Abelmoschus odishae R.C. Misra, 2023

Misra, R. C., 2023, Abelmoschus odishae (Malvoideae: Malvaceae): a new wild okra from tropical Eastern India, Phytotaxa 607 (5), pp. 291-300 : 293-297

Abelmoschus odishae R.C. Misra sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 )

Type:— INDIA, Odisha: Keonjhar district, Bansapal block, Kanjipani forest area, nearby village: Talapada , Gram panchyat: Kuanra ; elevation 531 m, 21 o 29’ 21.66” N 85 o 30’ 16.68” E, 24 th December 2019, R.C. Misra HS No. 1566– 1568 (Holotype NHCP; isotype CAL) .

Local name: ‘Badabanabhendi’ (Odia)

Diagnosis:— The taxon broadly resembles A. palianus in possessing non-coherent, persistent epicalyx segments, hairy capsules and wooly nature of seeds. However, the striking differences of this taxon which differs from others, being a perennial large shrub having densely hispid prickly stem with long retrorse hairs; larger leaves, densely hirsute spinescent pedicel; persistent, lanceolate, non-coherent of extreme length (3–4 cm), 8 (7–9) epicalyx segments; ovoid to oblong, 6.0– 7.5cm long, densely hispid, bristly, apically beaked capsule; sub-reniform seeds with very short, non-spiral, stiff trichomes in discontinuous concentric rings were noticeable characters of the species.

Description:— Perennial, erect, branched, densely hirsute large shrub, up to 5 m high. Stem woody, not fistular, terete, ca. 3 cm diam., greenish-brown; branches densely hispid with prickly, stiff bristles; hairs 4–5 mm long, retrorse; purple tinged at one side of node around leaf-base, not extending to inter-node. Leaves orbicular, cordate at base; interveins of dorsal surface covered with simple hairs and ventral surface covered with bi- and tri-brachiate hairs; lamina angular, palmilobed or palmatisect, margin irregularly serrate to dentate; lower leaves 5-angled or 5–7 lobed, 20–38 cm across; upper leaves palmatifid, 3–5 partite, incised, 5–15 cm across; densely hirtus with stiff appressed white hairs on both the surfaces, 5–7(9) nerved, nerves coinciding with lobes; lobes ovate to lanceolate, acuminate at apex; petiole hairy, sub-terete, striated or grooved and purple above (when mature), up to 37 cm in basal leaves, reduces distally. Stipules two, on both sides of petiole, variable, one often bi-fid, linear to narrowly lanceolate, glandular pubescent, green, persistent. Flowers solitary, axillary, forming terminal raceme by reduction of upper leaves, yellow with dark purple centre, drooping; pedicel stout, up to 2.5 cm in flower (reaches 4 cm in fruit), densely hispid, sparsely spinescent; hairs white, shining, stiff on ripe. Epicalyx segments 8 (7–9); non-coherent, green when young, lanceolate, sub-equal, foliaceous, enclosing flower bud, hirsute, acuminate, 3–4 × 0.6–1 cm, with three indistinct lines from base to apex, densely appressed hairy outside, accrescent in capsule. Calyx spathaceous, membranous, 3–3.5 × 3.5–4 cm, greenish, appressed hairy both sides, splitting one side during expansion of corolla, apex acute, 3–5 toothed, margin uniform, sericeus, adnate to and falling off with corolla. Corolla campanulate, spreading, 12–15 cm in diam.; lobes 5, obovate, 7.0–8.0 × 6.5–8.5 cm, bright yellow with dark purple blotches at base, glabrous both sides, reticulately veined. Staminal column ca. 2 × 0.5 cm, antheriferous throughout; anthers pale yellow, pollen powdery. Carpel dark purple, style ca. 1.8 cm, stigma 5-fid at apex, ca. 5 mm in diam., puberulent. Capsule ovoid to oblong, 5-costate, 6–7.5 × 3–3.5 cm, densely hispidulus throughout, apex acute (when young), acuminate, beaked (when ripen), rostrum 3–5 mm; hairs white, shining when young, stiff, spinescent when ripe, 3 mm long, spreading all over outside; grayish black when dry, dehiscing apically, densely hispid with simple hairs on costae, sparsely so in between. Epicalyx segments accrescent, densely hairy; brownish-black when dry, reflexed outwards and withering. Seeds sub-reniform, dark brown-black, puberulous, ca. 3.5 × 3 mm, odourless; trichomes short, stout, non-spiral, flattened, persistent, in discontinuous concentric rings towards periphery, sparsely towards hilum; hilum ca. 1.6 × 0.8 mm, spathulate to lingulate.

Phenology:— November to January.

Distribution and habitat:— Abelmoschus odishae is distributed in Kanjipani forest, Bansapal block in Keonjhar district of Odisha in the Mahanadian biogeographic region of tropical Eastern India. The species is a component of moist deciduous forest and was found wild in a small population of 8–10 plants on the foot hill in the forest periphery among the hedges and other deciduous elements. The species has good compatibility with woody and herbaceous associates like Celastrus paniculatus Willdenow (1798:1125) , Mimosa rubicaulis subsp. himalayana (Gamble) Ohashi (1979:126) , Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retzius) Willdenow (1798:1104) , Flacourtia jangomas (Loureiro) Raeuschel (1797:290) , Lantana camara subsp. aculeata (Linnaeus) Sanders (2006:394) , Vicoa cernua Dalzell & Gibson (1861:126) , Ipomoea sagittifolia Burmanni. f. (1768:50) , Pergularia daemia (Forsskal) Chiovenda (1916:115) etc.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of seeds

Studies on seed micro-morphology of some taxa of Abelmoschus using scanning electron microscope were reported by Sivarajan and Pradeep (1996: 44), Patil et al. (2015: 696) and Misra et al. (2018:993). It is observed that the SEM images exhibiting the micro-morphological characters of seeds of the new species show affinities with a specific group of taxa comprising Abelmoschus palianus , A. manihot var. pungens and four wild varieties of A. angulosus having similarities in seed colour (brown to dark brown), persistent trichomes with bulbous base, thick walled epidermal cells and reticulate testa pattern ( Patil et al. 2015b). Moreover, the significant attributes like seed shape, surface texture, nature of trichomes, epidermal cells and hilum shape were taken into account and compared with these taxa to assess the variation pattern and further to evaluate the taxonomic significance of the new species ( Table 2 ).

The micrographs of seeds of the new species revealed that the seeds are sub-reniform and possess minute hairs ( Fig.4 ). The trichomes are unicellular, non-spiral, erect, stout, persistent, stiff, more or less spear-shaped, aligned in discontinuous rows/rings towards testa and random near hilum; base wide, bulbous with uneven ridges; body flattened, not deflected from base, apex acute; length ranges from 32.5–60 µm and basal width from 10.5–15 µm; hilum 1.6 × 0.8 mm, spathulate to lingulate. The epidermal cells are conspicuous, forming a distinct regular reticulum, pentahexagonal, thick-walled with not uniform thickened boundaries and false septa protruding inwardly, cell surface undulate with thin striations, cell size varied from 21–30 µm in length and 20–24 µm. in width. A new species, when compared with A. palianus , shows the seeds with puberulent texture; short, non-spiral, straight, stout, flattened and non-deflected trichomes; pentagonal-hexagonal epidermal cells, flat and raised cell wall with false septa inside, and spathulate to ligulate hilum. Whereas, the seeds of A. palianus exhibit pubescent texture; elongated, slender, spiral, thin, and deflected trichomes; tetra-pentagonal epidermal cells and slightly concave cell wall with rounded hilum ( Patil et al. 2015b).

Germplasm information:— Source: wild, collection site: moist deciduous forest, forest margin, undulating upland open habitat; topography: mountainous, foot hill, partly disturbed; soil type: loamy, brown; seed germplasm accession no: IC 0636463; sampling method: selective (non- random) from individual plants; occurrence: very rare; types of materials: i) seeds from matured live plants ii) herbarium specimens. The plant growth was very good to excellent up to 5 m height. The plants were well-propagated from seeds and exhibited profuse flowering and fruiting.

Etymology:— The specific epithet odishae refers to the state “ Odisha ” in India from where the type specimen was originally collected.

IUCN threat status: Abelmoschus odishae is so far known only from the type locality restricted to Kanjipani block of Keonjhar district, Odisha. In the present study, after extensive survey, only one accession was collected from the type locality. The estimated area of occupancy is less than 1 sq.km with a total of below 10 mature individuals. The plant population at this site is likely to face serious habitat loss due to forest fire, clearing of forest for encroachment and severe human disturbances. However, the information on its threat status is inadequate from other phyto-geographical regions and further explorations are needed to ascertain the precise conservation category. Therefore, it is assessed as Data Deficient (DD) following the guidelines and criteria of IUCN (2022).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Abelmoschus odishae sp. nov. A. Natural occurrence of the species on a foot hill in Keonjhar district, Odisha; B. Location map of type collection site; C–D. Live plants maintained in the field gene bank; E. Type specimen preserved at ICAR-NBPGR, Cuttack. Photographs and location map by R.C.Misra.

FIGURE 2. Abelmoschus odishae sp. nov. A–B. Stem and branch showing indumentum; C. Basal leaf; D. Middle leaf; E. Apical leaves; F. Epicalyx enclosing flower bud; G. Epicalyx: lateral view; H. Epicalyx: dorsal view; I. Flower: front view; J. L.S. of flower; K. Sepal; L. Petals; M. Staminal column with epicalyx and sepal; N. Fruit; O. Dehisced capsules; P. Seeds. Photographs by R.C.Misra.

FIGURE 3. Abelmoschus odishae sp. nov. A. Habit: A1. Basal leaf, A2. Middle leaf, A3. Apical leaf; B. Stem with indumentum; C. Epicalyx: lateral view; D. Epicalyx: ventral view; E. Epicalyx enclosing flower bud; F. Longitudinal section of flower; G. Staminal column; H. Capsule; I. Seeds. Illustration by R.C.Misra.

FIGURE 4. SEM micrographs of seeds of Abelmoschus odishae sp. nov. A. Whole seed; B. Seed surface; C. Seed surface magnified; D. Trichomes on seed surface; E. Surface topography; F. Epidermal cells; G. Hilum; H. Hilum magnified. SEM images analysis (R.C.Misra 1566).