Geranium janakianum Aparna Shukla & V. Wagh, 2023

Shukla, Aparna R., Sahu, Nayan, Hurrah, Imtiyaz A., Ahmad, Mairaj & Wagh, Vijay V., 2023, Geranium janakianum (Geraniaceae), a new species from Uttarakhand, India, Phytotaxa 630 (2), pp. 123-132 : 125-127

Geranium janakianum Aparna Shukla & V. Wagh sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–4 )

Type: INDIA , Uttarakhand, Chamoli district, Valley of Flowers , N 30.7275, E 79.6046, 3650 m a.s.l., 10 September 2022, Aparna R. Shukla 346955 (holotype LWG, isotypes LWG).

The newly described species closely resembles both Geranium himalayense Klotzsch (1862: 122) and Geranium wlassovianum Fisch. ex Link (1822: 197) in certain aspects, such as the presence of palmatipartite leaves and relatively less lobed leaf segments. However, it distinguishes itself through the presence of pentamerous leaves, the occurrence of glandular and eglandular hairs on various plant parts, hairs on the abaxial surface of staminal filaments and petals with hairs at abaxial base. Additionally, there are discernible disparities in micro-morphological features, particularly concerning seed and mericarp surface characteristics and ornamentation. Furthermore, the species exhibits scattered stomatal openings in various parts of the plant.

Herb, perennial, 42–84 cm tall. Root tuberous, stout, 1–2 cm in diameter, covered with connate stipules. Stem 1.9–5.4 mm diameter internodes, ± quadrangular, pubescent with glandular hairs and eglandular hairs 0.2–0.4 mm long with stomata. Stipules 10.6–15.2 × 2.4–3.4 mm, lanceolate, ciliate along margins, with 0.1–0.5 mm long cilia, abaxially and adaxially pubescent. Leaf opposite, palmatipartite, pentamerous; petiole 0.5–25 cm long, with 0.2–0.8 mm long glandular and 0.2–0.7 mm dense eglandular hairs; lamina 4–7.5 × 5–9.5 cm, ratio of main sinus length/ middle segment length 0.54–0.75, mostly with dense set of 0.2–0.7 mm long sericeous, eglandular hairs on adaxial surface with small scattered 0.2–0.8 mm glandular hairs, and villous eglandular hairs on abaxial surface (dense and appressed along veins), 5 segments rhombic, middle segment 0.5–1 cm wide at base, and broadest region in lower half, 7–19 lobed, (ratio of 2 nd sinus length/middle segment length 0.21–0.22), acute. Inflorescence dichasial cyme; cymules 2–flowered, solitary, with almost all flowers at the top just overtopping the subtending leaves; peduncles 1.2–10.5 cm long, with 0.2–0.8 mm long, retrose, villous, glandular hairs, 0.1–0.5 mm eglandular hair with scattered stomata; pedicels 0.2–1.5 cm long, with 0.1–0.8 mm long dense, villous, glandular hairs, 0.1–0.2 mm eglandular hair; bracteoles 9.9–14 × 1.0– 1.2 mm, linear, ciliate along margins, with 0.1–0.3 mm long eglandular hairs, both surface pubescent with eglandular hair and abaxially with 0.4–0.7 mm glandular hairs. Flower actinomorphic. Sepals 5, 10–12× 3.6–6.0 mm, elliptical, with a 2.2–2.8 mm long mucro with small hairs till apex, ciliate along margin (cilia ca 0.1–0.2 mm long), abaxially dense glandular hairs with 0.2–0.9 mm long and 0.2–0.5 mm long eglandular hairs with scattered stomata clearly visible on the surface, adaxial surface glabrous. Petals 5, 1.8–2.3 cm, bluish violet, rounded apex, broadly obovate tapering towards base, slightly clawed, both surface glabrous, ciliate at basal margin. Stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments 3.8–12 mm, deltoid or dailated c.a. 1/4 of total length, abruptly tapering into a long apex, margins ciliate up to 1/4 of total length ca. 0.1–0.7 mm long, abaxially with sparse straight long eglandular hairs at the middle part of the filament base, adaxially glabrous; anthers dithecous 2.5–3.1 mm long. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, apex with a tuft of hairs. Fruit 3.0– 4.1 cm long, erect; mericarps 4.1–5.5 mm, eglandular hairs, a few glandular hairs at apex, two transverse veins at apex, rostrum 20.7–30.4 mm long, with puberulent hairs and glandular hairs c.a. 0.6–0.7 mm long, narrow apex, 6.0–8.0 mm long; stigmatic remains 2.2–4 mm long, glabrous. Seed 3–3.4 mm long.

Flowering time July September; fruiting time August–October.

Etymology: The new species is named in honour of late Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal, for her valuable contributions in Botany especially in cytogenetics and biodiversity conservation. She is called as “The Mother of Modern Botany in India ”.

Habitat and distribution: Geranium janakianum is solely collected from its type locality, “Valley of Flowers” in Chamoli district of Uttrakhand, India . It is found on moderately steep mountain slopes at an elevation ranging from 3400 to 3700 m a.s.l. The associated species are Koenigia polystachya (Wall. ex Meisn.) Schuster & Reveal (2015: 1202) , Impatiens sulcata Wallich (1824: 458) , Potentilla atrosanguinea Loddiges (1823:786) , Salvia nubicola Wall. ex Sweet (1826: 140) , Carex cruenta Nees (1834: 128) , Melanoseris macrorhiza (Royle) Kilian in Zhu & Kilian (2011: 224), Ligusticopsis wallichiana (DC.) Pimenov & Kljuykov (2001: 122) .

Micro-morphological investigation: Micro-morphological examination of Geranium janakianum and G. himalayense reveals variations in pollen, mericarp, and seed characteristics ( Fig. 3–4 ). Geranium janakianum has pollen surface at same level and striate (vs pollen sunken surface), mericarp reticulate ornamentation and a smooth surface (vs mericarp pusticulate ornamentation and a sculptured surface). Additionally, G. janakianum differentiates itself by the presence of stomatal openings in various parts (except in pollen, petals, and seeds) whereas G. himalayense only has stomata on leaf surfaces.

Conservation status: Currently, there exists only one known population of G. janakianum , with an area of occupancy ( AOO) covering less than 2 km 2, and its extent of occurrence ( EOO) spanning less than 20 km 2. The type locality, Valley of Flowers, is a popular tourist destination, and as a result, the substantial influx of tourists poses an imminent threat to the species survival. Further research on population dynamics is necessary to determine the precise conservation status. However, based on available data we preliminary assess its conservation status as Critically Endangered ( CR), as per the IUCN criterium B1ab(ii)+2ab (ii) ( IUCN 2022). It should be noted that the CR category has often been attributed in similar cases especially in territories with a high incidence of plant biodiversity or even in areas with peculiar habitat that limit the plants life (e.g., Perrino & Wagensommer 2012, Ma et al. 2013, Perrino et al. 2013, Ren et al. 2014, Ravikanth et al. 2018, Perrino et al. 2023, Wang et al. 2023), and this applies also for other Geranium species ( Hurrah & Wagh 2020, Wagensommer & Venanzoni 2021).

Paratypes: INDIA : Uttarakhand, Gharwal, Chamoli, Valley of Flower , N 30.7170, E 79.5901, 3402 m a.s.l., 08 September 2017, Vijay V. Wagh and Imtiyaz A. Hurrah 310567, 310569 ( LWG) ; ibidem, N 30.7220, E 79.5895, 3498 m a.s.l., 08 September 2017, Vijay V. Wagh and Imtiyaz A. Hurrah 310565, 310568 ( LWG) ; Valley of Flower , N 30.7275, E 79.6046, 3650 m a.s.l., 10 September 2022, Aparna R. Shukla 346911, 346929 ( LWG) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geranium janakianum. A. Habit; B. Sepal; C. Mericarp; D, Stipule bifid; E, Stipule with tetrafid apex; F. Fruit; G. Flower; H. Nectaries; I. Petal basal abaxial surface; J. Petal; K. Seed; L. Staminal filament; M. Staminal filament basal abaxial surface.

FIGURE 2. Geranium janakianum (except C). A. Habit; B. Leaf; C. Leaf of G. himalayense; D. Staminal filaments; E. Petal; F. Petal basal surface; G–H. Fruit; I. Stipule tetrafid; J. Stipule bifid; K. Bud; L. Stomata; M. Flower; N. Flowering twig.

FIGURE 3. Scanning Electron Micrograph of G. janakianum. A. Sepal; B. Sepal surface; C. Bract; D. Bract surface; E. Pedicel; F. Pedicel surface; G. Petiole; H. Petiole surface.

FIGURE 4. Scanning Electron Micrograph of G. janakianum. (A–B, E–F, I–J). A. Seed; B. Seed surface; E. Mericarp; F. Mericarp surface; I. Pollen; J. Pollen surface.Scanning Electron Micrograph of Geranium himalayense (C–D, G–H, K–L). C. Seed; D. Seed surface; G. Mericarp; H. Mericarp surface; K. Pollen; L. Pollen surface.