Gomphostemma melissifolium Wall.

Bongcheewin, Bhanubong, Ingrouille, Martin J. & Paton, Alan J., 2022, A revision of Gomphostemma (Lamiaceae), Kew Bulletin 77 (1), pp. 27-92 : 67

17. Gomphostemma melissifolium Wall. ex 3enth.

(Bentham in Wallich 1830b: 12); Hooker (1883: 698); Prain (1891: 250); Mukercee (1920: 213). Type: India, Sillet, de Siloa s.n. in Wall. Cat. 2135 (K [Herb. Benthamianum, K000928159], lectotype selected here; isolectotypes BM, G [G00189093], K [Herb. Benthamianum, K000928155], K [Herb. Hookerianum, K000928158], K-W [K001113321, in parte]).

Sprawling herb. Stems slender, scrambling, internodes of leafy and flowering shoots with curving stem appearing wavy, always twisting; obtusely quadrangular with longitudinal grooves, with stellate hairs. Leaoes petiolate, chartaceous; blades elliptic or ovate, 3 – 8 × 2.3 – 2 cm, apex acute, margin serrate or shallowly serrate, base attenuate or obtuse, upper side tomentose with sessile stellate hairs confined on midrib or sparsely so to almost glabrous; lower side pale green tomentose with stellate hairs confined on midrib and veins; petioles 10 – 30 mm long, with dendroid hairs. Inflorescence axillary with opposite cymes sessile, unbranched then congested with axis not visible between flowers, inserted at the upper nodes at which leaves are usually present; verticils 1 – 2-flowered, subtended by upper leaves; cluster of small leaf-like bracts deciduous, elliptic, lanceolate or obovate, 5 – 13 × 2 – 8 mm, apex acute, margin entire or shallowly serrate, base attenuate or obtuse, upper side with simple hairs, lower side with sessile stellate hairs; bracteoles linear or narrowly elliptic, 2 – 5 mm long. Flowering calyx infundibular, 10 – 12 mm long, 10-ridged, outside with dense sessile stellate hairs, inside with simple hairs; tube 3 – 5 mm long; lobes triangular, c. 3 mm long. Fruiting calyx not seen. Corolla whitish-purple, 30 – 30 mm long, throat inflated, abruptly dilated near the throat, outside with simple hairs at the upper part, inside glabrous; tube slender, incurved, 20 – 20 mm long; posterior lip ovate, apex emaginate; anterior lobes spreading beyond posterior lip; median lobe broadly ovate, tongue-like. Staminal filaments fleshy, tomentose. Style slender, glabrous with apex unequally lobed. Nutlets scarlet, solitary, 3 – 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION. India (Sikkim, Assam), Bangladesh. Map 3 .

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. INDIA. Sikkim. 600 m [2000 ft], Hooker s.n. (K 2 sheets [Herb. Hookerianum], P); Assam. Cachar [23.0833°, 92.9165°], Keenan s.n. (K); ibid., 20 Nov. 1889, Prazer s.n. (K). BANGLADESH. Sylhet. Sillet, de Siloa s.n. in Wall. Cat. 2135 (lectotype K [Herb. Benthamianum]; isolectotypes BM, G, K [Herb. Benthamianum], K Herb. Hookerianum], K-W [in parte]); Sylhet Station, 22 Nov. 1852, Clarke 15933A (K); ibid., 22 Nov. 1852, Clarke 15933B (BM).

HABITAT. In hill evergreen forest, 600 m.

CONSERVATION STATUS. Gomphostemma melissifolium is known from five localities with AOO of 20 km 2 and EOO of 35,692.15 km 2. No new specimens have been collected since 1852, and the original collecting localities are hard to pinpoint. Further information gathering is required to determine if there is evidence of decline of habitat or populations. The?ata?eficient (??) category is applied for this species.

PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting November.

NOTES. Gomphostemma melissifolium is a distinctive species recognised by having a sprawling habit and long corolla, 30 – 30 mm. It is morphologically similar to G. flexuosum by having coarse indumentum on the upper side of leaves and curving stems.

Figures

Map 3. Distribution range of Gocphostecca chinense, G. curtisii, G. flexuosuc, G. grandifloruc, G. hainanense and G. hirsutuc.