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| Sonerila bababudangiriensis Karadakatti & Kakkalameli, in Karadakatti et Kakkalameli, 2025. |
Abstract
Sonerila bababudangiriensis is a caulescent or tuberous new species found in Bababudangiri, Chikkmagaluru District, Karnataka, which lies in the Western Ghats. The species has distinguished characteristics that sets it apart from the other species of the genus Sonerila worldwide. It is compared to Sonerila wallichii Benn., a species from the same habitat. The two species differ in characteristics such as tuber, leaf morphology, inflorescence structure, and micromorphology, which are described and illustrated in relevant images. The present report discusses the newly described species, Sonerila bababudangiriensis, from Western Ghats, India.
Keywords: Bababudangiri hill, Caulescent, Claret tinge spine, Evergreen forest, Hill slopes, Stemless Sonerila, Karnataka, papillae, shola forest, Sonerila, stemless
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| Sonerila bababudangiriensis sp. nov.: a—habit | b—leaf dorsal | c—leaf ventral | d—flower front view | e—flower side view | f—hypanthium | g—petal adaxial | h—petal abaxial | I—anthers | j—anther lobe | k— gynoecium | l—capsule. © Prashant Karadakatti. |
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| Sonerila bababudangiriensis sp. nov.: a—habitat | b—habit | c—Caulescent tuber | d—leaf dorsal | e—leaf ventral | f—inflorescence | g—flower front view | h—flower side view | I—Hypanthium (Inc. Anther & Gynoecium) | j—stamens | k—anther | l—petal dorsal | m—petal ventral | n—gynoecium | o—fruit side view | & p—fruit front view. photos Prashant Karadakatti & Shreyas Betageri. |
Sonerila bababudangiriensis Karadakatti & Kakkalameli sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Herb, perennial, erect, caulescent, tuber measures 1–1.5 cm diameter, spherical; habit 8–15 cm tall. Root branches fleshy, white to pale green at the lower to the upper. Leavesare 3–5 cm wide, 5–8 cm long, petiole 3–5 cm long with glabrous & claret tinge, six nerved, veins pinnate, three pairs arising from the base, 1–2 pairs from midrib above; lamina dark green dorsal side with claret tinge spines or papillae scattered measured 1–3 mm, claret at ventral side, glabrous, densely gland-dotted, serrate, leaf base slightly orbicular with equal base and cordate; petioles 3–6 cm long, claret tinge, subscapose. Inflorescence bostryx cyme, 5–15 cm long, 4–12 flowered, unbranched; peduncle 4–13 cm long, claret tinge to pale green, glabrous, slightly quadrangular; pedicels 5–8 mm long, gland-tipped ...
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality that is Bababudangiri, from Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka, India; the locality lies near the highest peak of Karnataka, Mullayangiri (1,930 m).
Prashant Karadakatti and Siddappa B. Kakkalameli. 2025. Sonerila bababudangiriensis (Melastomataceae), A New Species of herb from the Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 17(4); 26917-26922. DOI: doi.org/10.11609/jott.9636.17.4.26917-26922
