Monday, November 16, 2020

[Botany • 2019] Lepidagathis shrirangii (Acanthaceae) • A New Species from Konkan Region of Maharashtra, India


Lepidagathis shrirangii Natekar, Kambale & Chandore

in Natekar, Borude, Kambale & Chandore, 2019.

Abstract
Lepidagathis shrirangii, a new species of Lepidagathis is described and illustrated from Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. The new species is closely allied with L. lutea, which was also described from Konkan region of Maharashtra. Coloured photographs, notes on the relationship and the key to the species with two seeds and five sepals is provided to facilitate the identification.

Keywords: Lepidagathis, coastal region, lateritic plateaus, taxonomy, endemism, Eudicots

FIGURE 1. Lepidagathis shrirangii
A. & B.  Habit;  C. Apical inflorescence; D. Inflorescence; E. Stamen; F. Carpel; G. Capsule; H. Seed. 

FIGURE 3. Lepidagathis shrirangii.
 A. Habit; B. Leaf; C. Flower; D. Bract; E. Bracteoles; F. Outer calyx; G. Inner calyx; H. & I. Stamen; J. Carpel. K; Capsule; L. Seed.

Lepidagathis shrirangii Natekar, Kambale & Chandore, sp. nov. 

Lepidagathis shrirangii is similar to L. lutea Dalzell (1850: 139), but differs in its cylindrical, terete stem (not quadrangular), ensiform leaf (not linear), ciliate margin (not entire), acuminate (not acute) leaves at apex, pink flowers (not yellow), 15–17 (not 8–10) spikes in erect branch, slightly cuspidate bracts (not caudate) at apex, cuspidate sepals (not acuminate) at apex. 

 
 Pratik Dilip Natekar, Devidas Bhausaheb Borude, Sharad Suresh Kambale and Arun Nivrutti Chandore. 2020. Lepidagathis shrirangii (Acanthaceae) A New Species from Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa. 405(4); 215–220. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.405.4.6