Amaranthus bengalense Saubhik Das & Iamonico, 2014

Das, Saubhik & Iamonico, Duilio, 2014, Amaranthus bengalense (Amaranthaceae) a new species from India, with taxonomical notes on A. blitum aggregate, Phytotaxa 181 (5), pp. 293-300 : 297-298

Amaranthus bengalense Saubhik Das & Iamonico sp. nov.

Type: — INDIA, West Bengal, 24- Parganas (North), Bhangar , sea level, 10 October 2013, Das 24 (holotype CAL!, isotype HFLA!) ( Fig. 2 ) .

Diagnosis:— Ascendens herbae; foliis apice obtusa vel obscure emarginate, petiolum minor quam laminum; perianthae ovati-spathulatae apicibus acuminatis, tepala longitudine bracteae aequantes, tepala 4.0– 4.5 mm longae, tepala quam carpella longiores; utriculum indehiscence.

Description:—Herbs 3–4 dm tall, monoecious, annual (therophyte). Stem ascending, glabrous, reddish-green, branched. Leaves green, deltoid-ovate to ovate-lanceolate (4.0–4.5 × 3.0– 3.5 cm), petioled (petiole shorter than the blade), apex obtuse to obscurely emarginate, margin entire, base cuneate. Synflorescences arranged in terminal spikelike, and in axillary glomerules. Bracts and bracteoles ovate-lanceolate (4.0– 4.5 mm long), as long as the perianth, with green adaxial midvein and apex acuminate. Staminate flowers with 3 tepals, lanceolate (4.0–4.5 × 1.0– 1.8 mm); stamens 3, shorter than tepals. Pistillate flowers with 3 equal or subequal tepals, oblanceolate to spathulate (2.5–3.0 × 0.8–1.0 mm); stigmas 3. Fruit greenish-brown, compressed subglobose (1.5–1.8 mm long), slightly shorter than the perianth, smooth, indehiscent. Seed broadly lenticular, black, with smooth surface, 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the West Bengal ( India) where the species frequently occurs.

Distribution:— A. bengalense is a tropical species widely ditributed in India, frequently occurring in the West Bengal area.

IUCN:— Since information about the abundance is lacking and there are not adequate data to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction based on its population status, we prefer to asses A. bengalense as DD (=Data Deficient) category according to IUCN (2010, 2012).

Ecology:— Open areas, cultivated lands and waste places. Flowering starts in October–November, seeds are set in December.

Additional specimen examined:— INDIA. West Bengal: Dumjor, Howrah , 3 February 1964, Bennet 528 ( CAL) ; Jalpaiguri , 22 February 1975, Sirkar 78 ( CAL) ; Gujrat: Bhuj, 1 Febryary 1957, Deshpande 11647 ( CAL) ; Maharastra: Lonavala, Poona , 29 May 1964, Reddi 97880 ( CAL) ; Khandesh, Erandol , 6 March 1957, Mahajan 6439 ( CAL) ; Orissa: Mahabaleswar , 4 April 1956; Puri 291 ( CAL) ; Delhi: Pusa , 23 July 1952, Singh 20 ( CAL) ; Meghalaya: Shillong , May 1920, Carter 1660 ( CAL) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Amaranthus bengalense Das & Iamonico.A. Habit; B. Synflorescence (part); C. Bract; D. Bracteole; E. Tepal of male flower; F. Tepal of female flower; G. Male flower; H. Female flower.