Rubus fairholmianus Gardner (1848: 5)

Narayanan, Bhavadas, Prabhukumar, Konickal Mambetta, Kumar, Vannaratta Veetil Naveen, Harinarayanan, C. M., Chinnappan, Satheshkumar & Umesh, Balakrishnan Thara, 2023, Taxonomic delineation of two closely allied Rubus L. (Rosaceae) species with notes on the typification of the name R. fairholmianus, Phytotaxa 622 (5), pp. 271-280 : 272-275

Rubus fairholmianus Gardner (1848: 5) Figure 1

Type (Neotype designated here): Sri Lanka, 5–7000 ft., 1854, G. H. K. Thwaites 134 ( P barcode P00755248 , digital image!; isoneotypes:

P barcode P 00755249, K barcode K 000737920, BM barcode BM 000622292, BR barcode BR 0000005429639, digital images!)

( Figure 2 ). Synonym: R. moluccanus auct. non L.: Hook.f. (1878: 330), Pro Parte. = R. moluccanus L. (1753) var. fairholmianus ( Gardner 1848: 6) Trimen (1894: 137) . Vernacular names: Vettimullu, Erumacheechi ( M).

Straggling shrub with 2–4 m long. Stem green, terete, densely covered with pale yellow pubescence, mature stem glaucous; prickles stout, irregularly arranged on the stem, 1–4 mm long, downwardly curved. Stipules deciduous, 1.8–2 cm long, narrowly elliptic, margin pectinately elongated with 10–15 bristles, glabrescent on adaxial surface and densely pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaves simple, 5 lobed, 4–5 sub-lobes, sub coriaceous; terminal lobe acute at tip; basal and lateral lobes round, obtuse or acute. Petiole terete, 3–4.5 cm long, densely pubescent surface with pale yellow-white; prickles few, c. 1 mm long, curved downwards. Lamina of the leaves 9.5–12.5 × 7.5–11.5 cm, lanceolate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, base sub cordate, margin crenulated, apex acute, rugosus with sparsely pubescent on adaxial surface except pubescent on nerves and pubescent on abaxial surface with silvery white beneath; prickles present on abaxial surface, reddish, c. 1 mm long, curved downwards. Blades of leaves penninerved with 7–9 pairs of veins, brochidodromous; midrib and lateral veins yellow, more raised below. Inflorescence branched cymose with 10–35 flowers, axillary or terminal in position, 5–15 cm long, loosely and compactly arranged; peduncle 1–2.5 cm long, terete, densely pubescent with pale yellow colour; prickles moreover absent. Flowers white, bisexual and actinomorphic. Bract single with distinct nerves, 10–12 mm long; oblong-elliptic in outline with 7–8 pectinately elongated bristles pubescent on adaxial surface and sparsely pubescent on abaxial surface, slight green beneath. Bracteolate 6–8 mm long, oblong-elliptic, margin pectinately elongated with 6–7 bristles, glabrescent on adaxial surface and pubescent on abaxial surface. Pedicel 0.8–1.6 cm long, terete, pubescent. Sepals 5, free, 8–10 × 5–6 mm long; sub-equal, ovate-lanceolate, elliptic, margin distinctly serrated at outer calyx and entire at inner calyx, apex acute or acuminate, pubescent on both surfaces. Petals 5, free, deciduous, 3.5–4 × 2.8–3 mm long; obovate, margin entire and irregularly incised towards apex, apex acute, white, glabrous. Petals less than half the length of calyx lobes. Stamens numerous, 3–3.3 mm long; filaments 2.5–2.8 mm, narrowed towards apex, creamy; anther 2 celled, 6–8 mm, oblong, white. Carpels numerous; ovary 1–1.2 mm, oblique ovoid, glabrous; style 3.2–3.7 mm, glabrous, white-creamy; stigma entire. Fruits aggregate of drupelets; 0.8–1.2 cm diam., globose; drupelets numerous, red.

Seed Morphology ( Figure 4 , A – C): —Seed colour red; proximal end towards ovary wall is cylindrical and the distal end is acute. Seeds are prolate ( P / E ratio- 1.48 mm) with widely elliptic, or U or cup shape in outline, polar view symmetrical. Seed size 2.42 × 1.57–2.34 × 1.64 mm; micropylar and chalazal ends are symmetric and have broader central region. Seed stratification is shallowly reticulate but not well defined, shallow reticulum lumen having thin and fair muri. Lumen psilate (smooth); irregular and with random distribution. Muri is uniformly ribbed at dorsal region and are radiating towards micropylar end at raphe region. Raphe showed narrow straight line. Peripheral region not incised.

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting observed throughout the year.

Distribution: —The native range of species is India and Sri Lanka (POWO 2023). In India distributed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states.

Habitat and Ecology: — Rubus fairholmianus found in evergreen, shola forest with an altitude above 1000 m. It usually seen in open area, hilly slopes, border of thickets, edges of ravine, cleared field, roadside etc. Fruits are edible.

Chromosome Number: —2n=56 ( Thompson 1997).

Uses: The root has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties ( George et al. 2014).

Nomenclature Note: —The name R. fairholmianus was proposed by Gardner in 1848 on the basis of his own collection from Bopatalawe plains, between Adam’s peak and Newera Ellia (=Nuwara Eliya), Sri Lanka. Our efforts to trace out the specimens from various herbaria viz. K, P, BR, BM, MH, CAL, E, B, LE, OXF, US, are in vain. Perusal of this data and our personal communications with concerned herbaria confirmed that no original material referred to R. fairholmianus is extant at present and it warrants the need of neotypification. During the study, we have referred one Thwaite’s collection from Sri Lanka with multiple sheets (5 nos.), which is deposited at P (P00755248 and P00755249), K (K000737920), BM (BM000622292) and BR (BR0000005429639) herbaria. Most of the collections are well preserved with flowers and fruits and perfectly matching with the protologue out of which, the specimen with barcode no. P00755248 having more details about the date of collection and collector name and is also congruent to the description provided in the prologue which is more suitable for typification and is chosen as neotype per Art. 9.8 and 9.13 of ICN ( Turland et al. 2018).

Specimens Examined: — India. Kerala: Idukki district, Thekkady, 11 March 1919, Sujatha 11126 ( CALI); Palakkad district , Silent Valley National Park , Sispara , 2200 m, 25 March 1962, Sathish Kumar C . 10514 (CALI). Tamil Nadu: Kodaikanal , 1900 m, 14 February 1974, B . K . Nayar & Unnikrishnan 2673 ( CALI) ; Karnataka: Mysore, Nishunigudda-Agumbe , 31 May 1962, R . S . Raghavan 81132 ( CAL); Emkalkare-Agumbe , 22 May 1960, R . S . Raghavan 62772 ( CAL) . Kerala: Moozhiar, way to Pampa, 800 m, 11 Spetember 1987, Anil Kumar. N. 72 ( CAL) . Tamil Nadu: Perumal, 5500 ft, 4 February 1913, Rev. Aug. Saulieres 67 ( CAL); Shembaganur, Amdura , 6000 ft, 2 January 1912, Lieu. St. Munch S . J . 80 ( CAL); Pulneys, Kodaikonal , 13 July 1898, A . G . Bourne 318 ( CAL); Kodaikonal , 7000 ft, 10 June 1913, 5. coll. 687 ( CAL) ; Kerala: Devicolam, Kottayam District , 1580 m, 11 September, 1968, D. B . Deb 30482 ( MH); Petinundi-Devicolam, Kottayam District , 2075 m, 21 November, 1965, B . V . Shetty 26590 ( MH) . Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore district, Vellangiri hills, 20 April 2012, Aravindan V . 8112 ( MH); Perumalmalai, Kodaikanal, Madurai District , 2000 m, 27 July 1965, KM . Sebastine 24996 ( MH); Nilgiri District , Govemor-Shola-Ooty, 2225 m, 9 July 1970, J . L . Ellis 34558 ( MH); Nilgiri District , September 1930, V Narayanswami 4756 ( MH); Nilgiri District, Upper Bhavani , Archpooza , 2250 m, 1 June 1970, B . V . Shetty 34024 ( MH); Nilgiri District, Sudalur , 3500 ft., 20 November 1928, s. coll. 18034 ( MH); Nilgiri district , Doddabetta , 28 December 2017, Bhavadas, N . & V .V. Naveen Kumar 11779 ( CMPR); way to Ooty , 29 December 2017, Bhavadas, N . & V .V. Naveen Kumar 11783 ( CMPR) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rubus fairholmianus Gardner.A. Habitat; B. Inflorescence (showing abaxial surface of leaves); C. Flower; D. Fruit; E. Stem (showing glaucous); F. Prickle; G. Adaxial surface of stipule; H & I. Sepals (showing adaxial and abaxial surface respectively); J. Petal; K. Adaxial surface of bract; L. Stamens; M. Carpels; N. Drupelets. (Photos: Bhavadas N and Saleesh J Menachery).

FIGURE 2. Digital image of neotype designated for R. fairholmianus Gard.

FIGURE 4. (A–C): Rubus fairholmianus Gardner. A. Surface ornamentation, B. Dorsal side of seed, C. Raphe region. (D–F): Scanning electron micrographs of seed coat of Rubus micropetalus Gardner. D. Surface ornamentation, E. Dorsal side of seed, F. Raphe region.