Iochroma arborescens

Iochroma arborescens View in CoL (L.) J.M.H.Shaw, Plantsman 17(3): 200. 2018. Atropa arborescens L., Cent. Pl. II: 10. 1756. Acnistus arborescens (L.) Schltdl., Linnaea 7: 67. 1832. Neotype (designated here): Plumier, Pl. Amer. fasc. 2. t. 46. f. 1. 1756. FigS. 1 & 2

Unarmed shrubs or small trees, up to 2 m tall, glabrous throughout. Stems terete, branched, greyish-white. Leaves simple, alternate; petioles 1–2 cm long, glabrous; lamina elliptic, 18–24 × 6–9 cm, acute to attenuate at base, acute at apex, entire at margins, both surfaces glabrous, pale green. Inflorescence a many flowered fascicle, cauliflorous. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, c. 2 × 1 cm; pedicels c. 1 cm long. Calyx 5-lobed cupular; lobes c. 3 × 1 mm, hairy outside, acute at apex, green. Corolla 5-lobed; tube c. 4 × 1 mm; lobes c. 8 × 1 mm, nearly elliptic, greenish-white with yellow tinge on inner surface, papillate along margins. Stamens 5, equal, exserted; filaments c. 5.1 mm long, epipetalous, glabrous, cream coloured; anthers oblong, c. 2 × 2 mm, dithecous, dorsifixed, yellow coloured. Ovary 2-celled, ovoid, c. 2 × 1 mm; ovules many; styles slender, c. 7 × 1 mm; stigma capitate. Berries globose, c. 5 mm long.

Flowering & fruiting: April–June.

Distribution: South and central America ( Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Nicaragua), southern Mexico and now in India.

Habitat: Road side (damp areas); as fencing material at elevations around 1200 m.

Specimen examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district, Painavu , 04.04.2018, Divya K . Venugopal & Santhosh Nampy 158483 ( CALI) .

Notes: This species is usually found growing well in open sunny locations. It produces large number of cauliflorous flowers and fruits.