Anemone pindariensis Harsh Singh & S.K. Barik, 2021

Singh, Harsh & Barik, S. K., 2021, Anemone pindariensis sp. nov., a new species from Pindari valley of the Western Himalaya, India, Phytotaxa 516 (3), pp. 289-295 : 289-290

Anemone pindariensis Harsh Singh & S.K. Barik sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–4 )

Diagnosis:— Anemone pindariensis differs from its closely related A. rivularis in its sepal and stamen. A. pindariensis has densely hairy (vs. glabrous in A. rivularis ), rounded to elliptic to oblong (vs. ovate to obovate), 4–5 (vs. 5–8) sepals, uniquely greenish-yellow sepals (vs. white-blue sepals), circinnately arranged staminodes around the stamens (vs. absence of staminodes), densely hairy filaments (vs. glabrous) and oblong (vs. ellipsoid or ovoid) anthers.

TYPE:— India. Uttarakhand, on way to Dwali, Pindari glacier, 25.6.2018, 30°07’36” N; 79°57’30”E, altitude 2434 m asl, Harsh Singh 303770 (holotype LWG; isotype LWG) .

Perennial herb, 40–60 cm long, erect, pubescent; rootstock woody. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves longpetiolated; petiole 6–18 cm long, pubescent; lamina cordate-orbicular, 5–6 × 10–13 cm, ternate, petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long, densely pubescent, central part broadly rhombic-ovate, apex acute; lateral segments 2-parted, obliquely flabellate, ultimate lobules oblong, surface strigose both adaxially and abaxially. Scapes 1–3, ca. 25–40 cm; 2-or 3 branched. Involucral bracts 2; petiole flat, 1–1.5 cm, winged; bract blade similar to that of leaves, 3-parted, rhombic, 4–9 cm, puberulent, margin serrate. Bracteoles similar to involucre bracts, 2.5–4.0 cm long, 3.0–4.0 cm wide. Flowers greenish-yellow, 2–3 in compound cyme. Sepals 4–5, 14– 15 mm long, 9–12 mm wide, rounded, ovate to obovate, sometimes spathulate with claw, densely hairy on both surfaces, margin entire, apex obtuse to rounded. Staminodes present, circinnately arranged around the stamens, densely golden hairs throughout, tri-lobed, 7.7–8.5 mm long; stamens 30–50, ca. 5 mm long, few filaments densely hairy or glabrous, if glabrous filiform, ca. 3.8 mm long; anthers oblong, 0.9–1.1 mm long, apex obtuse. Carpel 10–15, 2.0– 2.8 mm long, 0.5–0.7 mm wide, glabrous; ovary ovoid, ca. 1.9 mm long, style circinate above, 1.3–1.8 mm long.

Flowering:— June–July.

Habitat:— It grows along the mountain slopes of the valleys in open meadows at an altitude of 2400 m a.s.l. The common associates are Stellaria sp. , Roscoea alpine Royle (1839: 361) , Rubia sp.

Etymology:— The specific epithet ‘ pindariensis ’ is derived from the type locality Pindari glacier in Western Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Location map of Anemone pindariensis in Uttarakhand.

FIGURE 2. Anemone pindariensis Harsh Singh & S.K. Barik: A. Habitat; B and C. Flower

FIGURE 3. Anemone pindariensis: A.; B. Flower; D. Sepal; E. Abaxial side of the sepal; F. Adaxial side of the sepal; I. Staminodes; J. Densely hairy filaments of the stamens; K. Stamens; M. Carpels. Anemone rivularis: C. Flower; G.; H. Sepal; L. Stamen.

FIGURE 4. Anemone pindariensis (Holotype)