prodr. View in CoL 8: 641. 1844; Dalzell & A. Gibson, Bombay Fl. 153. 1861. C. hirsuta var. jacquemontiana (Decne.) Hook.f. View in CoL , 4: 72. 1883. Type: Not located or apparently not known. C. ophiocephala Dalzell View in CoL , Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 2: 259. 1850; Dalzell & A. Gibson, Bombay Fl. 154. 1861. Type: Not located or apparently not known.

C. hispida Blatt. & McCann, J. View in CoL Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35: 409. 1931. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Western Ghats, Panchgani, near Goudoli , 06.10.1930, C. McCann & Fernandez 3566 (holo BLAT image!). Fig. 22 View Fig

Vernacular names: Khaloola (Hindi), Haamana (Marathi), Khilora (Rajasthani).

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 2–4.3 cm in diam., globose-depressed, roots fibrous. Stem 30–200 cm long, usually 1 from single tuber, slender, unbranched, hirsute. Lamina variable, lower ones 2–11.2 × 1.8–7 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acute at apex, rounded at base, upper ones ovate-lanceolate, 4.8–8.2 × 0.8–4.3 cm, acute at apex, rounded-cordate at base, hirsute on either sides, densely hairy along margins; petioles 0.5–2.8 cm long, channeled above, hairy. Cymes sub-umbellate, 3–5-flowered, lateral; peduncles 0.6– 2.8 cm long, terete, hirsute; bracts 0.6–1 cm, linear, hairy; bracteoles 0.1–0.15 cm, usually glabrous; pedicels c. 0.6–1.2 cm, pubescent. Sepals 0.5–2 cm long, linear–subulate, hirsute. Corolla 3.2–7.2 cm long; tube 2–4 cm long, dilated at base, funnel-shaped at throat, glabrous, downwardly pointed hairs at the mouth and at the lower 2/3 rd portion, yellowish-green, externally blotched with dark purple spots from middle to upward deep purple at lower 3/4 th portion and with purple blotches at upper 1/4 th portion; lobes 0.8–2.3 cm long, broadly oblong or oblong obovate, hairy along margins and from inner side yellowish-green, sometimes purple in colour or pale yellow. Corona, bi-seriate, stipitate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, bowl-shaped, longer than gynostegium, c. 4 × 5 mm, ciliate along margins and within, dark brown-black coloured along margins, dark yellow in the middle; inner of 5 connivent-slightly divergent lobes, 4–5 mm long, yellow, purple at the base. Follicles 8–12 × c. 0.35 cm, glabrous, tapering towards apex.

Flowering & fruiting: June–December.

Habitat: Grows amidst bushes along hill slopes of dry regions, on lateritic plateaus and grassy hill slopes.

Distribution: Peninsular India and Thailand.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Kadapa district, Talakona , 25.11.2007, B. R. R. S . Rao , B . Sadasivaiah & S. K . Basha F. A. P . 30388 ( SKU!, BSID!); Ranga Reddy district, Ananthagiri Reserve forest , 20.08.1994, M. S . Mohamad F. A. P . 11059 ( SKU!); Srikakulam district, Rampa hills, 09.1920, V . Narayanaswami 869 ( CAL!) . Goa, South Goa district, Paroda hills, 09.09.2007, A . Prabhugaonkar & M. K . Janarthanam 536 ( Goa University Herbarium !) . Jharkhand, Giridh district, Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary , 02.10.2004, V . Ranjan & K. L . Maity 37219; Hazaribagh district, Hazaribagh National Park , 07.09.1993, S. K . Das & Party 22447; Near Raja Rappa forest , 20.09.1993, S. K . Das & Party 22541 ( CAL!) . Karnataka, Belgaum district, Appachiwadi , 17.08.2012, A. R . Gholave & S. S . Kambale SSK 10 ( SUK!); Chamrajnagar district, Mysore to Gundulupet , 29.08.1964, B . D. Naikthani 21297 ( MH!); Chikmaglur district, way from Chikmaglur to Shimoga , 10.09.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2598 View Materials ( SUK!); Hassan district, Segegudda , 02.10.1977, T. M . Ramakrishna TMR 1012 ( MH!, CAL!); Kodagu district, Pushpagiri hills, 20.10.2013, P. R . Kshirsagar & S. S . Kambale SSK 93 ( SUK!); Tumkur district, Arai-gudenahalli , 08.11.2013, P. R . Lawand , A. R . Gholave & S. S . Kambale SSK 202 ( SUK!) . Kerala, Idukki district, Kulamavu to Meenmutty , s.d., C. N . Mohanan 76008 ( MH!); Palakkad district, Silent Valley National Park , 20.11.2011, A. R . Kulavmode & S. S . Kambale SUK 2568 View Materials ( SUK!); Pathanamthitta district, Nilakkal , 08.06.1982, K. S. P . Kumar SV 10902 ( CALI!) . Madhya Pradesh, Hoshangabad district, Panchmarhi road, Bori Reserve forest , 06.10.1960, J . Joseph 11284 ( MH!) . Maharashtra, Akola district, Palodi , 02.09.1977, S. Y . Kamble 150373 ( BSI!); Amravati district, Belkund , 28.08.1976, M. Y . Ansari 144149 ( BSI!); Kolhapur district, Gaganbawda , 25.08.1999, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Ajara , 27.09.1999, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Ibid. , 05.08.2003, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Katyayani , 19.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2584 View Materials ( SUK!); Malabar & Konkan region , s.loc., s.d., Stocks & Law s.n. ( CAL!); Panhala, 09.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & B. U . Jadhav SSK 261( SUK!); Mumbai Sub-urban district, Trombay , 02.07.1970, B. N . Maheshwari 72944 ( BSI!); Pune district, Chakan , 03.09.1962, K. P . Janardhanan 780081; hills around Pune , 18.08.1902, R. K . Bhide 793; Lonavla , 29.09.1914, N. P . Par s.n.; Near Aundh , 23.09.1921, R. S . Shinde s.n.; Pashan, 26.08.1988, Lukuram s.n. ( BSI!); Ratnagiri district , Ratnagiri , 05.09.1999, V. T . Patil 404 ( SUK!); Sangli district, Miraj , Pandoba hill, A. N . Londhe 170398; Tasgaon, Sagareshwar forest , 28.07.1990, A. N . Londhe 170601 ( BSI!); Satara district, Karad , Shamgaon Ghat , 18.09.2013, P. R . Lawand & S. S . Kambale SSK 90; Kartikswami hills, Amberi , 22.08.1990, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Ibid., Amberi , 22.08.2010, S. S . Kambale SUK 2567 View Materials ; Khindwadi , 09.1992, H. S . Patil 3515 ( SUK!); Pandavgarh, 11.08.1984, S . D. Deshpande 169037 ( BSI!); Satara, 07.07.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 52; Yenake , 13.07.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. B . Chaugule SSK 242 ( SUK!); Sindhudurg district, Vengurla , 28.08.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2596 View Materials ( SUK!) . Odisha, Ganjam district , s.loc., s.d., C. E. C . Fischer 4 ( CAL!) . Rajasthan, Mount Abu , 16.07.1957, s.coll. 42857 ( BSI!) . Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Anamalay hills, 1921, J. S . Gamble s.n.; Kuridimalai , 13.12.1956, K . Subramanyan 1768 ( MH!); Dharmpuri district, Devarbetta , 29.10.1981, K. M . Matthew , S. J . Britto & N . Rani 28493 ( RHT!); Dindigul district, Palani hills, 11.1856, R. H . Beddome 107 ( CAL!); Ibid., 22.06.1898, Bourne 1603; Madurai district , Anna , 25.08.1985, S. J . Britto 42139 ( RHT!); Nilgiris district, Moyar Reserve forest , 18.08.1970, B . D. Sharma 35593; Sirur to Ebbanad 14.11.1970, G. V . Subbarao 37227 ( MH!) . West Bengal, Purulia district, Chota Nagpur, 09.1896, D. Prain s.n.; Matha hills, 11.09.1964, K. C . Maliek s.n.; Gopalpur forest , 25.08.1966, K. C . Maliek 438 ( CAL!) .

Conservation status: It is distributed in Peninsular India and Thailand. However due to the anthropogenic pressure such as habitat modification, food value of tubers, it is under threat. Due to inadequate information, it is treated under Data Deficient (DD).

Notes: Ceropegia hirsuta is exceptionally variable in its morphology. Populations from different parts of the Western Ghats shows much variation in plant size, leaf shape, length of flowers, colour of corolla and shape of corolla lobe cage. Shape of the lamina varies from ovate-elliptic, lanceolate to linear; colour of the flowers varies from green to yellow (in drier parts) and the corolla lobe from conical to ovoid cages. A comparative account of variations in the floral structure is depicted in Figure 23 View Fig .