Globba janakiae Y. Ritu & V. Gowda, 2024

Yadav, Ritu & Gowda, Vinita, 2024, Six new species of Globba L. (Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae) from the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India, PhytoKeys 246, pp. 197-228 : 197-228

Globba janakiae Y. Ritu & V. Gowda sp. nov.

Fig. 10

Type.

India. Meghalaya: East Khasi Hills district, Tyrna village, Double decker bridge , 25.2513, 91.672, elevation 731 m, 25 July 2022, Y. Ritu VG 2022 WB 3727 (holotype: BHPL!; isotype: ASSAM!) .

Diagnosis.

G. janakiae is morphologically similar to G. orixensis and G. macroclada but different in having short inflorescence, absence of inflorescence bracts, petiolate lamina, short filament, large anther, heart-shaped labellum with cornicula (Fig. 10 F ) vs. large inflorescence, presence of inflorescence bracts, sessile lamina, large filament, small anther, and labellum without cornicula.

Description.

Terrestrial herbs, 40–46 cm tall including inflorescence height, pseudostem swollen at the base. Rhizomes compact, non-tuberulous, creamish-white. Leafy shoot with 8–10; sheath ligulate, ligule 1 mm long, bilobed, margin translucent and green in the center, pubescent; lamina 13 × 2.8 cm, subsessile, petiole 0.3 cm, green, glabrous, narrowly ovate, base obtuse, apex caudate, margin entire, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal to the leafy shoot, 4–6 cm long, erect; peduncle 12 mm long, green, glabrous; rachis, green, glabrous, bracts and bracteole absent. Ebracteate cincinni 6–8, glabrous, each cincinni with 1–2 flowers. Floral pedicel 0.1–0.5 cm long, light green, glabrous. Flowers 3–3.9 cm long, orange, recurved; calyx 8–9 mm long, yellowish orange; floral tube 0.5–0.6 cm long, dull orangish red, densely pubescent, curved upwards holding the flower upright; dorsal corolla lobe 6.6–7 × 2.5–3 mm, ovate, orange, densely pubescent; lateral corolla lobes 5.4 × 3 mm, ovate, apex acute, dark maroon with orange apex, glabrous; labellum 8.6 × 3 mm, cordate, corniculate, orange in center with light orange margins, labellum notch texture echinate, cornicula 0.3 mm in length, glabrous lateral staminodes 3.2 × 2.5 mm, ovate, orange, glabrous. Stamen 2.3 cm long, filament 2 cm long, orange, glabrous, arching; anther 3.8 mm long, ovate, apex truncate orange, crest 0.2–0.3 mm long, non-appendaged; style, filiform; stigma 4–5 mm, cylindrical, apex ciliate. Ovary 3.4 × 2.4 mm, obovate, pale green, verrucose; epigynous glands 2, 0.4 cm long, linear, cream. Fruits - not observed. Bulbils 1.2–2 × 0.5–0.8 cm, narrowly ovate, light green to light yellow, pubescent, bulbils present in inflorescence and axil of leaves.

Distribution and ecology.

At present, we have seen this species only in the Double decker bridge, Tyrna village, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya. We have observed 5–6 individuals in an overall area of ca. 400 m 2. This species is terrestrial, mostly growing in understory habitats inside forests with an elevation of ca. 731 m. We have observed different species of bees visiting the flowers of this species.

Phenology.

Flowering was observed in the month of July.

Etymology.

The species is named in honor of Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal. She was a pioneering Indian woman botanist who challenged the norms of caste, gender and race. She was critical about deforestation carried out to make way for development projects and advocated preservation of native plants.

Informal conservation status.

Globba janakiae is currently known from one population in Double decker bridge (Cherrapunji district) within the state of Meghalaya, wherein the population was spread across 2–3 km along the edge of the road and has approximately 5–6 individuals. We surveyed seven potential locations in Meghalaya, which is 50 km 2 around the type locality (Double decker bridge) and could not locate any population. Based on the IUCN (2022) guidelines, we hypothesize that if a formal conservation assessment were performed, its conservation status would probably be Critically Endangered according to criterias B 1. (a) (B 1: extent of occurrence is less than 100 km 2, a: = 1 location) and D. (D: number of mature individuals <50).

Specimens of allied species examined.

G. orixensis : India. Assam: Barak Valley, Cachar district, Kumbhirgram, 21 July 2009, Coll.: D. Bhattacharyya 2501, Fl. & Fr.; Dargakona, Assam University Silchar Campus, behind Life Science and Bioinformatics Department, along the trek path to ecoforest, 24.6870 N & 92.7521 E, 13 July 2010, Coll.: Fl. (Herbarium of Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar), L. Darlong & D. Bhattacharyya 10063, 28 May 1808 ( E 00095817), 13 June 1920 ( E 00095807), ( E 00097427), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882 ( E 00097430), 13 June 1920 ( E 00095807), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882 ( E 00097430), 28 May 1808 ( E 00095817), 28 May 1809 ( E 00095821), ( E 00095820), ( E 00097427), ( E 00095812), 25.583 N, 91.633 E ( L 0487999), Wallich N ( L 0487998), Nayagarh, 5 August 1936, H. F. Mooney 528 ( L 0487991). Odisha: Keonjhar, H. F. Moooney 152 ( L 0488000). Meghalaya: Khasia, Regio Trop, Hooker J. D. ( L 0488002), Regio Trop, 28 September 2001, Hooker J. D. (P 01743148) Hort Bot. Calcutta et Serampore, Voigt, J. O. 101 (P 00252266), East Himalaya, 5634 (P 01743147). Myanmar. 13 August 1908 ( E 00097420), elevation 137 m, 13 August 1909 ( E 00097421), 13 August 1908 ( E 00097420), Sagaing Division, W. J. Kress 2-7123 ( US 00605376). Bangladesh. Elevation 40 m, 3 September 1999 ( E 00189266), 22.695 N, 92.237 E, elevation 40 m, 5 September 1999 ( E 00189267), Sreemangal, Lawachera forest, 24.25 N, 91.583 E, 8 May 1997, Williams K J ( L 0413463)

G. macroclada : India. Wallichn 6411 ( L 0487998), Assam: Khasia, 25.583 N, 91.633 E, 5 August 1936, Tea Deputation Tea Deputation s. n. ( L 0487999), Nayagarh, 8 May 1997, Mooney H. F. 528 ( L 0487991). Sikkim: East Himalaya, Griffith W 5639 ( L 0041113), Herb. Watt 8702 ( E 00095812), ( E 00097427), 6536 G ( E 00095820), 28 May 1808, 7 ( E 00095821), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882, 6931 ( E 00097430), 13 June 1920, 277 ( E 00095807), Khasia, Hooker J. D. (P 01743148), East Himalaya, Herb. Griffith 5634 (P 01743147), Hort. Bot. Calcutta et Serampore, Voigt, J. O. 101 (P 00252266), East Himalaya, 12 July 1884, Griffith, W. 5639 (P 032726), Mogpoo, Silake, elevation 3000 m, 12 July 1884, s. c. | Boissier, P. E. (P 00686490), Silake, elevation 609.6 m, Buissier, P. E. (P 00686489). Bangladesh. 24.25, 91.583, elevation 35 m, 1 March 1971, Huq AM; Mia MK ( L 0413463), elevation 40 m, 3 September 1999, 972 ( E 00189266). Myanmar. 13 August 1908, elevation 137 m, 4195 ( E 00097420). Nepal. 26.816 N, 87.3 E, elevation 500 m, 13 August 1972, 1427 ( E 00500193). United States of America. Maryland: NMNH Botany Research Greenhouses. Suitland, 28 September 2001, W. J. Kress & M. Bordelon 02-7123 ( US 3432988).

Taxonomic notes.

The new species is similar to two species in color of the flower, and absence of anther appendages. This species is different from G. orixensis in its petiolate leaves 0.3 mm (vs. subsessile), absence of inflorescence bracts (vs. present), and large anther 3.8 mm (vs. 2 mm). This species is different from G. macroclada in its short ligule 1 mm (vs. 2–3 mm), small size inflorescence 4–6 cm (vs. 15 cm), and short anther 3.8 mm (vs. 6–7 mm). Detailed morphological comparisons between G. janakiae and G. orixensis are presented in Table 3 .

Notes.

G. macroclada is distributed in Nepal and West Bengal, India, and G. orixensis is distributed in Bangladesh, Assam and Odisha states, India, and Myanmar (Fig. 11 ).

Figures

Figure 10. Globba janakiae sp. nov. A habit B rhizome C ligule D inflorescence E flower (side view) F flower (front view) G dissected flower, cl (corolla lobes), an (anther), ls (lateral staminodes), la (labellum), sty (style with stigma and ovary with epigynous glands). Photographs by Y. Ritu.

Figure 11. Map showing the distribution of G. janakiae sp. nov., G. macroclada, G. orixensis, and G. tyrnaensis sp. nov.