Dicliptera srisailamica Rasingam, K.Nethaji & G.Susmitha, 2023

L., Rasingam, K., Nethaji, G., Susmitha, J., Ranjana, G., Varshini, Abstract, P. Ranjithkumar, Ghats, Eastern, Pradesh, Andhra & This, Telangana., 2023, Dicliptera srisailamica (Acanthaceae) - a new species from the Eastern Ghats of India, Rheedea 33 (4), pp. 345-349 : 345-348

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2023.33.04.05

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C02C0D-1966-F652-6E16-D2096C91EF51

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Dicliptera srisailamica Rasingam, K.Nethaji & G.Susmitha
status

sp. nov.

Dicliptera srisailamica Rasingam, K.Nethaji & G.Susmitha View in CoL , sp. nOV. FiGS. 1 View FiG & 2 View FiG

Dicliptera srisailamica is closely related to D. beddomei but considerably differs by its short, deflexed hairs on the stem, peduncle, tertiary bracts (hirsute and straight in D. beddomei ), dissimilar, linear-spathulate, tertiary bracts (unequal, oblongelliptic to spathulate in D. beddomei ), and capsule covered with simple hairs intermixed with few glandular hairs (capsule with glandular hairs intermixed with few simple hairs in D. beddomei ).

Type: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Srisailam, Phaladhara and

Panchadhara, 20.03.2013, L . Rasingam & M. Sankara Rao 3183 (holo CAL [ BSID0016287 View Materials !]; iso BSID!) .

Erect herbs, up to 90 cm high. Stems branched, obtusely 4-angled, adpressedly hairy with deflexed hairs when young, later glabrescent, hairs c. 0.2 mm long. Leaves simple; petiole 4–7.5 cm long, adpressed pubescent with deflexed hairs; blades ovate, ovatelanceolate, 2–8 × 1–5 cm; base acute-rounded; apex sharply acuminate;margins entire,densely pubescent when young, then glabrescent; lateral nerves up to 6 pairs, prominent on both surfaces, pubescent. Inflorescence in axillary cymes, 3–5 in sub-capitate clusters; peduncle slender, up to 2.4 cm long, adpressed pubescent with deflexed hairs; secondary bracts 2, acicular, 3–5.3 mm long, acuminate at apex, puberulous; tertiary bracts 2, dissimilar, shortly petiolate, larger one linear-spathulate, 7–10 × 0.7–1 mm, acuminate at apex, hirtellous, 1-nerved, smaller one linear, 4–5.8 × 0.2–0.3 mm, hirtellous; bracteoles 2, linear, hairy, up to 1 mm long. Calyx 3–3.5 mm long; lobes 5, linear-lanceolate, equal, 1.7–2.1 mm long, acuminate, basally jointed; tube 0.9 × 0.53 mm, hirtellous. Corolla pink, bi-lipped; upper lip oblong, 6–7 mm long, slightly tridentate at apex; lower lip oblong-obovate, 5–7.6 mm long, obtuse at apex; tube twisted, 4.5–7 mm long, pubescent without. Stamens 2, inserted in corolla tube, filaments 5–7 mm long, ciliate; anther lobes superposed, c. 0.55 mm long. Style linear, 1 cm long, stigma shortly bifid. Capsule obovoid to ellipsoid, 6–7.5 × 2–3 mm, apiculate at apex, pubescent with simple hairs intermixed with few glandular hairs, placentas separating elastically from the valves from the base upwards; seeds 4, orbicular, c. 1.5 × 1.64 mm, tuberculate.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from October to January; fruiting from November to March.

Habitat: Rare, along stream banks and edges of rocks near waterfalls.

Distribution: India.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘srisailamica’ refers to the type locality Srisailam, a famous temple town in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Nallamalais, Kurnool district, Srisailam , Phaladhara and Panchadhara, 26.03.1965, J. L . Ellis 23779 ( MH). Nellore district , 06.08.1999, P . Venu 111149 ( MH, BSID) . Telangana, Mahabubnagar district, Malleelatheertham , 31.03.1997, S. R . Srinivasan 108984 ( MH, BSID); Ibid., 24.10.2016, J . Swamy & L . Rasingam 009143; Mallayalodhi , 27.02.2014, L . Rasingam 004611 ( BSID) .

Notes: Beddome collected a few specimens of Dicliptera from the Nallamala forest of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, in 1885. The specimens were then described by Clarke (1885) as Dicliptera beddomei based on their broadly ovate leaves and linear-oblong, ciliate tertiary bracts. After a thorough examination of specimens available at foreign and Indian herbaria, the authors found that the species was not recollected until 2009. Sadasivaiah and Khadar Basha (Coll. No. 34063; BSID 0005127) recollected the species from Velgode to Motta areas of Nallamala forest, Kurnool district, in 2009. It is the only specimen that matches well with the description of D. beddomei . The other specimens collected from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states (see specimens examined section) were wrongly identified as either Dicliptera cuneata or D. beddomei and belong to the new species D. srisailamica . Further, D. cuneata differs from the new species by its glabrous to glabrescent stem, unequal, obovate-oblong, 3-nerved tertiary bracts and obovoid capsule with glandular hairs.

L

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden University branch

M

Botanische Staatssammlung München

CAL

Botanical Survey of India

BSID

Botanical Survey of India

J

University of the Witwatersrand

L

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden University branch

MH

Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel

P

Museum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) - Vascular Plants

S

Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History

R

Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile

J

University of the Witwatersrand

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