Commiphora shankarsinhiana K.D.Thacker & K.S.Rajput, 2025

Commiphora shankarsinhiana K.D.Thacker & K.S.Rajput View in CoL , sp. nov. Figs. 1 View Fig & 2 View Fig

Commiphora shankarsinhiana resembles C. glandulosa Schinz. in its tree habit, yellowish bark, simple leaves and the presence of glandular hairs on the calyx. However, it can be easily differentiated by fewer glandular hairs on the calyx (vs. numerous glandular hairs), axillary cyme with 1–3 flowers (vs. axillary clusters of 10–15 flowers), male flowers c. 5 mm long (vs. 6–8 mm long), calyx up to 2.5 mm long (vs. 2–5 mm long), two-lobed stigma (vs. fourlobed stigma) and yellow pseudaril (vs. red pseudaril). A detailed comparison of morphological characters is provided in Table 1.

Type: INDIA, Gujarat, Rajkot, Osam hills, on the way to Matri Mataji temple, above 214 m ,

04.09.2024, KDT, AMV & KSR 012-015/2024

(holo BSJO; iso BARO).

Deciduous,dioecious,smalltrees,2–3mtall.Outer bark peeling off in dull yellow strips, with large brown-black lenticels. Exudate white, viscous, scanty, hardly scented. Branches with few, large brown lenticels, spine-tipped; spines short, 1–1.5 cm long. Leaves simple, alternate, 4–5 together from each node, internodes very short, clustered, subsessile; petiole 1–2 mm long; lamina 2–6 × 1–4 cm, obovate, base cuneate, glandular hairs present at the base, margin serrate-dentate, apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescence an axillary cyme; flowers unisexual, precocious or appearing with leaves; sessile. Male flowers 1–3, 5–6 × 1.5 mm. Sepals 4, united, 2–2.5 × 0.5 mm, campanulate, red, glandular hairs few. Petals 4, free, 3–5 × 0.5 mm, linear, red, recurved. Disc 4-lobed. Stamens 8, unequal, 4 short, 4 long; shorter stamens 2 mm long, antipetalous; longer stamens 4 mm long, alternipetalous. Ovary rudimentary. Female flowers 1–2, 4–5 × 1.5 mm. Sepals 4, united, 2–2.5 × 0.5 mm, campanulate, pale red, few glandular hairs. Petals 4, free, 3–4 × 0.5 mm, linear, red to yellowish-red, recurved. Disc 4-lobed. Stamens sterile 8, 4 short, 4 long; shorter stamens c. 1 mm long, antipetalous; longer stamens c. 1.5 mm long, alternipetalous. Ovary superior, c. 1.5 mm long, 2-loculed, ovoid; 1 ovule in each locule, only one ovule becomes mature in fruit; style 2 mm long; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a drupe, 7–9 × 6–9 mm, subglobose to obovoid, slightly flattened, asymmetrical, beaked, beak up to 1 mm long; exocarp glabrous, red-maroon in ripe fruit, mesocarp fleshy. Stone 5–7 × c. 4 mm, asymmetrically ovoid, with one fertile and one sterile locule, rugose, brown; pseudaril with 4 equal arms, yellow, reaching almost the apex.

Vernacular name: Gugal.

Flowering & fruiting: March to September.

Habitat: Osam Hill is located at Patanvav village, near Upleta (Saurashtra) and is particularly known for the perlite oars ( Anonymous, 2015). This landscape is predominated by thorn-mixed dry deciduous forests. Two-thirds of the hilly terrain is covered by grasses. The soil and substratum of the hills consist of loam-mixed gravels and rocky slopes.

Distribution: So far known from the Osam hills, on the way to Goddess Matri Mataji temple, Rajkot district, Gujarat, India.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ shankarsinhiana ’ is in honour of the Late Mr. Shankarsinh N. Rajput (July 1927 - July 2005) who was a traditional herbal medicine practitioner of the Khandesh region of North Maharashtra. He was known for curing Diphtheria among the children of rural areas.

Species examined: INDIA, Gujarat, Rajkot district, Osam hills, 214 m, 04.09.2024, KDT & PNJ-

073/2023; KDT, AMV & KSR-012-015/2024

( BARO).

Key to allied species

1. Plants monoecious........................................... 2

1. Plants dioecious or polygamous..................... 3

2. Leaves palmately compound (3-foliolate); stamens unequal in length; stigma 3-lobed .............................................................. C. wightii View in CoL

2. Leaves pinnately compound (unipinnate); stamens equal in length; stigma 2-lobed ......................................................... C. stocksiana View in CoL 3. Inflorescence an axillary cyme; stigma 2-lobed; pseudaril yellow .................. C. shankarsinhiana View in CoL

3. Inflorescence an axillary fascicle; stigma 4-lobed; pseudaril red...................................... 4

4. Fascicles 10–15-flowered; sepals glandular hairy ............................................... C. glandulosa View in CoL

4. Fascicle 3–7-flowered; sepals not glandular hairy ........................................ C. pyracanthoides View in CoL