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| Commelina youngii Nandikar in Nandikar, 2021. Illustration by Mayur Nandikar |
Abstract
The life and work of geologist and botanist Alfred Prentice Young (1841–1919) are outlined. His collection of plants from Western India, Kashmir and Pakistan (1878–1881) was given to the Natural History Museum, London (BM) in 1884. Details of his botanical collections and new taxa based on them are provided, and a new species, Commelina youngii, is described.
Keywords: Alfred Young, botanical collections, Southern Maratha Country, India, Commelinaceae, new species.
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| Commelina youngii Nandikar: A. Habit. B. Open spathe with flowering cincinni. C. Capsule. D, F. Seeds (lateral view, lateral view with capsule remnant and dorsal view). Illustration by Mayur Nandikar, based on holotype (BM). |
Commelina youngii Nandikar, sp. nov.
Distribution.—Endemic to the Belgaum District of peninsular India in the vicinity of Sunnal, an area of sandstone plains and small hillocks with dryland vegetation and loose, sandy soil, at elevations of 400 to 600 m above sea level.
Etymology.—The species is named after Alfred Prentice Young, who collected the type specimen and for his contribution to the study of the botany of the Southern Maratha Country.
Mayur Dhondiram Nandikar. 2021. Alfred Prentice Young (1841–1919), An overlooked Plant Collector in India, and Description of the New Species, Commelina youngii (Commelinaceae). Brittonia. DOI: 10.1007/s12228-021-09655-y
