Strobilanthes carmelensis (Acanthaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats of India

ABSTRACT

Strobilanthes carmelensis, a plietesial new species apparently ascribable to the Strobilanthes kunthiana-group, is described for the flora of Western Ghats (India, Wayanad District, State of Kerala). Pollen morphology, phenology, distribution, notes on allied species and key to the species of the Strobilanthes kunthiana-group are provided along with photographic illustration.

KEYWORDS:

• Plietesial
• SEM
• Strobilanthes gamblei
• ventricose
• Taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the curators of C, CAL, CALI, K, MH and P for giving kind permission for herbarium analysis and providing digital images of the specimens. We are thankful to the staff of Rapinat Herbarium, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu for the help rendered during the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.