Utricularia sainthomia P.Biju, Josekutty, Janarth. & Augustine, 2020

Utricularia sainthomia P.Biju, Josekutty, Janarth. & Augustine View in CoL , sp. nov. FigS. 1–3 View Fig View Fig View Fig

This new species is morphologically similar to U. malabarica

Janarth. & A.N.Henry and U. lazulina P.Taylor in its 3-

nerved leaves, basifixed bracts, shorter peduncles, recurved fruiting pedicels (absent in U. lazulina ), papillate calyx lobes and bigibbous corolla but differs in having large oblate traps ( 1.5–2.5 mm) with a lateral mouth, traps confined to the expanded portion of the leaves, 1.5–2.5 mm long nonglandular trap appendages, terete brownish green peduncles,

papillate scales, bracts and bracteoles, broad obovate upper lip of corolla, deep violet lower lip of corolla, shallowly trilobed upper lobe of stigma, globular capsules, terminal hilum, elongated overlapping testa cells with raised anticlinal boundaries and periclinal walls transversely striated.

Type: INDIA, Kerala, Kasaragod district, Koyithatta lateritic plateau, N 12 ̊19'43.7", E 075 ̊15'11.9", 155 m, 12.07.2015, Biju & Jomy 1008 (holo CAL; iso MH) .

Small, erect, terrestrial plants, 3.5–7 cm tall. Rhizoids 2–3 from the base of the peduncles, 6–20 × 0.1–0.4 mm, tapering towards apex, branches capillary, distichous, pale purple, glandular. Stolons filiform, 15–25 mm long, 0.1–0.3 mm in thickness, internodes 3–3.5 mm long, branched. Leaves only on the stolons, 1 or 2 at the internodes, obovatespathulate, 3-nerved, 4.5–7 × 1.2–2.3 mm, rounded at apex. Traps oblate, 1.5–2.5 × 1.2–1.6 mm, found only on the lower side of expanded portion of the leaves, solitary, rarely two; stalk 0.1–0.2 mm long, attached at the longer side of the bladder, 0.3–0.8 mm apart from the mouth; mouth lateral, round; appendages two, subulate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, recurved, non-glandular. Racemes erect; peduncles 3.5–7 cm long, 0.3–0.5 mm thick, brownish green, terete, shallowly grooved on one side, glabrous. Scales 3–4, adpressed on the peduncle, ovate, faintly 1-nerved, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1.2 mm, papillate. Bracts ovate, basifixed, 1.5–1.8 × 1–1.2 mm, nerves obscure, acute, papillate. Bracteoles 2, lanceolate, 0.8–1.2 × 0.2–0.25 mm, shorter than the bract, partially concealed, acute at apex, papillate. Flowers 1–4; pedicels 3–3.3 mm long, brownish-purple, winged, erect, recurved in fruit. Calyx lobes unequal; lower lobe ovate, smaller, 2.8–3 × 2–2.3 mm (3–3.5 × 2.5–2.8 mm in fruit), brownish purple, papillate, emarginate at apex, faintly 11-nerved; upper lobes ovate, 2.9–3.4 × 2.2–2.8 mm (3.5–3.8 × 3.2–3.7 mm in fruit) brownish purple, faintly 11- nerved, persist in fruit, acute, papillate. Corolla violet, bi-lipped; upper lip 3–4 × 2.3–3.7 mm, broader than calyx lobe, obovate, rounded at apex, light purple with dark stripes; lower lip 3–4 mm across, broadly oblong or rectangular, narrowly bigibbous at middle with a flat rectangular yellowish region in between mouth and inflated region, palate ciliate, deep violet with a few purplish longitudinal striations on the inflated region; margins slightly undulate, 6–9 × 4.5–6.5 mm when spread out; spur tubular, subulate, 4–5 mm long, light violet, slightly curved, acute, directed obliquely down wards, shorter than the lower lip of corolla. Stamens 2; filaments flattened, 1–1.2 × 0.2–0.25 mm, truncate at apex, pale green; anther bithecous, dorsifixed, 0.5–0.6 × 0.25–0.3 mm, brownish, minutely papillate. Pistil 1.4–1.6 mm long; ovary ovoid-globular, 0.8–0.9 × 0.7–0.8 mm; style short; stigma 2-lipped, lower lip semiorbicular and recurved, upper lip shallowly three lobed, middle lobe large. Capsules globular, 2–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm, uniformly membranous; placenta globular 1.5–1.7 × 1.5–1.7 mm, dehisce by a vertical slit. Seeds obliquely ovoid-cylindrical, 0.3–0.35 × 0.2–0.25 mm, golden brown, testa cells elongated, irregular, margins raised and sinuate, periclinal walls transversely striated; hilum terminal.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from June to August.

Etymology: The species is named after the educational institution Saint Thomas College, Pala, Kerala, India, where one of the authors pursuing research work.

Distribution: Endemic to the lateritic plateau in Kerala, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Kasaragod district, Adukkam, N 12 ̊26'44.8", E 075 ̊00'23.6", 102 m, 16.08.2015, Biju & Jomy 1028; Ayampara, N 12 ̊28'45.6", E 075 ̊13'15.9", 180 m, 18.08.2015, Biju & Jomy 1045; Karindalam, N 12 ̊19'35.1", E 075 ̊14'59.3", 187 m, 20.07.2016, Biju & Jomy 1241; Kayyur, N 12 ̊16'25.1", E 075 ̊14'17.5", 96 m, 02.08.2016, Biju & Jomy 1250; Periya, N 12 ̊28'09.2", E 075 ̊06'44.5", 85 m, 18.07.2016, Biju & Jomy 1230 ( St. Thomas College Herbarium , Pala, Kerala, India); Kannur district , Peringome, N 12 ̊04'06.7", E 075 ̊36'83.9", 86 m 03.08.2016, Biju & Jomy 1252 ( CALI, St. Thomas College Herbarium , Pala, Kerala, India) .

Conservation status: The new species has so far been known only from seven localities in Kasaragod and Kannur districts in Kerala, India. More extensive collections in similar habitats in other parts of northern Kerala are needed to confirm its conservation status. However , there exist some threats as the populations are located near to laterite mining sites. Based on the available data, the species could be categorized as Data Deficient ( DD) according to IUCN Criteria (2019) .

Notes: This new species falls under U. sect. Oligocista based on leaf, trap, bract, flower and seed characters ( Taylor, 1989). It is close to U. malabarica and U. lazulina but differs in many morphological characters ( Table 1, Figure 4 View Fig ).

It also shows affinities with other species of this section such as U. cecilii P.Taylor , U. purpurascens J.Graham ( U. arcuata Wight ), U. praeterita P.Taylor and U. albocaerulea Dalzell in having tri-nerved leaves, basifixed bracts and broader upper lip of corolla, but differs in having large oblate traps with lateral mouth, traps which are located only on the expanded portion of the leaves, long ( 1.5–2.5 mm) and non-glandular trap appendages, papillate scales, bracts and bracteoles, deep violet corolla, globular capsule, elongated overlapping testa cells with raised anticlinal boundaries and periclinal walls transversely striated.