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| Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana, Arisdason & D.Maity, in Shalini, ... et Maity, 2020. |
Abstract
Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana, Arisdason & D.Maity a new species of Convolvulaceae from the southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu is described and illustrated here. The new species is morphologically different from its closely related species A. involucrata C.B.Clarke especially in its habit, shape, apex and texture of leaves, attachment of the stamens and in the length of the filaments. The micromorphological features of pollen grains are provided.
Keywords: Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii, Climber, Megamalai, Pollen morphology, Taxonomy.
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| . Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana, Arisdason & D.Maity: a. Flowering branch; a b. Outer sepals; b c. Middle and inner sepals; c d. Corolla split-open; d e. Longer stamens; e f. Shorter stamens; f g. Gynoecium (from g K.A. Sujana & S. Shalini 70527; a–c and e–g drawn by D.K. g Sah, and d by M. Midday). |
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| Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana, Arisdason & D.Maity: a. Habitat (photos by K.A. Sujana). |
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| Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana, Arisdason & D.Maity: b. Habit (part); c. Flower (photos by K.A. Sujana). |
Argyreia lakshminarasimhanii S.Shalini, Sujana,
Arisdason & D.Maity, sp. nov.
This new species most closely resembles A. involucrata
C.B.Clarke in leaf shape (ovate, longer than broad), subcapitate cymes, large bracts but can easily be
distinguished from the latter by densely tomentose
abaxial leaf surface, retuse leaf apex, and short stamens,
adnate to basal part of corolla tube.
Habitat: Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous
forests at an elevation of about 1000 m.
Etymology: The species epithet refers to Dr. P.
Lakshminarasimhan, former senior scientist of
Botanical Survey of India and research supervisor
of the first author, for his significant contributions
to Indian taxonomy.
Distribution: Presently known only from the type
locality, Megamalai, Theni district, Tamil Nadu,
southern India, possibly endemic (Fig. 4). Found
climbing on trees along the ghat roads on the way
to the entrance of Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Shalini S., Sujana K.A., Arisdason W. and D. Maity. 2020. A New Species of Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from the southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. RHEEDEA. 30(4); 270–277.
rheedea.in/storages/submission/file/469063129.pdf
