Oxytropis sanjappae Chaudhary, 2013

Chaudhary, Lal Babu, Bajpai, Omesh, Behera, Soumit Kumar & Sahu, Nayan, 2013, A new species of Oxytropis (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) from India, Phytotaxa 155 (1), pp. 50-58 : 52-56

Oxytropis sanjappae Chaudhary sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 & 3e, f )

The new species is chiefly characterized and differentiated with its closely allied species O. cachemiriana and O. tatarica by its very dense silky and white hairs, almost stemless or quite reduced stems, globose-ovoid or oblong, many- flowered and dense capitate racemes elongating in infruitescence, longer calyx teeth than tube, light purplish pink flowers, almost equal corolla to calyx, obtuse wing petals at apex, ca. 1 mm long mucro of the keel petal and comparatively larger size of the pods.

Type:— INDIA. Himachal Pradesh: Lahul-Spiti, Spiti , Losar, P. W. D. guest house area, along agriculture fields, N 32 0 26.322 ' E 77 0 44.374 ', 4073 m, 06 August 2012, L. B. Chaudhary & O. Bajpai 259339 (holotype LWG!, isotypes CAL!, BSD!) .

Prostrate or suberect, tufted, caespitose, stemless or with reduced stem. Stems (if present) up to 4 cm long, densely villous with silky, white and spreading hairs, internodes more or less equal or shorter or occasionally longer (ca. 7 mm long) than stipules. Stipules 3–6 × 1–2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, free from petiole, leaf opposed, connate more than half of the length, encircling the stem, densely sericeous outside with silky, white and spreading hairs, glabrous inside. Leaves 2.5–5.5 cm long, imparipinnately compound; petiole 1.5–3.0 cm long; rachis 1–2 cm long, densely villous with silky, white and spreading hairs; leaflets 17–23, 5–10 × 1.5–4.0 mm, opposite to subopposite, subsessile, close, oblanceolate, obovate, oblong or elliptic, cuneate at base, acute or obtuse with a fine mucro at apex, very densely villous on both sides with silky, white and spreading hairs. Inflorescence axillary, peduncled capitate raceme; peduncles 4.5–15 cm long, longer than subtending leaf, decumbent, villous with silky, white and spreading hairs; racemes 2–4 cm long, elongating in infruitescence (up to 7 cm long), many-flowered, very dense, globose-ovoid or oblong. Bracts 3.0– 3.5 mm long, persistent, linear, densely white sericeous outside, ciliate along margins. Flowers ca. 10 mm long, light purplish pink, subsessile; pedicels less than 1 mm long, silky and white hairy. Calyx 8.5–9.0 mm long, persistent, split after fruiting, densely villous with silky, white and spreading hairs, tube 3–4 mm long, glabrous inside, teeth quite linear, hairy on both sides, upper one 4–5 mm long, lower one 5.5–6.0 mm long. Standard 9.5 × 4.0 mm, elliptic, emarginate-apiculate at apex, glabrous; wing petals ca. 9 mm long, lamina 5.5 × 2.5 mm, oblong or narrowly obovate, obtuse at apex, upper auricle 1.0– 1.5 mm long, claw 3.5 mm long; keel petal ca. 6 mm long (including apical beak), lamina 3.0 × 2.5 mm, oblong, convex on ventral side, apical beak 0.5–1.0 mm long, backwardly curved near apex, claw ca. 3 mm long. Vexillary filament ca. 5.5 mm long, free from staminal sheath; staminal sheath ca. 5 mm long, obtuse at apex, free filaments ca. 1 mm long. Ovary ca. 5 mm long, linear, faintly hairy, 3–4-ovuled, with ca. 1 mm long stipe; style ca. 2 mm long, incurved, glabrous; stigma capitate, glabrous. Pods 7–13 × 6–10 mm, ovoid or obovoid to almost rounded, with apical beak 1–2 mm long, subsessile, membranous, unilocular, 1–2 (–3)-seeded, densely villous with silky, white and spreading hairs. Seeds 3.0–3.5 × 2.5–2.8 mm, oblong, reniform, smooth, sub-turgid, brownish black, glabrous.

Distribution:— India (Himachal Pradesh). Elevation 3500–4200 m. ( Figure 2 ).

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting July–August.

Habitats & Ecology:—Grows in the cold desert of the Himalaya on mountain slopes, near agriculture fields, along roadsides, flat lands in open or in the fields of Hippophae Linnaeus (1753: 1023) plantation in hard dry or gravelly/rocky soils at the elevation ranging from 3500–4200 m. The species shows narrow distribution due to less frequency value (5.88) at lower elevation gradients (3401–3800 m) and wide distribution having higher frequency value (43.75) at higher elevation gradients (3801–4200 m). The average density ranges from 0.12 indv. m -2 to 4.56 indv. m -2 from lower to higher elevations. Similarly, the basal cover also ranges from 0.002 cm 2 m -2 to 0.8 cm 2 m -2 towards higher elevations. Again, the new species has higher importance value index (14.75) at higher elevation gradients and lesser value (1.04) at lower elevation gradients which indicate its more dominance and strong functional role at higher elevations in grassland community. The species is generally associated with Oxytropis microphylla , Artemisia Linnaeus sp. (1753: 845) , Stachys melissifolia Bentham (1834: 538) , Arnebia euchroma ( Royle 1835: 305) Johnston (1924: 49) at lower elevations and with Astragalus oplites Bentham ex Parker (1921: 270) , Nepeta eriostachya Bentham (1835: 734) , Oxytropis lapponica ( Wahlenberg 1813: 131) Gay (1827: 30) , Artemisia sp. , Astragalus strictus Bentham (1835: 198) , Astragalus nivalis Karelin & Kirilov (1842: 341) , Trigonella cachemiriana Cambessedes (1844: 36) etc. at higher elevations. The above ecological findings indicate that the new species has maximum affinity towards higher elevation niche space, may be due to more favorable microclimate available there that provide better opportunity for the establishment and formation of gregarious communities.

Conservation status:—The new species has so far been collected only from Losar to Kaza (Spiti) of Lahul-Spiti range in Himachal Pradesh. The area has been visited thrice (2002, 2006 and 2012) to study the occurrence of the species, ecological status and its population size. It has been observed that it is frequent in proper Losar area at the elevation of 4100 m. However, the species is also occasional and widely scattered from Losar to Kaza at the elevations ranging from 3500–4200 m. From the examination of herbarium specimens it appears that the species was first collected in 1958 (R. C. Kaushik 1060-DD) from the same region. Presently, there is no human threat to the species, except grazing by cattle. When the species grows gregariously, the entire population gives very beautiful look on the mountain slopes. It can be grown in the gardens in temperate regions.

Relationship:—The new species Oxytropis sanjappae is very close to O. cachemiriana and O. tatarica ( Figure 3 ). It differs from O. cachemiriana in silky and white hairs, stemless or quite reduced stems, globoseovoid to oblong capitate raceme inflorescence elongating in infruitescence, light purplish pink flowers, length of corolla almost equal to calyx, ca. 1 mm long mucro of the keel petal and comparatively larger size (7–13 × 6–10 mm) of the pods and from O. tatarica in silky and white hairs, globose-ovoid to oblong capitate raceme inflorescence elongating in infruitescence, light purplish pink flowers, long calyx teeth than tube, length of corolla almost equal to calyx, obtuse wing petals at apex, comparatively larger size (7–13 × 6–10 mm) of the pods. In addition, the new species also differs from both in having more flowers in each capitate raceme. Based on the morphological characters it appears that new species is more close to O. tatarica than O. cachemiriana . The comparisons between these three species have been provided in Table 1. Naithani et al. (1986) erroneously reported O. sericopetala Fischer (1937: 95) from India based on the specimen collected by R. C. Kaushik 1060 (DD!) which on critical exanimation turned to be similar to the new species O. sanjappae . In fact O. sericopetala has been described from China (Tibet) and probably does not occur in India.

Etymology:—The species has been named after Dr. Munivenkatappa Sanjappa, Ex-Director, Botanical Survey of India and author of ‘Legumes of India’ who has contributed well to the Indian legume taxonomy.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — INDIA. Himachal Pradesh: Lahul-Spiti, Spiti : Losar, P. W. D. guest house area, along agriculture fields, N 32 0 26.322 ' E 77 0 44.374 ', 4073 m, 06 August 2012, L. B. Chaudhary & O. Bajpai 259340 ( LWG) ; 2 km before Losar , N 32 0 26.858 ' E 77 0 43.455 ', 4101 m, 01 August 2006, L. B. Chaudhary, T. S. Rana & K. K. Anand 229513 ( LWG) ; Losar , N 32 0 25.848 ' E 77 0 55.046 ', 4079 m, 02 August 2006, L. B. Chaudhary, T. S. Rana & K. K. Anand 229518 ( LWG) ; Losar , near P. W. D. guest house, 4000 m, 04 August 2002. L. B. Chaudhary & Z. H. Khan 206763 ( LWG) ; Losar , 09 August 1994, S. K. Murti & S. Singh s. n. ( BSD) ; Losar , 4100 m, 26 July 1972, U. C. Bhattacharyya 48875 ( BSD) ; Near Hal village , N 32 0 18.532 ' E 77 0 57.596 ', 3822 m, 07 August 2012, L. B. Chaudhary & O. Bajpai 259348 & 259349 ( LWG) ; Rangrik , 25 July 2004, S. K. Srivastava 100399 ( BSD) ; Rangrik , 3700 m, 04 August 2002, L. B. Chaudhary & Z. H. Khan 206772 ( LWG) ; Kaza, Rongtang , 3800 m, 09 September 2005, Brijlal s. n. ( LWG) ; 15 km before Kaza from Losar , 3700 m, 04 August 2002, L. B. Chaudhary & Z. H. Khan 206771 ( LWG) ; Near Kaza , 12600 ft., 01 July 1958, R. C. Kaushik 1060 ( DD) ; Shego , 3500 m, 05 August 2002. L. B. Chaudhary & Z. H. Khan 206775 ( LWG) ; Khurik , 3800 m, 06 August 1972, U. C. Bhattacharyya 49370 ( CAL) ; Takling , 4100 m, 29 July 1972, U. C. Bhattacharyya 49089 ( CAL) ; Thumla , 4200 m, 01 August 1972, U. C. Bhattacharyya 49211 ( BSD) .

Taxonomic Key to the Indian Oxytropis Species

1. Petals silky villous ..................................................................................................................... Oxytropis sericopetala

- Petals glabrous ............................................................................................................................................................. 2.

2. Stipules free ................................................................................................................................................................ 3.

- Stipules adnate to the petiole or connate or both ....................................................................................................... 4.

3. Calyx ca. 5 mm long, campanulate; flowers 6–7 mm long .............................................................. Oxytropis glabra

- Calyx ca. 9.5 mm long, tubular; flowers ca 19 mm long ....................................................... Oxytropis meinshausenii

4. Stipules both connate and adnate to petiole ............................................................................................................... 5.

- Stipules either connate or adnate to petiole ................................................................................................................. 6.

5. Gregarious, forming mat like structure on the ground with rhizomatous creeping rootstock; leaflets 2–6 × 1–2.5 mm; capitate raceme, 4–11-flowered; pods 6–13 × 3–5 mm, adpressed densely hairy ......................... Oxytropis humifusa

- Loosely arranged, not forming mat like structure and rhizomatous rootstock downwardly oriented; leaflets 5–10 × 3–5 mm; raceme 2–4-flowered; pods 30–42 × 10–12 mm, glabrescent to glabrous ..................................................... ....................................................................................................................................................... Oxytropis zemuensis

6. Stipules lateral, adnate to the petiole ......................................................................................................................... 7.

- Stipules leaf opposed, free from petiole but connate to each other ........................................................................... 10.

7. Leaflets mostly whorled; calyx glandular, 10–12 mm long, tubular .......... Oxytropis microphylla (= O. chiliophylla )

- Leaflets opposite to alternate; calyx eglandular, 4–10 mm long, campanulate ......................................................... 8.

8. Pods bilocular ...................................................................................................................................... Oxytropis densa

- Pods unilocular ........................................................................................................................................................... 9.

9. Leaflets 5–7 pairs; pods 30–40 mm long, subsessile ................................. Oxytropis duthieana (= Oxytropis collettii )

- Leaflets 12–16 pairs; pods 13–17 mm long, stipitate ................................... Oxytropis mollis (= Oxytropis thomsonii )

10. Pods inflated, membranous ...................................................................................................................................... 11.

- Pods elongated, not membranous ............................................................................................................................. 14.

11. Leaflets 2–3 pairs; inflorescence heads 2–6-flowered; flowers 21–22 mm long; calyx 10–14 mm long, tubular......... ................................................................................................................................................. Oxytropis strachyeyana

- Leaflets 5–11pairs; inflorescence heads or capitate racemes many-flowered; flowers 6–13 mm long; calyx 5–9 mm long, campanulate ..................................................................................................................................................... 12.

12. Stems generally well developed; keel mucro ca. 2 mm long ................. Oxytropis cachemiriana (= Oxytropis shivai )

- Stems absent or quite reduced; keel mucro minute to 1 mm long ............................................................................ 13.

13. Hairs canescent; inflorescence head globose-ovoid, 1 cm long; flowers 6–7 mm long, dark purple; calyx 5–6 mm long, teeth almost equal to tube; corolla exerted from calyx; wing petals emarginate at apex; keel mucro minute; pods 4–11 × 4–7 mm ......................................................................................................................... Oxytropis tatarica

- Hairs silky, white and villous; inflorescence capitate raceme oblong or globose-ovoid, 2–4 cm long; flowers ca. 9 mm long, purplish pink; calyx ca. 9 mm long, teeth distictly longer than tube; corolla almost equal to calyx; wing petals obtuse at apex; keel mucro 0.5–1.0 mm; pods 7–13 × 6–10 mm ....................................... Oxytropis sanjappae

14. Flowers yellow ................................................................................................................................ Oxytropis sulphurea

- Flowers bluish-purple ............................................................................................................................................... 15.

15. Length of inflorescence shorter or more or less equal to subtending leaf ............................. Oxytropis hypoglottoides

- Length of inflorescence longer than subtending leaf................................................................................................. 16.

16. Leaves 15–20 mm long; leaflets 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm; peduncles 18–35 mm long; racemes 2–10-flowered .................... ..................................................................................................................................................... Oxytropis savellanica

- Leaves 3–18 cm long; leaflets 4–21 × 1–5 mm; peduncles 4–26 cm long; racemes many-flowered ...................... 17.

17. Stems pubescent with glandular hairs .................................................................................................... Oxytropis rautii

- Stems pubescent with eglandular hairs ......................................................................................... Oxytropis lapponica

Figures

FIGURE 1. Oxytropis sanjappae sp. nov.: A, Habit; B, A portion of stem with stipules; C–F, Leaflets; G, Bract; H, Calyx (splitted); I, Standard; J, Wing petals; K, Keel petal; L, Stamens; M, Carpel; N, Pod; O, Seed. From Chaudhary & Bajpai 259339 (LWG). B–O illustrated by O. Bajpai.

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Oxytropis sanjappae sp. nov. in India.

FIGURE 3. Oxytropis cachemiriana: A, Habit; B, Close-up of inflorescence. O. tatarica: C, Habit; D, Close-up of inflorescence. O. sanjappae sp. nov.: E, Habit; F, Close-up of inflorescence & infruitescence. A–F photos by L. B. Chaudhary.