A new species of Commelina (Commelinaceae) from India

ABSTRACT

The present article describes and illustrates a new species of Commelina from dryland hillocks of Karnataka, India. The new species Commelina rupestris shares morphological similarities with C. badamica, C. hirsuta and C. attenuata, but differs in its perennial habit, knotted rhizomatous, definite base, broadly elongate, thickened tuberous roots, characteristically ligulate, linear to lanceolate leaves, minutely fused spathes, one- to two-seeded bilocular capsules, and stramineous to light brown, rostrate seeds.

KEYWORDS:

• Commelineae
• new species
• ligulate leaves
• India

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Vijay M. Crishna, Director NGCPR for consistent research support, two anonymous reviewers for their refinement of the text and suggestions, and Dr Pankaj Kumar, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG), China for his input in conservation assessment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.