Murdannia satheeshiana Joby, Nisha & Unni, 2011

Paul, Joby, Augustine, Toms, Thomas, Rogimon P. & Unni, K. Sankaran, 2011, Murdannia satheeshiana-a new species of Commelinaceae from the Western Ghats, India, Phytotaxa 22 (1), pp. 41-46 : 41-45

Murdannia satheeshiana Joby, Nisha & Unni , sp. nov. ( Fig.1 , A–N, & Fig.2 , A, C, D, F–P)

Murdanniae pauciflorae similis , surculis 2.5–10.0 cm longis (contra 20–60 cm), ramis erectis ad ascendentibus (contra repentibus ad ascendentibus), vaginis 0.2–0.3 cm longis (contra usque ad 0.5 cm). cincinnis 0.2–0.3 cm longis (contra 0.6–0.7cm), floribus 0.5–0.6 cm diam. (contra 1.0– 1.2 cm), capsulis ovato-oblongis (contra ellipticis), seminibus rugosis cum cristis et sulcis, sulcis materia alba et granulis farinosis (contra scrobiculatis materia alba farinosa fasciculis rotundatis) differt.

Type: — INDIA. Kerala: Idukki District, Mathikettanshola National Park, Sivanpara , 9 0 58’41.6’’N, 77 0 14’53.3’’E, 24.10.2010, 1593 m, 24 October 2010, Joby, Rameshan & Toms 431 (holotype CAL, isotypes CALI, MH & Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences , Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India) .

Erect herb, 2.5–10.0 cm high, branched from base, branches ascending to erect. Roots fibrous, from lower nodes. Internodes 0.5–2.5 × 0.1 cm, base glabrous, purple, apex green, sparsely hairy, white striations, a thick band of multicellular hairs from the mouth of sheath to the base of internode. Sheath 0.2–0.3 cm long, pale green, dark green bands, sparsely multicellular tuberculate hairy, mouth ciliate. Leaves cauline, distichous, ovate, base undulate, amplexicaule, base margin tuberculate hairy; lamina 0.7–2.0 × 0.3–0.6 cm, thick, both surfaces sparsely hairy, veins 6, margin entire, slightly undulate, minutely serrate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary cymose, cincinnus 1.0–4.0, 0.2–0.3 cm long, pale green, glabrous; bract lanceolate, pale green, glabrous, bifid at apex, acute, sheath-like, covering the cincinnus; pedicel 0.5–0.7 cm long, erect–slightly bending, pale green, sparsely hairy. Bracteole 0.4 × 0.1 cm, lanceolate, pale green, upper surface hairy, margin entire, apex acute. Flowers bisexual, 1 per cincinnus, 0.5–0.6 cm diameter. Sepals 3, 0.40 × 0.25 cm, lanceolate, pale green, purple colour inside, both surfaces glabrous, margin entire, apex rounded, cup shaped, minutely ciliate, membranaceous. Petals 0.3–0.4 × 0.2–0.3 cm, ovate, orange-yellow, both surfaces glabrous, margin entire, apex rounded. Fertile stamens 3, antisepalous, filament 0.25 cm long, middle broad, purple– orange-yellow, bearded, hairs on outer side of filament, anther lobes 0.1 cm, bithecate, dorsifixed, upper dark purple, lower cream-white, connective cream-white, pollen grains numerous, oblong, pale white; staminodes 3, antipetalous, filament thin, <0.1 cm long, glabrous, purple–orange-yellow, antherode trilobed, yellow. Ovary 0.25 × 0.10 cm, globose-triangular, trilocular, pale green; ovules 3 per locule; style 0.15 cm, purple, slightly bent towards the fertile stamens, glabrous; stigma feathery, white. Fruiting pedicel (cincinnus + pedicel) 0.7–1.0 cm long, erect–slightly bent. Capsule 0.30–0.40 × 0.15–0.20 cm, ovate-oblong, trivalvate, glabrous, green. Seeds uniseriate, 2–3 per locule, ≥0.1 × 0.1 cm, rectangular in ventral view, cylindrical to heart shaped in apical view, grayish brown, rugose, with ridges and furrows, white farinose granules in the furrows, small ventral pit near the hilum, filled with white flakey material and farinose granules, apex rounded in basal and apical seeds, cupulate in the middle seeds, hilum ovate-elliptic, embryotega lateral.

Additional specimen examined (paratype): — INDIA. Kerala: Idukki District, Mathikettanshola National Park, Sivanpara , 9 0 58’41.6’’N, 77 0 14’53.3’’E, 1593 m, 17 December 2010, Joby, Rogi & Toms 434 (Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences , Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India) .

Flowering and fruiting: —September to December.

Flowering time: —08.30 am–1.30 pm.

Distribution and ecology: —The new species is known only from a small population at the type locality in the Mathikettanshola National Park. It grows in wet grasslands with a rocky substrate that is frequently watered by a perennial pond and stream surrounded by evergreen shola. High precipitation with strong wind and mist is prevalent in the habitat. The species is fully exposed to sun and associated with M. dimorpha Brückner (in Engler & Prantl 1930: 173), Eriocaulon sp. , Utricularia sp. , Smithia sp. , and many grasses and mosses.

Etymology: —This species is named after late Dr R. Satheesh, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India for his contributions in the field of environmental sciences and biodiversity conservation.

Notes: — Murdannia satheeshiana is similar to M. pauciflora in general appearance in their axillary cymose inflorescence of 1–4 cincinni, orange-yellow flowers and three fertile and three sterile stamens. The new species can be distinguished from the later by the characters indicated in Table 1.

Murdannia pauciflora is a common middle-elevation species of Kerala distributed in wet places, agricultural fields and stream banks in fully or partially exposed conditions. It has not been recorded from the Mathikettanshola National Park. It has a longer flowering and fruiting season (July–December) and shorter flowering duration (0900–1230) than M. satheeshiana .

Specimens of M. pauciflora examined: — INDIA. Kerala: Idukki District, Elaveezhapoochira, Joby 803 (DEV); Guruthikkalam, Joby DC5117 (DEV); Karimkunnam, Nampy 852 (DEV) Munnar, Joby DC5126 (DEV); Thannikkadavau, Jomy 16284 (CALI); Vallakkadavu, Jomy 12662 (CALI); Kottayam District, Kaliyarthottam, Joby 801, 809, 814, 934, DC5152 (all DEV); Priyadarshini Hills, Joby 1004 (Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India); Vagamon Hills, Sibichan 859 (DEV); Kollam District, Quilon, Wight 1179 (isosyntype, digital image! E); Kozhikode District, Kodancheri, Siljo 869 (DEV); Thamarassery, Joby 858 (DEV); Vilangadu, Joby 975, 977 (DEV); Wayanad District, Chembra, Joby 878 (DEV).

The new species also resembles M. versicolor , M. lanuginosa and M. crocea subsp. ochracea in having axillary cymose inflorescences of 1–4 cincinni with a range of ochre-yellow, orange-yellow, chrome-yellow and orange-crimson red colored flowers but can be distinguished by the following key:

1 Seeds uniseriate............................................................................................................................................................. 2

- Seeds biseriate.............................................................................................................................................................. 4

2 Flowers 2 cm diameter, bluish in withering, staminodes white, leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, seeds 5 –7 per locule ....................................................................................................................................................... M. versicolor

- Flowers 0.5–1.2 cm diameter, not bluish in withering, staminodes yellow, leaves ovate acute, seeds 2–4 per locule. ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

3 Seeds scrobiculate, ascending-creeping herb, up to 60 cm long, flowers 1.0– 1.2 cm diameter, fruiting pedicel 1.5– 1.7 cm long, strongly curved–bent, capsule 0.6–0.7 × 0.2 cm ................................................................. M. pauciflora

- Seeds rugose, with ridges and furrows, erect-ascending herb, up to 10 cm long/tall, flowers 0.5–0.6 cm diameter, fruiting pedicel 0.7–1.0 cm long, erect–slightly bent, capsule 0.3–0.4 × 0.2 cm ................................ M. satheeshiana

4 Root tuberous, plants found in grasslands, leaves linear lanceolate, flowers 2.0 cm diameter, embryotega lateral ...... ................................................................................................................................................................ M. lanuginosa

- Root fibrous, plants found in marshes, leaves ovate, flowers 1 cm diameter, embryotega semi dorsal......................... ........................................................................................................................................... M. crocea subsp. Ochracea

Figures

FIGURE 1. Murdannia satheeshiana. A. habit; B. inflorescence; C. flower; D. bracteole; E. sepal; F. petal; G. stamen; H. staminode; I. pistil; J. capsule; K. seed (dorsal-lateral view); L. seed (apical view); M. apical seed (dorsal view); N. apical seed (ventral view). A,B,E,G,H,I,K & L from Joby, Rameshan & Toms 431; C, D, F, J, M & N from Joby, Rogi & Toms 434, Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India). Illustrations by Joby Paul.

FIGURE 2. A–P, Murdannia satheeshiana. A. habit; B. habitat; C. & D. flower; E. associations in the habitat; F. bracteole; G. sepal; H. stamen; I. staminode; J. pistil; K. capsule; L. seed (dorsal-lateral view); M. seed (ventral view); N. seed (apical view); O. apical seed (dorsal-lateral view); P. apical seed (ventral view); Q–S Murdannia pauciflora Q. seed (dorsal-lateral view); R. apical seed (dorsal-lateral view); S. apical seed (ventral view). F,G,J,L,M & N from Joby, Rameshan & Toms 431; A,C,D,H,I,K,O & P from Joby, Rogi & Toms 434; Q, R & S from Joby 1004, Herbarium, School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Photographs by Joby Paul; camera: Nikon D70S, Labomed CSM2 Microscope and Magnüs MIPS.