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Didymocarpus moellerii (): a new species from northeastern

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The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Phytotaxa 266 (1): 057–060 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/ PHYTOTAXA Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press Correspondence ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.266.1.10

Didymocarpus moellerii (Gesneriaceae): a new species from northeastern India

ALFRED JOE1, VADAKKOOT SANKARAN HAREESH1, PULPARA PRASHOB2 & MAMIYIL SABU1,* 1Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, India- 673 635. 2Department of Botany, St. Joseph College, Devagiri, Kozhikode, Kerala, India-673 008. *E-mail: [email protected]

Didymocarpus moellerii, a new species from northeastern India is described and illustrated with photographs. Information on its ecology is provided as well. The new species is morphologically similar to D. glandulosus and D. tonghaiensis but can be easily distinguished by a combination of characters such as glabrous peduncle, orbicular purple , puberulent anthers, orange-red corolla with white stripes at the throat, longer , bulged ovary apex and cup-like disc.

Introduction

Didymocarpus Wallich (1819: 378) was a large genus with approximately 180 species (Wang et al. 1998). However, Weber & Burtt (1998) split Didymocarpus into three genera: Didymocarpus, Sprengel (1817: 402), and Hovanella Weber & Burtt (1998: 333). Didymocarpus was reduced to 70 species after the exclusion of the Madagascan, southern Indian, Sri Lankan, and most Malesian species (Weber & Burtt 1998, Weber et al. 2000). A few more species, from , were recently transferred to Hance (1883: 167) (Weber et al. 2011). As currently circumscribed, Didymocarpus ranges from northwest India, eastwards through , , northeast India, Burma (), to southern China, , , , , and the Malay Peninsula; with one species, D. cordatus Wallich (1829: 781), reaching northern Sumatra (Weber & Burtt 1998, Weber et al. 2000, Möller et al. 2016). During a floristic expedition to northeastern India in 2015, the authors observed a population of an interesting Didymocarpus near Tohangam View Point, near Tezu, Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. After examining its morphology, it was clear this was an undescribed species. The plants of the studied population are morphologically similar to D. glandulosus (Smith 1912: 151) Wang (1984: 14) and D. tonghaiensis Li & Wang (2015: 68), species distributed in China, but the detailed studies of the types, protologues and literature (i.e. Clarke 1874, Kiew 1990, 1993, 1995, Weber & Burtt 1983, 1998, Weber 1989, Hilliard & Burtt 1995, Wang et al. 1998, Burtt 1998, 1999, Weber et. al. 2000, Hilliard 2001, Nangngam & Maxwell 2013, Wen et. al. 2013, Li & Li 2014, Li & Wang 2015) provide evidence to support this populationas belonging to a new species, which is accordingly described herein.

Taxonomy

Didymocarpus moellerii A.Joe, Hareesh & M.Sabu sp. nov. (Figure 1)

Didymocarpus moellerii is similar to D. glandulosus, but differs from the latter in having symmetric leaves with cordate bases; glabrous purple peduncle and pedicel; orbicular bracts; corolla funnelform, orange-red (throat with white striations); corolla tube 2–2.5 cm long, tubular, dilated and slightly ventricose towards the throat; ovary apex bulged and cupular disc. Didymocarpus moellerii is also similar to D. tonghaiensis, but differs from it in having glabrous peduncle, orbicular bracts, puberulent anthers and glabrous ovary. Type:—INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh: Lohit District, Hayuliang road, near Tohangam View Point, 27º54′58.8″ N 096º19′55.0″ E, 1201 m, 8 July 2015, A.Joe & V.S.Hareesh 121948 (holotype CALI!, isotypes CALI!, CAL!).

Accepted by Jesús González-Gallegos: 3 Jun. 2016; published: 17 Jun. 2016 57 FIGURE 1. Didymocarpus moellerii A.Joe, Hareesh & M.Sabu. A. habitat; B. plants with flowers and dehiscent fruits; C. (abaxial view); D. inflorescence (adaxial view); E. single flower; F. opened corolla showing ; G. pistil with calyx and cupular disc; H. ; I. cupular disc. Photos by Alfred Joe.

58 • Phytotaxa 266 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press JOE ET AL. Lithophytic herbs, stems 2.5–7 cm long, densely puberulent. Leaves 8–12, opposite; petiole 1–5.8 cm long, puberulent; lamina 2.2–10.5 × 2.5–9 cm, orbicular or ovate, thin when dry, adaxially densely puberulent, green, abaxially puberulent, pale green, apex acute or obtuse or rounded, base cordate or with shallow or deep basal sinus, margin serrate, veins 4–8 on each side, puberulent, prominent. Inflorescence axillary or pseudo-terminal (with the last pair of leaves greatly reduced), 15–15.5 cm long, 5–30 flowered; peduncle slender, 9–12 cm long, glabrous, purple, terete. Bracts 2, 0.3–0.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, orbicular, persistent, glabrous, purple, margin entire. Pedicel 0.3–3.5 cm long, terete, glabrous, purple. Calyx actinomorphic, free from base, lobes 5, 2–4 × 0.8–1.5 mm , linear-oblong, apex sub-acute, purple, glabrous, margin entire, free from base. Corolla funnelform, 3–3.6 cm long, glabrous, orange red (throat with white striations), corolla tube 2–2.5 cm long, tubular, glabrous, dilated and slightly ventricose towards the throat; corolla bi-lipped, aestivation quincuncial, upper lip 2, 0.9–1.1 × 1.4–1.5 cm, lower lip 3, 1.7–1.8 × 1.4–1.5 cm; lobes broadly arrow- headed with obtuse apex, glabrous, orange-red. Stamens 2, 6–7 mm long, adnate to base of corolla lobe; filament 5–6 mm long, white, base glabrous, with glandular hairs at apex immediately below anther; anther 2–3 mm long, creamy, puberulent. Staminodes 2, 1.4–1.5 mm long, white. Disc cupular, 1.5–1.9 × 0.7–0.8 mm, apex unequal with undulate margins. Pistil 2.2–2.4 cm long; ovary 2–2.2 cm long, glabrous, base cream, with purple tinge towards stigma and apex green, bulbous just below stigma; stigma 1, 0.1–0.2 mm long, flap-like or circular, undivided, green, apex hairy. Capsule 4–4.5 cm long, linear, glabrous. Taxonomic affinities:— Didymocarpus moellerii is morphologically similar to D. tonghaiensis and D. glandulosus, but differs in several aspects such as glabrous peduncle, orbicular purple bracts, puberulent anthers, orange-red corolla with white stripes at the throat, bulged ovary apex and cup-like disc (Table 1).

TABLE 1. Comparison between Didymocarpus moellerii and morphological similar species. Character Didymocarpus moellerii Didymocarpus tonghaiensis Didymocarpus glandulosus Lamina shape orbicular or ovate ovate to orbicular elliptic to oblong or narrowly ovate Lamina symmetry symmetric symmetric asymmetric (Oblique) Lamina base cordate or with shallow or cordate cuneate to rounded deep basal sinus Peduncle glabrous densely puberulent (glandular) sparsely puberulent (eglandular) shape orbicular lanceolate to linear lanceolate Bract color purple purple red to white green Corolla shape & size tubular, 2–2.5 cm long tubular, 2.3–3 cm long sub-tubular, 1.2–1.7 cm long Corolla color orange-red (throat with white purple to pinkish-purple with purple red striations) darker stripes Anthers puberulent wooly glabrous Ovary length 2–2.2 cm long ca.1.6 cm long ca.0.9 cm long Ovary surface glabrous densely glandular puberulent glabrous Ovary apex bulged pointed pointed Disc cupular annular annular

Distribution, habitat and phenology:—Didymocarpus moellerii is an endemic spcies from India, found on moist rock faces near Tohangam View Point, near Tezu, Lohit District (Arunachal Pradesh). It grows in open places attached to rocks at an elevation of 1200 m. It flowers and fruits from June to September. Etymology:—This species is named after Michael Möller, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, for his great contribution to the knowledge of Gesneriaceae.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology (New Delhi) for the financial assistance for the research projects on Indian Musaceae (Sanction No. SERB/SB/SO/PS/92/2013, dtd 09.07.2014). The first author is grateful

Didymocarpus moellerii Phytotaxa 266 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 59 to the International Association for Angiosperm for the ‘IAPT Research Improvement Grant 2015’.We are thankful to the officers of the Forest Department, Arunachal Pradesh for granting permission and providing necessary help for the field studies in the forest. The enormous help from G. N. Pillai (Roing, Arunachal Pradesh) and Thulasidharan Pillai (Tezu) during the collection of specimens is greatly acknowledged. We are also thankful to Dr. Michael Möller from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh for his valuable comments.

References

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