J. Jpn. Bot. 89: 205–208 (2014)

A New Species of Kobresia () from North Western Himalaya

Bikash Jana* and Ramesh Chandra Srivastava

Botanical Survey of India, CGO Complex, DF Block, 5th Floor, Sector-I, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700064, INDIA *Corresponding author: [email protected]

(Accepted on March 1, 2014)

Kobresia brandisii C. B. Clarke ex Jana & R. C. Srivast. (Cyperaceae) is described and illustrated in this paper.

Key words: Cyperaceae, Kobresia brandisii, new species, .

During the study of “Revision on the genus illustrated here. Kobresia Willd. (Cyperaceae) in India” authors came across some interesting specimens Taxonomic treatment collected by D. Brandis (determined by C. B. Kobresia brandisii C. B. Clarke ex Jana & Clarke as Kobresia brandisii C. B. Clarke, sp. R. C. Srivastava, sp. nov. [Figs. 1–2] nov.). However, Clarke did not validly publish Allied to Kobresia duthiei C. B. Clarke but this name. differs in having long and more slender culms, After consultation of the literature, Clarke lower unisexual spikelets, compactly arranged (1894), Govaerts et al. (2007), Jana and male spikelets, bifid stigma and striation on Srivastava (2012), Jana (2012), Kükenthal the body of prophyll. Also allied to K. laxa (1909), Koyama (1978), Karthikeyan (1989), Nees, but leaf blades less flattened; culms more Noltie (1994), Noltie and Zhang (2010), slender and male spikelets compactly arranged Srivastava (1996) and website of IPNI throughout the spike. (International Name Index), World Type: INDIA. Western Himalaya. Checklist of Monocots (Govaerts et al. 2007) Uttarakhand. Chejarie, 6000 feet, presented and ‘Index Kewensis’ it was revealed that this 1880, D. Brandis 1456 (DD–holotype!, Fig. 2: species has not been published yet. DD–isotype!) After microscopic dissection of these Perennial herbs. Culms slender, 23–34.5 specimens it was concluded that the species is (excluding inflorescence) × 0.1–0.15 cm, almost allied to Kobresia duthiei C. B. Clarke but differs 2 times longer than the leaves, striate, obtusely significantly in having long slender culms and trigonous. Leaves basal, 7–16 × 0.1–0.15 cm, unisexual spikelets. This species is also allied lamina linear, filiform. Basal sheath dark brown, to K. laxa Nees but differs in having compactly fibrillose, retaining dried leaf blades. Spikes arranged male spikelets throughout the spike. linear, 2.5–4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, yellowish, consisting This new species is consequently described and of two types of spikelets, i.e., male and female.

—205— 208 植物研究雑誌 第 89 巻 第 4 号 2014 年 8 月 ca. 3.5 × 1 mm; stigma bifid; ovary ca. 1.5 University for their help. mm long. Glumes of the male spikelets linear- oblong, ca. 2.5 × 1 mm, light brown, margin References hyaline; stamens 3. Clarke C. B. 1894. Kobresia Willd. In: Hooker J. D., Flora of British India 6: 696–702. L. Reeve & Co., London. Flowering and fruiting: July – October (?). Govaerts R., Simpson D. A., Bruhl J., Egorova T., Habitat: N. W. Himalaya, ca. 1800 m in Goetghbeur P. and Wilson K. 2007. World Checklist elevation. of Cyperaceae: Sedges. pp. 531–537. Royal Botanic Distribution: Western Himalaya, India, Gardens, Kew. Jana B. and Srivastava R. C. 2012. Kobresia kansuensis Uttarakhand, Chejarei. (Cyperaceae): An addition to Flora of India. Rheedea Etymology: C. B. Clarke named the species 22(1): 68–70. Kobresia brandisii to the honour of D. Brandis, Jana B. 2012. A new species of Kobresia Willd. a German Botanist and the collector of this (Cyperaceae) from Western Himalaya. Ind. J. Fund. specimen. Appl. Life Sci. 2(2): 256–260. Kartikeyan S., Jain S. K., Nayar M. P. and Sanjappa M. 1989. Kobresia Willd. Florae Indicae Enumeratio – Key to the species . pp. 58–60. Botanical Survey of India, A. Culms slender, lower spikelets unisexual; Kolkata. male spikelets compactly arranged throughout Koyama T. 1978. Kobresia Willd. In: Hara H., Stearn W. T. and Williams L. H. J. 1982. An Enumeration of the the spike; prophyll glabrous and striated; stigma Flowering of Nepal. 1: 112–114. Staples Printers bifid...... K. brandisii Kettering Limited, George Press, Northamptorshire. A. Culms thick; lower spikelets bisexual, male Kükenthal G. 1909. Cobresia Willd. In: Engler A. (ed.), spikelets at the top of spike; prophyll scabrid on Das Pflanzenreich38 : 40–48. Noltie H. J. 1994. Kobresia Willdenow. Flora of Bhutan the keel; stigma trifid...... K. duthiei 3(1): 333–352. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh. Authors are grateful to Dr. Paramjit Singh, Zhang S. R. and Noltie H. J. 2010. Kobresia Willd. In: Director of Botanical Survey of India, for Wu Z. Y., Raven P. H. and Hong D. Y. (eds.), Flora facilities. Thanks also due to In-Charges and of China 23: 269–285. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. staff of the Herbaria CAL, BSD and DD. Special Srivastava R. C.1996. Cyperaceae. In: Hazra P. K. and thanks to my colleagues and Senior Scholar Verma D. M. (eds.), Flora of Sikkim 1: 198–237. of Central National Herbarium and Burdwan Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

B. Jana，R. C. Srivastava：北西ヒマラヤ産ヒゲハリス ゲ属（カヤツリグサ科）の 1 新種 北西ヒマラヤに当たる，インド・ウッタラーカン 二岐し，前葉（果胞）に条線がある点で異なる．また， ド州からヒゲハリスゲ属（カヤツリグサ科）の 1 新 K. laxa Nees からは葉身が平坦ではないことの他，K. 種，Kobresia brandisii C. B. Clarke ex Jana & R. C. duthiei と同じように，稈が細長く，雄小穂が花序全体 Srivastava を記載した．本種は K. duthiei C. B. Clarke に密に付く点が異なっている． に似るが，稈が細長く，下部の小穂が単性で，雄小穂 （インド・Botanical Survey of India） は花序の先端部ではなく全体にわたって付き，柱頭が