Strobilanthes elongata C.B. Clarke (1884: 470)

Albertson, Winston D. & Wood, Hn. R. I., 2012, Forgotten types of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) in The Central National Herbarium, Kolkata, India, Phytotaxa 43, pp. 49-60 : 50

Strobilanthes elongata C.B. Clarke (1884: 470) . Holotype: INDIA. Assam, Namrup (Patkai Hills), Griffith

K.D. 6183 (K!).

Strobilanthes paucinervia T. Anderson ex C.B. Clarke (1884: 470) . Holotype: Locality unknown, said to be Tenasserim ( Myanmar) or Andaman Islands ( India) but probably N.E. India, Helfer K.D. 6115 (K!).

Strobilanthes furcata Biswas (1934: 23) . Holotype: INDIA. Meghalaya, Panglo Woods, Jaintia Hills, 4-5000 ft, May [18]78, G. Mann 914 ( CAL0000020124 ! isotypes CAL!). Figure 1B .

Strobilanthes elongata is only known from N. E. India where it is found in Arunachal Pradesh (Dibang valley, Kameng, Subansri , Tirap ), Assam ( Lakhimpur ) and Meghalaya ( Patkai and Jaintia Hills ) .

The names Strobilanthes elongata and S. paucinervia were published simultaneously in the Flora of British India under consecutive numbers. Both types are poor specimens, which are housed at K and apparently not duplicated elsewhere. The two names refer to the same species and we have chosen the name S. elongata as this epithet characterises the inflorescence of this species whereas “ paucinervia ” may be misleading, Helfer K.D. 6115, having only incomplete leaves, apparently with 5–6 pairs of nerves whereas around 11 appears more characteristic of this species. In all other respects the type specimens seem identical. Additionally, there is a problem about where S. paucinervia was collected. According to the label it was collected in either Tenasserim ( Myanmar) or the Andaman Islands, from where neither S. elongata or any similar species is known. The material was distributed from Kew and it is possible there was a mix-up, not only with the location but also with the collector. As far as is known S. elongata is restricted to N.E. India and Helfer never collected in that region. S. furcata Biswas represents the same species and it is unsurprising that Biswas considered it a novelty as neither the types of S. elongata nor of S. paucinervia were present at CAL.

Strobilanthes elongata is related to species placed by Bremekamp (1944) in the genus Semnostachya Bremek , all of which share a spicate inflorescence with persistent bracts and bracteoles, both of which usually resemble the calyx lobes, combined with a glabrous, bent corolla and prolate, pseudocolpate pollen. It is very similar to the little-known Chinese species Strobilanthes myura H. Léveillé , from which it can be separated by little more than geographical distribution. Both species are of a characteristic pale green colour because of the abundant cystoliths and have linear-lanceolate bracts and bracteoles.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Lectotype of Gutzlaffia aprica Hance. B. Holotype of Strobilanthes furcata Biswas.