9 research outputs found
FIG. 2. — A-D, Lepidagathis diffusa C.B in Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a new species from Tamil Nadu, India
No full textFIG. 2. — A-D, Lepidagathis diffusa C.B.Clarke; E-H, L. decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov.: A, E, habit; B, F, inflorescence; C, G, flower; D, H, seed.Published as part of Dhatchanamoorthy, Narayanasamy, Karthikeyan, Chinnasamy, Raja, Prakasam, Soosairaj, Sebastian & Balachandran, Natesan, 2022, Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a new species from Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 321-329 in Adansonia (3) 44 (24) on page 324, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2022v44a24, http://zenodo.org/record/725472
FIG. 1 in Solanum pulneyensis Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from Palani Hills National Park of Tamil Nadu, India
No full textFIG. 1. — Solanum pulneyensis Soosairaj, sp. nov.: A, habit (a twig); B, calyx; C, corolla (with stamens); D, corolla (without); E, F, anthers; G, pistil; H, fruit (with calyx); I, fruit; J, seed; A-J, drawn from the type Soosairaj 2514. Scale bars: A, 1 cm; B, H, 2.5 mm; C, D, 5 mm; E-G, 2 mm; I, 8 mm; J, 4 mm.Published as part of Soosairaj, Sebastian, Raja, Prakasam, Balaguru, Balakrishnan & Tagore, Johny Kumar, 2021, Solanum pulneyensis Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from Palani Hills National Park of Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 235-240 in Adansonia (3) 43 (21) on page 237, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2021v43a21, http://zenodo.org/record/570604
FIG. 1. — Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S in Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a new species from Tamil Nadu, India
No full textFIG. 1. — Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (drawing by P. Raja): A, flowering branch; B, inflorescence; C, bract; D, bracteole; E, flower; F, posterior sepal; G, lateral sepal; H, anterior sepals; I, corolla split open; J, stamen; K, pistil; L, capsule; M, seed. Scale bars: A, B, 1 cm; C, D, F-H, 5 mm; E, I, K, L, 2 mm; J, 1 mm; M, 3 mm.Published as part of Dhatchanamoorthy, Narayanasamy, Karthikeyan, Chinnasamy, Raja, Prakasam, Soosairaj, Sebastian & Balachandran, Natesan, 2022, Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a new species from Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 321-329 in Adansonia (3) 44 (24) on page 323, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2022v44a24, http://zenodo.org/record/725472
Solanum pulneyensis Soosairaj & Raja & Balaguru & Tagore 2021, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. <p>(Figs 1; 2)</p> <p> TYPUS. — <b>India</b>. Tamil Nadu, Dindigul district, Palani Hills National Park, Thonimalai, (10°22’37.95”N, 77°46’41.99”E), <i>c.</i> 1300 m, 29. I.2018. <i>S. Soosairaj 2514</i> (holo-, RHT!; iso-, MH!).</p> <p> DIAGNOSIS. — This species differs from other <i>Solanum</i> species by subcapsular fruits that are entirely enclosed by calyx. It has supra axillary cyme inflorescence with 2-3 flowers. This species also has distinctive features such as obtuse leaf apex, unarmed petiole and pedicel, simple stigma and glabrous anther.</p> <p> HABITAT AND PHENOLOGY. — <i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. was found growing in savanna forest in the Western Ghats of Palani Hills National Park, on a slope at 1300 m elevation amidst tall grasses like <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (DC.) Stapf. The vegetation type has been described as sub-tropical hill savanna (8A/DS1) which is interrupted with patches of southern hill top wet evergreen forests (Champion & Seth 1968). The new species was found associated with <i>Breynia retusa</i> (Dennst.) Alston, <i>Peperomia blanda</i> (Jacq.) Kunth, <i>Kalanchoe bhidei</i> Cooke, <i>Hedyotis swertioides</i> Hook. f., <i>Pogostemon mollis</i> Benth., <i>Desmodium parvifolium</i> DC., <i>Kleinia grandiflora</i> (DC.) N. Rani, <i>Smithia hirsuta</i> Dalzell, <i>Arundinella ciliata</i> (Roxb.) Nees ex Miq., <i>Eragrostis deccanensis</i> Bor. and <i>Polygala rosmarinifolia</i> Wight & Arn. The species is found growing in steep slope and soil is shallow with exposed rocks. Flowering occurs in January-March, and fruiting from February and March.</p> <p> DISTRIBUTION. — <i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. is known only from the Thonimalai, Palani Hills National Park, Dindigul district from Tamil Nadu, India.</p> <p>ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is chosen to represent the Palani hills, the collection locality which is a part of Western Ghats of India.</p> <p> CONSERVATION STATUS. <i>—</i> The population of this species was noted at two locations at a close proximity observed to be populated with about 15-20 individuals. Based on the field observations made periodically, the conservation status of the species has been evaluated following the latest IUCN Red List Criteria (Version 3.1; IUCN 2012). The species qualifies for Critically Endangered under criteria B2, C2 and D. Criterion B1 cannot be estimated as the EOO required to predict is at least 2 locations (Fig. 3).</p> <p> <b>Criterion B2</b>: This species is found only at the Thonimalai (subcriterion a). The AOO measured at 2 km 2 grid size for <i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. is 4 km 2. A continuing decline of population is inferred (subcriterion b) in terms of quality of habitats such as the construction of estate and tea plantations. As this estimate is less than 10 km 2, the species qualifies for Critically Endangered category.</p> <p> <b>Criterion C2</b>: A continuing decline of population is inferred in terms of quality of habitats as the establishment of estate and tea plantations push this species to extreme. The number of mature individuals in the population noted was about 15-20 individuals.</p> <p> <b>Criterion D</b>: Only ten to fifteen individuals in total were documented during the study period which is much lower than the threshold level of fifty mature individuals and makes the species qualify for Critically Endangered category criterion.</p> <p> Though this species could be considered as Data Deficient (DD) due to its distribution, we could anticipate that the uncertainty on the conservation of the habitats which are favorable for the growth of <i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. shall be assessed as Critically Endangered criteria CR[B2ab(iii); C2a(i); D].</p> <p>DESCRIPTION</p> <p>Armed, undershrub, 50-70 cm tall, stellate tomentose throughout. Stem stellate tomentose, prickled, prickles straight, 1-1.5 mm, yellow. Leaves simple, alternate, oblong-ovate, 3-6.5 × 2-4 cm, base truncate, oblique, margin undulate, stellate tomentose on both the surfaces, apex obtuse, midrib with 1 or 2 prickles below, lateral nerves 3-4 pairs, without prickles; petiole 8-23 mm, prickled. Inflorescence a cyme, supra axillary, 2-3 flowered, peduncle 5-6 mm long. Flowers 20-23 mm across, pedicel up to 18 mm, not prickled; Calyx cupular, rotate, 9-10 mm, densely stellate tomentose without, glabrous within, lobes 5, lanceolate with prominent midnerves, 5-6 mm, apex acuminate; Corolla rotate, 5 lobed, pale purple, lobes orbicular, 4-5 mm, undulate, stellate tomentose without, glabrous inside, midnerve yellowish from the base; Stamens 5, filaments 1-2 mm, glabrous, anthers unequal, 3 long, 7-8 mm, falcate, 2 short, 5-6 mm, lanceolate, glabrous, yellow, poricidal. Pistil 12 mm; ovary ovoid, 1-1.5 mm, style 11-12 mm long, capillary, glabrous, curved; stigma simple. Fruit subcapsular, globose, 8-10 mm across, pale green with white patches, fruiting calyx accrescent, 13-14 mm, lobes 10-11 mm, stellately tomentose, not prickled. Seed rhomboid, 3.5× 3 mm, pale brown, alveolate, margin bulged.</p> <p>AFFINITIES</p> <p> <i>Solanum pulneyensis</i> Soosairaj, sp. nov. is a distinct species since it has a subcapsular fruit. It resembles with <i>S. wightii</i> Nees in having accrescent fruit calyx that covers the fruit completely but differs in having subcapsular fruit, obtuse leaf apex, glabrous anther, calyx and petiole without prickles (Table 1). It is also similar to <i>S. cordatum</i> in having similar features like oblong-ovate leaves, 2-3 flowered cymes but differs in having subcapsular fruit that dehisces irregularly at apex and fruit that is pale green with white patches. Although most of the <i>Solanum</i> species have berry as common fruit type, Symon (1979, 1981) reports subcapsular fruit in <i>Solanum rostratum</i> Dunal, a widespread weed in his revision of Australian <i>Solanum</i> species.</p>Published as part of <i>Soosairaj, Sebastian, Raja, Prakasam, Balaguru, Balakrishnan & Tagore, Johny Kumar, 2021, Solanum pulneyensis Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from Palani Hills National Park of Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 235-240 in Adansonia (3) (3) 43 (21)</i> on pages 236-238, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2021v43a21, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5706047">http://zenodo.org/record/5706047</a>
Justicia tamilnadensis P. Raja & Soosairaj 2023, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Justicia tamilnadensis</i> P.Raja & Soosairaj, sp. nov. <p>(Figs 1, 2; Table 1).</p> <p> <i>Justicia tamilnadensis</i> P.Raja & Soosairaj, sp. nov. is morphologically closely allied to <i>Justicia salsoloides</i> T.Anderson. It differs by its herbaceous, slender, purplish-green, glabrous, and angled stem, elliptic-oblong, lanceolate, glabrous, sub-sessile leaves, corolla pubescent on throat within and sub-terete capsules.</p> <p> TYPUS. — <b>India</b>. Tamil Nadu, Pudukkottai district, Poosathurai, (10°20’58”N, 78°47’22”E), <i>c</i>. 82 m, 11.X.2021, <i>P. Raja &</i> <i>S. Soosairaj 4760</i> (holo-, RHT!; iso-, MH!).</p> <p> DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND ECOLOGY. — <i>Justicia tamilnadensis</i> sp. nov. is presently known only from the type locality where less than 20 individuals have been observed in open places in Vellar river bed at elevations of 70-85 m and associated with <i>Fimbristylis falcata</i> (Vahl) Kunth, <i>Platostoma menthoides</i> (L.) A.J.Paton, <i>Evolvulus alsinoides</i> (L.) L., <i>Dyschoriste madurensis</i> (Burm.f.) Kuntze, <i>Eragrostis viscosa</i> (Retz.) Trin., <i>Euphorbia corrigioloides</i> Boiss., <i>Leucas diffusa</i> Benth., <i>Curculigo orchioides</i> Gaertn., <i>Cyanotis cristata</i> (L.) D.Don, <i>Vachellia leucophloea</i> (Roxb.) Maslin, Siegler. & Ebinger and <i>Melanocenchris monoica</i> (Rottler) C.E.C.Fisch.</p> <p>PHENOLOGY. — Flowering and fruiting were observed from July to December.</p> <p> ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet <i>tamilnadensis</i> refers to one of the south Indian states Tamil Nadu from where the specimens were collected.</p> <p> CONSERVATION STATUS. — <i>Justicia tamilnadensis</i> sp. nov. was observed at only one location which is fragmented by transportation. The total population of this species is enumerated to be less than 20 individuals, and based on the field observation, the conservation status of the species has been evaluated accordingly. We have been surveying the entire Pudukkottai district and the surrounding regions since 2012. And from the entire study in the past decade, it was noted that the proposed species is found only in that specific location (Fig. 3). The geographic range for the Area of Occupancy (AOO) is <i>c.</i> 0.5 km ² and the distribution is limited to the type locality (IUCN 2022). Urbanization, transportation and expansion of the highly invasive <i>Prosopis juliflora</i> (Sw.) DC. threatens the population of this species. Hence, this species is classified in criterion B (AOO) under B2a and B2b and criterion D (number of mature individuals is less than 20) as well to meet the criteria for the Critically Endangered B2ab (ii,iii,v); D.</p> <p> ADDITIONAL SPECIMEN EXAMINED. — <b>India</b>. Tamil Nadu, Pudukkottai district, Poosathurai, (10°20’58”N, 78°47’22”E), <i>c</i>. 80 m, 09.X.2022, <i>P</i> <i>.</i> <i>Raja</i> 4766 (RHT!).</p> <p>DESCRIPTION</p> <p>Prostrate herb, 200-300 mm long; rootstock woody with fleshy roots. Stem prostrate, angled, slender, glabrous, bearded at nodes. Leaves sub-sessile, 9-35 × 3-6 mm, subcoriaceous, elliptic to oblong, opposite, cuneate at base, margins entire on young leaves and occasionally margins undulate on mature leaves, obtusely acute at apex, mid nerve prominent, lateral nerves 3-4, obscure. Inflorescence sub-terminal and terminal spikes, 15-50 mm long, loosely arranged, peduncle 4-10 mm long. Bracts linear-lanceolate, 5-9 × 2-3 mm, base truncate, margin entire, apex acute, ciliate at base. Bracteoles 2, lanceolate, 10-12 × 1.5-2 mm, 3-nerved, nerves obscure, base truncate, margin entire, ciliate at base, acute at apex. Flowers 1 cm long; calyx lobes 5, equal in length, 5 × 1 mm, narrow, linear, cuneate at base, acute at apex, pubescent; corolla 1 cm long, pubescent without; corolla tube 5 mm long, pubescent in throat; bilabiate, upper two-lobed, lobes connate except tip, lower broadly 3-lobed, mid lobe broader than lateral lobes, 4 × 3 mm, purplish inside, lateral lobes 4 × 2 mm, white inside. Stamens 2, exserted; filaments 5 mm long, glabrous; anthers 2-celled, pubescent on upper anther cell, 3 mm long with 1 mm appendage on lower anther cell. Pistil 8 mm long, ovary 2 × 1.5 mm, ovules 4, style slender, 6 mm long, pubescent on basal half, stigma simple. Capsule 12-15 × 5 mm, sub-terete, white tomentose without, shortly mucronate at apex. Seeds 3-4, echinate.</p> <p>TAXONOMIC COMMENTS</p> <p> <i>Justicia tamilnadensis</i> sp. nov. and <i>J. salsoloides</i> are restricted in distribution (Carnatic regions of Indian Peninsula). In the field, the habit of <i>J. tamilnadensis</i> closely resembles to that of <i>Lepidagathis cristata</i> Willd. and it could be mistaken in the absence of inflorescences. The rootstock of <i>J. tamilnadensis</i> resembles that of the <i>Justicia trinervia</i> Vahl. There are about 5-7 fleshy roots per plant. Each root is about 100-160 mm long and 2-3 mm wide and deeply rooted to the barren or gravel soil up to 200 mm in depth. The tuberous root system enables the persistent stem to tolerate the dry season.</p>Published as part of <i>Raja, Prakasam, Arulanandam, Lourdusamy John Peter, Soosairaj, Sebastian & Kabeer, Kadher Althaf Ahammed, 2023, A new species of Justicia L. (Acanthaceae) from Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 285-291 in Adansonia (3) (3) 45 (17)</i> on pages 286-289, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2023v45a17, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8135393">http://zenodo.org/record/8135393</a>
Lepidagathis WILLD. FROM
No full textKEY TO THE GENUS LEPIDAGATHIS WILLD. FROM TAMIL NADU 1. Prostrate-decumbent herb, capsule 2-seeded................................................................................................ 2 — Erect subshrub, capsule 4-seeded................................................................................................................. 8 2. Leaf margin or apex spinous tipped............................................................................................................. 3 Leaf margin entire or toothed, apex mucronate........................................................................................... 4 3. Leaves lanceolate, margin entire, one spine only at apex.......................................... L. spinosa Wight ex Nees — Leaves ovate-oblong, margin and apex spinous tipped....................................................... L. barberi Gamble 4. Spike aggregated only at lower nodes........................................................................................................... 5 — Spike at axils of leafy and leafless stem......................................................................................................... 7 5. Leaves> 3 cm long, lateral nerves 5-7 pairs.................................................................. L. hamiltoniana Wall. — Leaves <3 cm long, lateral nerves 3-5 pairs................................................................................................. 6 6. Leaves scabrous along the nerves beneath, margin ciliate ........................................................ L. mitis Dalzell — Leaves glabrous on both sides, margin entire to toothed....................................................... L. cristata Willd. 7. Spike globose-ovoid, internodes long to 3 cm................................................................ L.diffusa C.B. Clarke — Spike elongate and unilateral, internodes short to 1 cm......... L. decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. 8. Bract and calyx lobes single nerved, bract margin hyaline....................................................... L. hyalina Nees — Bract and calyx lobes 3-7 nerved, bract scarious or coriaceous..................................................................... 9 9. Bract scarious, lower calyx lobes 3-ribbed, upper 7-ribbed...................................................... L. scariosa Nees — Bract coriaceous, calyx lobes 3-ribbed........................................................................................................ 10 10. Flowers in soft, condensed spike, leaves crenate-serrate........................................... L. fasciculata (Retz.) Nees — Flowers in elongate spike, villous, leaves entire or undulate................................................. L. cuspidata NeesPublished as part of Dhatchanamoorthy, Narayanasamy, Karthikeyan, Chinnasamy, Raja, Prakasam, Soosairaj, Sebastian & Balachandran, Natesan, 2022, Lepidagathis decumbens N. Dhatchan. & S. Soosairaj, sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a new species from Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 321-329 in Adansonia (3) (3) 44 (24) on page 328, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2022v44a24, http://zenodo.org/record/725472
Justicia L. FROM
No full textKEY TO THE GENUS JUSTicia L. FROM TAMIL NADU, INDIA 1. Calyx lobes 5............................................................................................................................................... 2 — Calyx lobes 4............................................................................................................................................. 14 2. Shrubs or undershrubs................................................................................................................................ 3 — Erect or diffuse herbs................................................................................................................................. 12 3. Anther cells minutely apiculate at base........................................................................................................ 4 — Anther cells with prominent white appendage at base................................................................................. 5 4. Inflorescence capitate.................................................................................. J. beddomei (C.B.Clarke) Bennet — Inflorescence spikes.................................................................................................................. J. adhatoda L. 5. Capsule 2-2.5 cm long................................................................................................................................ 6 — Capsule less than 2 cm long........................................................................................................................ 7 6. Erect shrubs. Leaves 6-9 cm broad................................................................................... J. santapaui Bennet — Procumbent undershrub. Leaves 0.5-1.5 cm broad.......................... J. nilgherrensis (Nees) Wight ex C.B. Clarke 7. Leaves less than 3 cm long........................................................................................................................... 8 — Leaves more than 5 cm long........................................................................................................................ 9 8. Bracts elliptic, acute.................................................................................................. J. salsoloides T.Anderson — Bracts orbicular or obcordate, short-apiculate............................................................... J. tranquebariensis L.f. 9. Capsule pubescent..................................................................................................................................... 10 — Capsule glabrous........................................................................................................... J. gendarussa Burm.f. 10. Seeds spinulose or echinate when wetted................................................................................................... 11 — Seeds softly round-tuberculate when wetted.............................................................. J. wynaadensis B.Heyne 11. Bracts white with green nerves; bracteoles similar....................................................................... J. betonica L. — Bracts not as above; bracteoles different, often absent............................................................ J. glauca Rottler 12. Leaves more than 5 cm broad................................................................................................. J. scandens Vahl — Leaves less than 1 cm broad....................................................................................................................... 13 13. Bracts white with green nerves. Seeds tuberculate when wetted............................................. J. trinervia Vahl — Bracts not as above. Seeds echinate when wetted.......................... J. tamilnadensis P.Raja & Soosairaj, sp.nov. 14. Spikes stout, cylindric............................................................................................................................... 15 — Spikes slender, linear................................................................................................................................. 18 15. Subshrubs or undershrubs; branchlets somewhat woody........................................................................... 16 — Herbaceous; branchlets slender.................................................................................................................. 17 16. Bracts with bulbous based white hairs. Capsule pubescent.......................................... J. neesii Ramamoorthy — Bracts not as above. Capsule glabrous........................................................... J. latispica (C.B.Clarke) Gamble 17. Spikes up to 3 cm long......................................................................................................... J. procumbens L. — Spikes more than 5 cm long................................................................................................ J. simplex D.Don 18. Calyx lobes obtuse at apex................................................................... J. quinqueangularis J.Koenig ex Roxb. — Calyx lobes acute at apex........................................................................................................................... 19 19. Bracts and bracteoles ovate.................................................................................................... J. diffusa Willd. — Bracts and bracteoles lanceolate................................................................................................................. 20 20. Seeds tuberculate.......................................................................... J. prostrata (Roxb. ex C.B.Clarke) Gamble — Seeds papillae............................................................................................................................................ 21 21. Leaves ovate-elliptic or linear-lanceolate, acute, glabrous........................................................... J. vahlii Roth — Leaves ovate or orbicular, obtuse, strigose above, villous beneath......................... J. nepalensis V.A.W.GrahamPublished as part of Raja, Prakasam, Arulanandam, Lourdusamy John Peter, Soosairaj, Sebastian & Kabeer, Kadher Althaf Ahammed, 2023, A new species of Justicia L. (Acanthaceae) from Tamil Nadu, India, pp. 285-291 in Adansonia (3) (3) 45 (17) on page 290, DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2023v45a17, http://zenodo.org/record/813539
CROTALARIA PROSTRATA VAR. LEVIS HAINES (LEGUMINOSAE): A POORLY KNOWN SPECIES REDISCOVERED, REDESCRIBED AND ENDEMIC FROM THE NORTHERN WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
No full textDuring a medicinal plant survey in Amba MPCA, Raigarh District of Maharashtra, a rare and endemic species of Crotalaria, Crotalaria prostrata var. levis, (Fabaceae) were rediscovered after type specimens author collected from Amba MPCA in Maharashtra after 94 years.</jats:p
