Polygonatum tungnathensis Ankit Singh, Harsh Singh & M.C. Nautiyal, 2022

Singh, Ankit, Singh, Harsh & Nautiyal, Mohan Chandra, 2022, Polygonatum tungnathensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, India, Phytotaxa 554 (2), pp. 163-175 : 164-171

Polygonatum tungnathensis Ankit Singh, Harsh Singh & M.C. Nautiyal sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

Type:— INDIA, Uttarakhand, Tungnath , 30 ° 29ʹ33.88ʹʹ N, 79 ° 12ʹ58.03ʹʹ E, 3330 m, 15 July 2020, Ankit Singh Rawat 202145 (holotype GHU!; isotypes: BSD!) .

Diagnosis:—The new species possess few similar morphological characters to P. verticillatum like its appearance, arrangement of leaves and its inflorescence ( Fig. 3 ) but, differs in having broadly lanceolate shaped leaves, 1.6–2.8 cm wide, adaxially coriaceous (vs narrow lanceolate, 0.6–1.5 cm wide, adaxially leathery lustrous in P. verticillatum ), abaxial leaf surface papillate ( P. tungnathensis ) vs non papillate ( P. verticillatum ), filament with semi oval shaped papillae (vs sharply pointed papillae), pedicel having bractlet or ruminant of bractlet (vs pedicel without bractlet) ( Table 1 , Figs. 2–9 ).

Description:—Erect or slightly arching perennial terrestrial herb, stem 63.3–160.6 cm high. Rhizome branched, tuberous subterete, terete, usually parallel to soil surface, 5–20 cm deep in soil, 14.9–23.5 cm long and diameter 1.3–2.1 cm, stem glabrous, terete with red blotches sometime with angular up to 160 cm and 0.8–1.3 cm in diameter dark red, pink, yellow and rarely green maculate/blotch. Leaves in whorls of, 4–6 lanceolate, slightly falcate, 7.5–11.5 × 1.6–2.8 cm sessile, base obtuse, margin entire, apex subobtuse, acute, adaxially green with purple or red blotches at base and apex occasionally with purple midvein and glaucous abaxially, vein red maculate abaxially, veins prominent 8–12. Stipule late deciduous (in comparison to P. verticillatum ), 7.4–9.7 × 0.6–1.2 cm. Inflorescence axillary raceme, pendulous, 2–5 flowered, perianth tube in bud stage slightly pinched at middle, at maturity, 0.8–1.0 × 0.3–0.5 cm, campanulate, yellowish occasionally with red or purple blotch, subtruncate to round base, perianth lobes 6, green with dark green strip at middle, 0.4–0.7 × 0.3–0.45 cm, ovate, oblong, floccose at tip. Peduncle slender 1.3–2.1 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–0.6 cm long, with ruminant of bractlet and occasionally with 2 leafy bractlet ( Fig. 2I ). Stamens 6, basally adnate to perianth tube, papillose 0.5–0.8 cm long, anther elongate, base bilobed, oblong, 0.1–0.2 cm long. Ovary glabrous, superior trilocular, style floccose, stigma 0.2–0.3 cm long. Fruits berry, ellipsoid, green with red or pink blotches when immature, bright red when mature, 0.2–1.4 cm in diameter, 3–10 seeded. Seeds round semi-spheroid.

SEM micromorphology:—SEM micromorphology of P. tungnathensis significantly differ with P. verticillatum , especially in foliar surface ornamentation. Abaxial leaf surface papillate vs non papillate ( Figs. 4 A, C, B, D ) small outgrowth scattered vs densely ornamented ( Figs. 4 E, F ). Leaf adaxial cuticular ridges conspicuous (longitudinally elongated and transversely narrowed) vs obscure ( Figs. 5 A, B ) rectangular cuticle surface vs irregular surface ( Figs. 5 C, D ) dense outgrowth vs scattered ( Figs.5 E, F ), ruminant of bractlet are small and resemblance like minute thorn ( Figs. 6 ). Filament with dense semi oval shaped having striate surface of papillae vs filament with sharply pointed papillae ( Figs. 7 (A, B). Non papillate filament vs papillate filament, ( Figs. 7 A, C, B, D ) rugulate-perforate vs smooth surface of flower outer side ( Figs. 7 E, F ). Larger vs smaller pollen grains ( Figs. 8 A, B ), tricolpate vs monosulcate (pollen type) ( Figs. 8 C, D ), colpus extended almost towards the grain end pollen ornamentation reticulate; the murus is psilate ( Figs. 8 E, F ). In P. tungnathensis the seed ornamentation is irregular shaped pavement cells vs conspicuous rectangular shape of pavement cells in P. verticillatum ( Figs. 9 C, D ), and granulate vs smooth surface ornamentation of seeds ( Figs. 9 E, F ).

Specimens examined:— P. tungnathensis :— INDIA. Himachal Pradesh, on the way to Hattu peak, September 1994, Bipin Balodi 88755 (BSD) ; Uttarakhand, India, Uttarakhand, above Tungnath, 30 ° 29ʹ33.88ʹʹ N, 79 ° 12ʹ58.03ʹʹ E, 3330 m, 16 July 2020, Ankit Singh Rawat 202146 (paratype GUH). Garhwal, Buhna 3000 m, 15 June 1959, M.A. Rau 10214 (BSD); Garhwal, Dunagiri, 3400 m, 21 August 1974, B.D. Naithani 54126 (BSD); Hemkund on the way, 3400 m, 2 October 1962, U.C. Bhattacharyya 24293 (BSD); Tehri Garhwal, Panwali, 4000 m, 25 May 1979, A. K. Goel 66658 (BSD); Chamoli, Roopkund, P. K. Hajra, 87663 (BSD); Pithoragarh, Dugtu, 8 August 1998, B.P. Uniyal & Bipin Balodi 93965 (BSD); Uttarkashi, on the way to Hari ki Doon, 20 August 1996, Bipin Balodi 92172 (BSD) .

P. verticillatum :— INDIA. Uttarakhand, Garhwal, Gourikund, 2400 m, 13 October 1965, N.C. Nair 35914 (BSD); Uttarkashi , Way to Yamunotri , 4 October 1993, S.C. Majumdar & S. Singh 88010 (BSD); Bhojbasa , Gaumukh , 3700 m, 2 Sep 1983, D.C. Bhattacharyya 74742, (BSD); On the way to Jakhol , May 1997, Bipin Balodi 86558 (BSD); Gangotri , On the way to Kedarkharak , 28 July 2002, P.K. Pusalkar 101733 (BSD); Tehri Garhwal, Kalyani, 3000 m, 14 September 1979, A.K. Goel 67776 (BSD); On the way to Khatling, 3500 m, 14 Aug 1978, A.K. Goel, 64471 (BSD); Tali, 4300 m, 21 May 1979, A.K. Goel 66625 (BSD); Jamnotri, 18 June 1965, B.P. Shetty & J.P. Sharma 33195 (BSD); Pauri Garhwal, Dobri forest , 10 May 1995, B.P. Uniyal 90675 (BSD); Chamoli, Duggalbhitta P.W.D. R.H., 2300 m, 23 May 1985, R.R. Rao 76245 (BSD).

Flowering:—July–August.

Fruiting:—September–October.

Etymology:—The specific epithet ‘ tungnathensis ’ is derived from the type locality Tungnath, Uttarakhand.

Distribution:— 3000–4000 m from treeline to subalpine zone of the Western Himalaya.

Conservation status:— Polygonatum tungnathensis occurs in small fragmented population in gentle grassy and rocky slopes. Populations are severely affected by intense grazing, unscientific harvesting for its medicinal uses, habitat reduction and irregular tourism activity. The species assessed as Vulnerable on the basis of extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) (B1B2a) and number of mature individuals (C2ai,D1).

Habitat and ecology:—Usually erect or arching herb associated with Tenaxia cachemyriana ( Jaubert & Spach 1851:331) Barker & Linder (2010:352) , Rhododendron campanulatum Don David. (1821:410) and Impatiens sulcata Wallich (1824:458) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Polygonatum tungnathensis sp nov. A—Habit, B—Phyllotaxis, C—Leaf adaxial, D—Leaf abaxial, E—Juvenile stem with stipule, F—Stem, G—Root, H—Inflorescence, I—Bractlet, J—Flowers front view with anther arrangement, K—Single flower with lateral view, L—Open perianth and stamen, M—Pedicel with ruminant of bractlet, N—Ovary and style, O—Immature fruit with purple or reddish blotches, P—Mature fruit, Q—Seeds. (Photo: Ankit Singh)

FIGURE 3. Polygonatum verticillatum. A—Habit, B—Phyllotaxis, C—Leaf adaxial, D—Leaf abaxial, E—Juvenile stem with stipule, F—Stem, G—Root, H—Inflorescence, I—Flowers front view with anther arrangement, J, K— Open perianth and stamen, L—Immature fruit with black line and blotches, M—Mature fruit, N—Seeds. (Photo: Ankit Singh)

FIGURE 4. Leaf abaxial surface. (A, C, E) Anticlinal wall pattern and papillae of Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D, F) P. verticillatum. (A, C, B, D) Papillate vs non papillate surface of cuticle. (E, F) Small outgrowth scattered vs densely ornamented.

FIGURE 5. Leaf adaxial surface. (A, C, E) Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D, F) P. verticillatum. (A, B) Cuticular ridges conspisious (longitudinally elongated and transversely narrowed) vs obscure. (C, D) Rectangular cuticle surface vs irregular surface. (E, F) Dense outgrowth vs scattered.

FIGURE 6. Pedicle pubescence. (A, C,) Ruminants of bractlet Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D) P. verticillatum. (A, C, B, D) cuticular ridges with conspisious papillate vs obscure or non papilate.

FIGURE 7. Filament and flower surface. (A, C, E) Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D, F) P. verticillatum. (A, B) Filament. (C, D) Close view of filament. (E, F) Flower outer surface. (C, D) Parallel folding cuticle running to the anticlinal walls of the cells. Non papillate vs papillate filament (E, F) regulate-perforate vs smooth surface of flower outer side.

FIGURE 8. Pollen structure. (A, C, E) Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D, F) P. verticillatum. (A, B) Larger vs smaller. (C, D) Tricolpate vs monosulcate. (E, F) Colpus extended almost towards the grain end, pollen ornamentation heterobrochate reticulation.

FIGURE 9. Seeds surface. (A, C, E) Polygonatum tungnathensis. (B, D, F) P. verticillatum. (C, D) Conspicuous irregular shaped pavement cells vs obscure rectangular shape. (E, F) Granulate vs smooth surface.