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| Memecylon travancorense Sivu, N. S. Pradeep, Pandur. & Ratheesh
in Sivu, Pradeep, Pandurangan & Narayanan, 2018.
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Abstract
Memecylon travancorense Sivu, N. S. Pradeep, Pandur. & Ratheesh, a new species of Memecylon from Agastyamala Biosphere Reserve of the southern Western Ghats is described herewith illustration and photographs. Its distinctive characters are discussed and comments made on differences between this and its allied taxa. This new species is similar to M. wightii, but clearly distinct by having sub-terete, greyish white branchlets, broadly elliptic to oblong leaves with slightly cordate to rounded leaf base, umbellate inflorescence with quadrangular peduncles and shortly pedicellate flowers. Information on habitat, distribution, and conservation status are provided.
Keyword: India, Kerala, Melastomataceae, Memecylon, New species, Western Ghats
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| Fig. 2: Memecylon travancorense Sivu et al. sp. nov.; A. Habit, B. A branch with flowers, C. Flower buds & young fruits, D. Flowers, E. Fruits. |
Memecylon travancorense Sivu, N. S. Pradeep, Pandur. & Ratheesh, sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘travancorense’ refers to “Travancore”, the famous Princely Kingdom once ruled the high ranges of southern Western Ghats beyond south of Palaghat Gap, which is now recognized as one of the hotspot areas of the Western Ghats.
Distribution & Habitat: Memecylon travancorense grows in medium altitude evergreen forests at elevations of 700–760 m a.s.l. in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. It is known from the Ponmudi Ghats of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala State and Keeripara of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. The populations in both the areas are small and fragmented.
Ambikabai Raghavanpillai Sivu, Nediyaparambu Sukumaran Pradeep, Alagramam Govindasamy Pandurangan and Matalayi Kokaramath Ratheesh Narayanan. 2018. A New Species of Memecylon (Melastomataceae) from Western Ghats, India. Taiwania. 63(2); 106-110. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.106
