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| Euonymus pushpagiriensis N.V.Page & T.U.Thackeray, in Page et Thackeray. 2025. |
Abstract
Euonymus pushpagiriensis sp. nov., an understorey tree species from the montane (Shola) forests of Kodagu District of Karnataka is described and illustrated. The species is morphologically distinct from all other species of Euonymus reported from the Western Ghats and the rest of India, in having sub-sessile, ovate leaves with rounded to sub-cordate leaf base. This species is, so far, known from the Kodagu District of the State of Karnataka.
Key words: Endemic, Euonymus, India, Kodagu, Western Ghats
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| Euonymus pushpagiriensis A branches with inflorescences borne in the axils of terminal pairs of leaves B dichasial inflorescences showing the four angled primary and secondary peduncles. A five-merous flowers with pentagonal disc, five angled ovary and stamens B immature capsule. Photographs by Navendu Page. |
Euonymus pushpagiriensis N.V.Page & T.U.Thackeray, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Euonymus pushpagiriensis can be distinguished from other species of Euonymus from the Western Ghats based on its sub-sessile leaves (petiole ca. 1 mm long) and ovate lamina with rounded to sub-cordate base. In contrast, all the other species of Euonymus from the Western Ghats of south India exhibit leaves with a distinct petiole (greater than or equal to 3 mm length) and elliptic, rarely ovate lamina with obtuse, acute or cuneate base.
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of species – Pushpagiri which is the name of the second highest peak in Kodagu District and the fourth highest peak in the State of Karnataka and also the name of the Wildlife Sanctuary in which the peak the located. The species is, so far, known only from Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjacent areas.
Navendu V. Page and Tejas U. Thackeray. 2025. Euonymus pushpagiriensis (Celastraceae), A New Species from the central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. PhytoKeys. 253: 1-9. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.138418
