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| Strobilanthes scopulicola A.K. Pradeep, Sinj. Thomas, B. Mani & Britto
in Thomas, Mani, Britto & Pradeep, 2020.
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Abstract
Strobilanthes scopulicola, a new species from the collections of the high altitude montane grasslands of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Western Ghats of India is described and illustrated. Photographs, details of phenology, distribution, pollen morphology and similarity with related species were also provided.
Keyword: Acanthaceae, India, pollen, Strobilanthes lanata, S. lawsonii, taxonomy, Wayanad, Western Ghats
Strobilanthes scopulicola A.K. Pradeep, Sinj. Thomas, B. Mani & Britto, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Strobilanthes scopulicola is allied to S. lawsonii and S. lanata, but differs by ovate to lanceolateovate leaves (not ovate or elliptic), pubescence on adaxial leaf surface (not glabrous), bracts with acute apex (not acuminate) and adaxial pubescence (not glabrous), widely elliptic corolla lobes (neither ovate nor triangular or orbicular), stamina with villous filaments (not sparse hairy), glabrous stigma (not pubescent) and subprolate pollen grains with two ribs completely encircling the grain (neither prolate nor all the ribs fused at poles).
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| Fig. 1: Strobilanthes scopulicola. A. Habit; B. Leaves: adaxial and abaxial view; C–D. Inflorescence; E. Bract: adaxial surface; F. Bract: abaxial surface; G. Bracteole and calyx; H. Corolla; I. Corolla split open showing the included stamens; J. Pistil (inset: ovary with apical pubescence); K. Infructescence; L. Young fruit; M. Seeds. |
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| Fig. 3. Flowering branch of Strobilanthes scopulicola (A) and S. lanata (C) and image of the type specimen of S. lawsonii (© the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) (B) |
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| Fig. 2: SEM micrographs of pollen grain of Strobilanthes scopulicola (A–B), S. lawsonii (C–D) and S. lanata (E). |
Etymology: The specific epithet “scopulicola” refers to the habitat rock cliffs of high altitude montane grasslands where the new species is exclusively found.
Habitat and distribution: Strobilanthes scopulicola grows along rocky cliffs in grasslands at an elevation of 1600–2050 m a.s.l. in the northern part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Sinjumol Thomas, Bince Mani, Susai John Britto and Annavi veettil Krishna Pillai Pradeep. 2020. A New Species of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) from the Western Ghats, India. Taiwania. 65(2); 167-171. taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1668
