Allmania janakiae Sindhu Arya & V.S.A.Kumar

Arya, Sindhu & Kumar, Venugopalan Nair Saradhamma Anil, 2024, Allmania janakiae (Amaranthaceae) - an interesting new species from Kerala, South India, Phytotaxa 661 (2), pp. 197-203 : 198-200

Allmania janakiae Sindhu Arya & V.S.A.Kumar sp. nov.

Type:— INDIA. Kerala, Kollam district, from Chavara towards Sankaramangalam , near BJM Government College , ± 8 m, N 10° 82.728’, E 76° 18.858’, 24 May 2023, Anil Kumar 2850 (holotype UCBD; isotype CALI!, KFRI!, RO!) .

Diagnosis ( Table 1 ):— Allmania janakiae differs from A. nodiflora and A. multiflora in having longer tepals (3.2– 4.3 mm and ovate lanceolate vs. 3.3–3.6 mm long and linear-lanceolate in A. nodiflora vs. 2.2–2.5 long and ovate-lanceolate in A. multiflora ), wider gynoecium (0.6–0.7 mm vs. 0.2–0.3(–0.4) mm long in A. nodiflora vs. 0.4–0.5 mm in A. multiflora ), the diameter of the seeds (1.3–1.6 mm vs. 1.5–1.9 mm in A. nodiflora vs. 2.9–3.7 mm in A. multiflora ), longer bracts (3.0– 4.5 mm vs. 2.0– 2.4 mm in A. nodiflora vs. 1.0– 1.2 mm long in A. multiflora ), stout and erect peduncle (1.5–1.8 cm vs. 2.0– 2.7 cm in A. nodiflora vs. 1.0– 1.3 cm in A. multiflora ), a lesser number of flowers per inflorescence [(15–) 30–44 in A. multiflora ),.stigma pinkish or violet, protruding beyond the anthers (vs. green, not protruding in A. nodiflora ), non arillated seeds (vs. arillated seeds in A. nodiflora and A. multiflora ).

Description ( figs. 2 and 3 ):— Annual herb, erect or ascending with branches arising from the base, up to 20 cm long. Stem light green glabrous. Stipules absent. Leaves ovate (1.5–2.2 × 1.2–1.5 cm), apex acute, base attenuate, pubescent at the margin and adaxial surface, veined (2–4pairs of lateral arcuate veins), petioled (4–8 mm long). Inflorescence in cymose heads, leaf opposed, peduncled, peduncle 1.5–1.8cm long, stout and erect, sparsely pubescent. Flowers 4–10 per inflorescence; bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, 3.0– 4.5 mm long, pubescent at the base region, glabrous above and apex acicular and recurved at the tip, eglandular, margin not ciliated; bracteoles absent. Tepals 5 ovate-lanceolate 3.2–4.3 × 0.8–0.9 mm. Stamens 5, 0.5–1.0 mm long, glabrous, creamy white, anther pink to purple; filaments basally connate, forming a rim around the gynoecium. Pollen grains globose, 11.2×12.6, pores not depressed, Ovary ovoid to oblong, 1.3–1.8 × 0.6–0.7 mm, light, glabrous; style 3–5 mm long, extending twice beyond the filaments, glabrous; stigma capitate, pinkish-violet. Fruits utricle, light brown to golden yellow, 1.3–1.8× 1.1–1.2 mm. Seeds ovate to elliptical 0.8–1.2 × 1.3–1.6 mm in size, brownish-black, hilum sub-basal, non arillated with scanty hairs on the surface.

Etymology:— The specific epithet honors Shri Edavalath Kakkat Janaki Ammal who was India’s first female botanist and Indian women to receive doctorate degree in Botany.

Distribution ( fig. 4 ), habitat, and phenology:— Allmania janakiae is currently known from only one location in SW-India (Kerala State), at 8 m of elevation. The distribution area of the new species partially overlaps that of A. nodiflora in Kollam district. It grows in open vegetation areas near coastal belts with 4–6 scattered individuals per population. Each population spreads over an area of nearly 0.5 m 2. Flowering and fruiting times are May to August.

Conservation status:— The plant propagates mainly through seeds (rarely by rooting at stem nodes). The number of individuals is very few and prone to severe grazing and intense weeding out processes. However we cannot exclude the occurrence of Allmania janakiae in other parts of India. Therefore, we prefer to avoid, for the moment, an IUCN assessment and indicate DD (Data Deficient) for Allmania janakiae (IUCN 2024) .

Figures

FIGURE. 2. Allmania janakiae. MicromorphologyA. Pollen (A.janakiae); B.Pollen (Allmania nodiflora); C. Pollen (Allmania multiflora); D. Seed (A. janakiae); E. Seed (A. nodiflora); F. Seed (A. multiflora); G. Seed surface (A. janakiae); H.Seed surface (A. nodiflora); I. Seed surface (A. multiflora).

FIGURE. 3. NJ Dendrogram of Allmania spp.

FIGURE. 4. Distribution map of Allmania janakiae.

Tables

TABLE. 1. Morphological comparison aomng Allmania janakiae, A. multiflora, and A. nodiflora.

	A. multiflora	A. nodiflora	A. janakiae
Peduncle	1.0–1.3 cm, pubescent with pointed hairs	2.1–2.7 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent	1.5–1.8 cm, sparsely pubescent
Flowers per synflorescence	30–44	3–10	4–10
Tepal	2.2–2.5 mm	3.3–3.6 mm	3.2–4.3 mm
Bract	1.0–1.2 mm	2.0–2.4 mm	3.0–4.5 mm
Bracteole	Present	Present	Absent
Gynoecium	0.4–0.5 mm	0.2–0.3 mm	0.6–0.7 mm
Stigma	Pink/violet, protruding beyond the anthers	Green, not protruding	Pinkish violet, extending twice beyond the anthers
Pollen	Visible frequency of pores 5–6, pores sunken, mamilate ornamentation with dense pappilae	Visible frequency of pores 10–12, pores depressed, mamilate ornamentation with scattered pappilae	Visible frequency of pores 7–8, pores exposed, ornamentation smooth
Seed	1.5–1.9 mm, highly pubescent	2.9–3.7 mm, pubescent	1.3–1.6 mm, pubescent
Aril	Present with protruding setae	Present without setae	Absent