Aristolochia helix sp.nov. (Aristolochiaceae) from Thailand

A new species of Aristolochiaceae, Aristolochia helix , is described from Thailand and contrasted to its nearest ally, A. arenicola.     

Microchirita ruthiae sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia

A new species Microchirita ruthiae Rafidah (Gesneriaceae) from limestone in Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia, is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by having a branched stem, inflorescences with 1–4 flowers, the flowers with a white corolla (rarely faintly tinged with pale purple), glistening pale brown glandular hairs inside the throat, free anthers, and hairy capsules. Its conservation status following IUCN categories and criteria is assessed as ‘Endangered’ (EN).     

Floral morphology and systematics of the genus Thottea Rottb. (Aristolochiaceae) from the Western Ghats, India

The medicinal genus Thottea (Aristolochiaceae) is represented in the Western Ghats, India, by eight species, seven of which are endemic to this region. In the present study, diversity in floral structure and organization of these eight species was analyzed from a systematic perspective. Floral morphology was thoroughly studied and discussed with emphasis on 16 qualitative and 11 quantitative characters. Statistical tools such as UPGMA cluster analysis, PCoA, PCA, and one-way ANOVA were used for elucidating species boundaries and inter-relationships. Significance of the selected qualitative and quantitative characters for species level systematics was revealed by the PCA and one-way ANOVA. Based on the nature of sepals (free/fused), two species groups were identified (first group with T. duchartrei and T. idukkiana, and the second group with the remaining six species). By considering the number and arrangement of stamens, yet another species grouping was proposed (one with T. abrahamii and T. dinghoui, and the other with the remaining six species). The UPGMA phenogram and the PCoA scatter plot clearly pointed out the existence of two species groups: the first group with T. abrahamii, T. barberi, T. dinghoui, T. ponmudiana, T. siliquosa, and T. sivarajanii, and the second one with T. duchartrei and T. idukkiana. With regard to the morphometric tools and the taxonomic key, it does not seem possible to distinguish T. abrahamii from T. dinghoui, and T. idukkiana from T. duchartrei.     

Zingiberanamalayanum sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from India

Zingiber anamalayanum (Zingiberaceae), a new species from the southern western Ghats, India is described and illustrated. A phenetic analyses to assess the similarity indices and the uniqueness of the new species have been performed. A diagnostic key to Zingiber spp. in south India is provided.     

Cheirostylis seidenfadeniana sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from India

Cheirostylis seidenfadeniana is described from Kerala in India. The new species appears to be related to C. parvifolia and shares some characteristics with C. thailandica and C. montana , but differs in floral characters.     

Selaginella lakkidiana sp. nov. (Selaginellaceae) from India

Selaginella lakkidiana Nisha, Nampy & Joby sp. nov. from Lakkidi, the Western Ghats of India is described and illustrated. The new species is closely allied to S. chrysorrhizos Spring, but differs by a serrate and smaller sporophyll, smooth megaspores, and reddish brown and pitted microspores.     

Berberis rawatii sp. nov. (Berberidaceae) from India

In India, 55 species of Berberis have been reported and 22 species are found in Uttarakhand state. Berberis rawatii (Berberidaceae), a new species from Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand state of India (western Himalaya) is here described and illustrated. In terms of leaf and inflorescence, Berberis rawatii shows affinities with B. cretica L. Both these species have entire leaves, fascicled inflorescences, conspicuous style and black berries, but B. rawatii differs in the presence of a petiole, the dorsal surface of leaf pruinose, presence of elongated‐ovate glands, presence of prophylls, three ovules and pruinose fruits.     

Teucrium ramaswamii sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) from India

A new species of Lamiaceae, Teucrium ramaswamii M. B. Viswan. & U. Manik. is described from the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in the Agastyamalai hills of the southwestern Ghats in peninsular India. It is allied to T. tomentosum Heyne ex Benth. but differs by stem, leaves and inflorescence being glandular strigose; leaves being deltoid–ovate, crenate–dentate or doubly crenate–dentate at margin, subcoriaceous, sparsely strigose above, densely strigose beneath; bracts being oblong–deltoid, ca 9.4×2.6 mm; calyx with uppermost teeth being lanceolate, ca 2.8×1.9 mm, lateral teeth being broadly triangular, lower teeth being oblong–lanceolate; corolla being glandular strigose outside below lateral lobes and ovary being glandular strigose. Using the IUCN criteria, conservation status of the species is assigned as Critically Endangered based on the field data (2000–2002). Life history studies, population ecology, genome resource banking and wild population management are recommended for conserving this species.     

Helictotrichon uniyalii sp. nov. from Uttarakhand (India)

Helictotrichon uniyalii sp. nov. collected near Dhakuri village of Uttarakhand is described as a new species and illustrated along with its distinguishing characters from its allied species.     

Ceropegia pullaiahii sp. nov. (Apocynaceae,Asclepiadoideae) from India

Ceropegia pullaiahii Kullayiswamy, Sandhyarani et Karuppusamy sp. nov. (Apocynaceae) is described from open dry deciduous forest of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Its tubers are eaten by the local people. It is similar to C. mahabalei Hemadri et Ansari but differs in its twining habit and 3‐flowered cyme.     

Dendrobium tamenglongense sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from Manipur,India

Dendrobium tamenglongense R. Kishor, Y. N. Devi, H. B. Sharma, J. Tongbram & S. P. Vij sp. nov. from Manipur, India is described and illustrated as a new species. The new species differs from D. jaintianum in having larger and glabrous leaves with acute apices, green sepal apices, a 1–3‐flowered inflorescence, smaller and non‐fragrant flowers and a 3‐lobed labellum with fimbriate midlobe.     

Rotala tulunadensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Kerala,India

A new aquatic species of the family Lythraceae (Rotala tulunadensis) collected from the lateritic plateau at Permude, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to R. pterocalyx A. Raynal, but differs in having larger leaves, calyx tube not stretching laterally to include the capsule, calyx without interjected folds in fruit and larger petals.     

Micronectria agharkarii sp. nov. from India

Summary This paper gives an account of a new species ofMicronectria, M. agharkarii. collected from Mahabaleshwar, India.     

Sageretia santapaui sp. nov. and S. devendrae sp. nov. (Rhamnaceae) from western Himalaya, India

Two new species of Sageretia Brongn. (Rhamnaceae), S. santapaui Pusalkar & D. K. Singh and S. devendrae Pusalkar, are described and illustrated. Both species are allied to S. thea (Osbeck) M. C. Johnst., but differs in the pubescence of young branches, leaf shape, leaf margins, stipule shape, inflorescence type, length of the inflorescence, number and arrangement of flowers, bracteole number and shape.     

Musa puspanjaliae sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh,India

Musa puspanjaliae R. Gogoi & Häkkinen, a new species of Musa sect. Musa, is described and illustrated from west Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, India based on morphological characteristics observed in the field. The new species is common in Sessa, Zero Point to Ramda on Sepa road of west Kameng and Hazi Basti, Ziro of lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh. A key to M. puspanjaliae and related taxa is provided.     

Rotala belgaumensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from western Ghats,India

During a floristic survey in the Belgaum district, Karnataka state, some specimens of Rotala L. were collected from a lateritic plateau in western Ghats, India. The specimens did not match with any previously described species of Rotala, but closely resembled R. macrandra Koehne and R. rosea (Poir.) C. D. K. Cook ex H. Hara in their exserted stamens and styles. The new species is described and illustrated here as Rotala belgaumensis S. R. Yadav, Malpure & Chandore.