Eriocaulon goaense Kolte, I.Yadav & Janarth., 2022

Kolte, Rutuja R., Yadav, Indu & Janarthanam, Malapati K., 2022, Eriocaulon goaense (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from lateritic plateaus of Goa, India, Phytotaxa 532 (2), pp. 188-191 : 189-190

Eriocaulon goaense Kolte, I.Yadav & Janarth. , sp. nov. ( Fig 1 & 2 )

Allied to Eriocaulon cuspidatum Dalzell , but differs in its broadly cuneate floral bracts that are densely hoary dorsally towards apex (vs. oblanceolate, sparsely hoary dorsally towards apex), narrowly keeled sepals of male flowers (vs. not keeled), obovate, conduplicate, broadly keeled sepals of female flowers that are smooth along margin, densely hairy along keel and on dorsal side (vs. oblanceolate, conduplicate, acuminate, keeled, scarious, glabrous), and unequal, linear to lanceolate petals of female flowers that are hoary at apex in odd petal (vs. subequal, spathulate, sparsely hoary at apex in all the petals).

Type:— INDIA. Goa: North Goa, Goa University Campus , 15027 ’43.09”N 73049 ’ 59.77” E, 53m, 14 September 2019, R. R. Kolte RRK 1890 (holo BSI!; iso SUK!) .

Acaulescent herb. Rootstock absent. Leaves 6–10 × 0.7–1 cm, rosulate, glabrous, entire along margin, cuspidate at apex. Sheaths up to 10 cm long, glabrous; limb ovate, acute, entire. Peduncles many, up to 35 cm high, 9–11 ridged. Heads ca. 7 mm across, hemispherical, straw coloured. Receptacles convex, glabrous. Involucral bracts 1.6–1.8 × 1.4–1.5 mm, chartaceous, oblong, spreading, obtuse, straw coloured. Floral bracts 1.4–1.5 × 1.1–1.2 mm, hyaline, broadly cuneate, obtuse, densely hoary dorsally towards apex. Male flowers: Sessile, sepals 2, ca. 2 mm long, hyaline, free, spathulate, narrowly keeled, densely hairy along keel and on dorsal side. Stipe of corolla 1.2–1.5 mm long. Petals 3, subequal, pubescent, dotted with black glands; odd one ca. 1 mm long, remaining 2 of same size, smaller than odd petal; anthers black. Female flowers: Shortly pedicelled. Sepals 2, free, similar, 1.4–1.5 × ca. 1 mm, obovate, conduplicate, broadly keeled, smooth along margin, hoary outside towards apex. Petals 3, unequal; odd one ca. 2 × 0.4 mm, lanceolate, hoary towards apex, black gland dotted; 2 petals similar, ca. 1.5 mm long, linear to narrow lanceolate, glabrous, black gland dotted. Ovary sessile, ellipsoid; style 3-fid. Seeds ca. 1 × 0.5 mm, ovoid, apiculate; cells of seed coat transversely elongated, arranged in vertical rows, appendage 1 from transverse radial walls.

Distribution:—Scattered in distribution at low level lateritic plateaus of Goa.

Habitat:—Shallow seasonal ponds of lateritic plateaus in association with Eriocaulon fysonii R.Ansari & N.P.Balakr. (1994: 89) , Oryza rufipogon Griff. (1851: 5) and Wiesneria triandra ( Dalzell 1850: 144) Micheli (1881: 82) .

Flowering & Fruiting:—July to November.

Etymology:—Specific epithet ‘ goaense ’ refers to the state of Goa, wherein it is distributed.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes):— INDIA. Goa: North Goa, Goa University Campus, 16 July 2010, I. Yadav 1 ; 24 July, 2010, I. Yadav 2 ; 31 July 2010, I. Yadav 5 ; 17 August 2010, I. Yadav 8 ; Succoro (Sukor) plateau, 18 September 2010, I. yadav & M. K. Janarthanam 64 ; South Goa , Farmagudi (Ponda), IIT Campus, 28 August 2010, I. Yadav & M. K. Janarthanam 32 ; 18 September, 2010, I. Yadav & M. K. Janarthanam 35 ; Loliem, 5 September 2010, M. K. Janarthanam & I. Yadav 47 ; 1 September 2018, R. R. Kolte RRK 1710 (All at BSI!)

Note:—This species is closely allied to E. cuspidatum which is occasionally found in wet or marshy places from sea level to 250 m altitude in Western Peninsular India, especially in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra (Ansari & Balakrishnan, 2009). Eriocaulon goaense is so far known from shallow seasonal ponds of low level lateritic plateaus of Goa.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Eriocaulon goaense Kolte, I.Yadav & Janarth. sp. nov. A. Habitat; B. Habit; C. Head (top view); D. Head (side view); E. Involucral bract; F. Floral bract (dorsal view); G. Floral bract (ventral view); H. Seeds; I. Male flower; J. Female flower; K. Sepal of female flower (ventral view); L. Sepal of female flower (dorsal view) (Scale B. 5 cm; C & D. 1 cm; E – L: 1 mm).

FIGURE 2: Distribution map of Eriocaulon goaense Kolte, I.Yadav & Janarth. sp. nov. A. Distribution of E. goaense shown in map of India. B. Map showing locations of E. goaense; 1. Succoro Plateau; 2. Goa University Campus (Type Locality); 3. Farmagudi, IIT Campus; 4. Loliem Plateau. (Green colour shows range of the Western Ghats).