Vol. 29(1): 01–115 (2019) ISSN: 0971-2313 (Print edition) Rheedea RESEARCH ARTICLE Journal of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy https://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2019.29.1.01 Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India S.S. Kambale1,2 & S.R. Yadav2 1Department of Botany, Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj’s Arts, Commerce & Science College, Tryambakeshwar, Maharashtra – 422 212, India. 2Angiosperm Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra – 416 004, India. * E-mail:
[email protected] The genus Ceropegia can be easily distinguished Abstract: The genus Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: from other genera of Ceropegieae viz. Brachystelma Ceropegieae) is revised for India based on field R.Br. and Caralluma R.Br. by its cage-like observation, literature survey and extensive herbarium structure of flowers formed by corolla lobes, which studies. Sixty one taxa are recognized under seven are apically connate to various degrees (Hooker, sections. Nomenclatural anomalies are resolved. 1883; Huber, 1957; Ansari, 1984; Li 1995; Distribution status is given for each species. A lectotype is et al., Meve, 2009; Kullayiswamy 2013; Kidyoo & designated for and second step lectotypes et al., C. schumanniana Paliyavuth, 2017). are designated for C. hookeri and C. lucida; C. karulensis is reduced here as a variety of C. sahyadrica; C. mizoramensis Subsequent to the revision of Ceropegia in India and C. murlensis are reduced to the synonymy of C. (Ansari, 1984), a number of new species have been longifolia subsp. sinensis. Detailed descriptions, notes, described from different parts of the country by colour photoplates and taxonomic keys for sections, various authors (Swarupanandan & Mangaly, 1992; species and infra-specific taxa are presented.