Schizotechium devendrae (Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast.) Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast. (2016: 82)

Kafle, Rashika & Parmar, Gaurav, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Schizotechium (Caryophyllaceae) in Nepal, including one new record, Phytotaxa 645 (1), pp. 29-42 : 32-34

Schizotechium devendrae (Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast.) Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast. (2016: 82) .

≡ Stellaria devendrae Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast. (2015:385) .

Holotype:— INDIA.Western Himalaya, Uttarakhand state, Garhwal Division, Rudraprayag district, Phata-Trijuginarayan , 2000 m, 23 September 1958, M.A. Rau 6499 ( BSD!; isotypes BSD!, CAL!) .

Diagnosis:— Roots moniliforme; plants glossy, dark green, mostly appear glabrous to subglabrous, tomentose on apical parts; leaves sessile to subsessile, oblanceolate, base cuneate, glabrous on both surfaces; flowers dense to few, peduncles up to 13(–15) cm; petals half to sepals; filaments with distinct showy glands at base; seeds rugulose.

Description:— Perennial herbs. Roots tuberous, fusiform, moniliform with simple lateral roots. Glossy and dark green in appearance, white uniseriate multicellular eglandular or glandular tomentose, mostly on apical parts, basal and median parts usually subglabrous to glabrous. Stems ascending, simple branching, older stem shiny and pale green, immature one’s rough green with purplish tinge on nodes and internodes, 20–60(–80) cm, 4-angled, stout, immature stems with a single line of tomentose, mature stems glabrous usually, basal nodes include small scale-like leaves on axils. Basal and median leaves sub-sessile, leaf blade dark green, oblanceolate or obovate or broadly elliptic, 3–20(–22) × 0.8–4.5 cm, base cuneate to rounded, subauriculate, apex acuminate, margins entire and broadly crisp and glabrous, subcoriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, midvein depressed adaxially, venation closed; apical leaves sessile, leaf blade dark green, oblanceolate, broadly obovate to elliptic, 0.8–12(–18) × 0.4–4.5 cm, base rounded to cuneate with glandular tomentose, subauriculate, apex acuminate, margins entire and tomentose, subcoriaceous, sparsely tomentose on abaxial surface, otherwise glabrous on both surfaces, midvein depressed adaxially, mostly glandular or sometimes eglandular tomentose along mid-veins of both surfaces, venation closed. Flowers sparse to dense in terminal or axillary dichotomously branched paniculate cymes. Peduncles up to 13(–15) cm, glandular-tomentose on all surfaces. Bracts foliaceous, sessile, dark green, lanceolate, 1.5–4 × 0.6–1 mm, base rounded to cuneate, apex acuminate, margins sparsely tomentose, usually glabrous adaxially and distinct glandular tomentose abaxially, midvein conspicuous with glandular-tomentose. Pedicels 2–20 mm, densely glandular tomentose on all surfaces. Flowers 10–12 mm across, showy due to spreading sepals, nectarous gland disc 5-lobed and prominent. Sepals 5, oblong-lanceolate, 5–7 × 1.5– 2 mm, base nearly rounded, apex acuminate, margins glabrous and membranaceous, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glandular-tomentose on base, otherwise glabrous, midrib conspicuous. Petals 5, widely obovate with abrupt tapering cuneate base, 2.5–3 × 1.2–2 mm, half to sepals; lamina 2-cleft mostly up to 2/3–4/5, rarely 1/2 of the length, excluding tapering base, each lobe ovate or triangular-ovate, apex widely acute or obtuse, soft, midrib conspicuous. Stamens 10 (5+5 arrangement), 3–3.6 mm, almost all stamens equal in length or inner one shorter and outer longer, arranged alternately; filaments slightly free at base, white, slender, distinct pale yellowish green nectarous glands at base, 5- lobed and alternipetalous; anthers dorsifixed, young anthers pale peach, mature one’s pale brown, widely elliptic, 0.8–1 mm across. Ovary ovoid, 1–1.2 mm; styles 3, 2.5–4 mm, apex slightly curved. Capsules yellowish green, subglobose, shorter than sepals, 3.8–4 mm, beaked, 6-valved; valves lance-ovate, apex acute, scaly. Seed one at mature, brown, broadly ovoid to suborbicular, 2–2.6 mm, rugulose, margins slightly sinuate, surfaces smooth ( Fig. 3 ).

Note:— Roots are fusiform and moniliform in this species, but in S. monospermum population, roots are only fusiform in shape. Plants of S. devendrae population are glossy and more glabrous than S. monospermum . Leaf margins are entire, broadly crisp and glabrous in S. devendrae , while S. monospermum has more crispate margins. Compared to S. monospermum , S. devendrae population have prominent and larger stamen base glands in flowers.

Phenology:— September to December.

Habitat and distribution:— This species is found in moist and shady forest under closed canopy (1100–2200 m). It is distributed in India (W Himalaya) and C Nepal (up to western point of Central Nepal).

Additional specimens examined:— NEPAL. Central Nepal: Bagmati Province, Lalitpur district, Godawari, 1455 m, 27°35’43”N, 85°23’27”E, 25 September 2023, G. Parmar & R. Kafle RK350 (KATH!); Lalitpur district, Phulchowki, 2133.6 m, 26 September 1967, Manandhar et al. 7450 (KATH!); Gandaki Province, Kaski district, Lumle V.D.C.-8, Tolka, 1800 m, 13 September 2000, R.C. Poudel 115 (TUCH!); Syangja district, Chisapani, 1125 m, 28°01’N, 83°59’E, 17 October 2002, S.R. Sigdel 3 (TUCH!); Tanahun district, Aangsing-9 Chowk, 1100 m, 28°06’N, 84°25’E, 11 June 2002, H.B. Kshetri H.B.283 (TUCH!).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Schizotechium devendrae. A. Habit, B. Inflorescence, C–D. Flower, E. Sepals (left) & Petal (right), F. Stamens, G. Pistil, H. Capsule and valve, I. Seeds (photographs by R. Kafle).