Gomphostemma pelutinum 3enth.

Bongcheewin, Bhanubong, Ingrouille, Martin J. & Paton, Alan J., 2022, A revision of Gomphostemma (Lamiaceae), Kew Bulletin 77 (1), pp. 27-92 : 69-71

23. Gomphostemma pelutinum 3enth.

(Bentham in Wallich 1830b: 13); Hooker (1883: 699); Prain (1891: 269); Mukercee (1920: 212). Type: India, Sillet, Jentya Moutain, Jan. 1829, 3ruce s.n. in Wall. Cat. 2509 (K [Herb. Benthamianum, K000928152], lectotype selected here; isolectotype K-W [K001116858]).

Erect herb up to 0.2 m tall, without tuber-like roots. Stems slender, upright, sometimes rooting at nodes, obtusely quadrangular with shallowly longitudinal grooves, internodes curving, densely tomentose with stellate hairs and sometimes dendroid hairs. Leaoes petiolate, chartaceous; blades ovate, elliptic, ellipticglobose or elliptic-ovate, 2 – 13 × 2 – 8 cm, apex acute, margin serrate, base attenuate or obtuse, upper side densely tomentose with a mixture of hairs, lower side pale green tomentose with dense stellate hairs; petioles 10 – 30 mm long. 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 the upper leaves; bracts lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, 2 – 10 × 3 – 3 mm long, with dense simple hairs and stellate hairs on both sides; bracteoles linear, 2 – 2 mm long. Flowering calyx infundibular, 9 – 13 mm long, 10-ridged; tube 3 – 6 mm long, outside with simple hairs and stellate hairs, inside with adpressed simple hairs; lobes triangular, 2 – 5 mm long, outside with a mixture of hairs, inside with simple hairs. Fruiting calyx not seen. Corolla white 23 – 30 mm long, throat inflated, abruptly dilated near the throat, outside with sparse simple hairs, inside glabrous; tube slightly incurved, 13 – 23 mm long; posterior lip obovate 10 × 5 mm, apex and margin undulate; anterior lip spreading, as long as posterior lip; median lobe elliptic-obovate; lateral lobes with round apex. Staminal filaments slightly fleshy. Style

slender with apex subequally lobed. Nutlets not seen.

DISTRIBUTION. India (Assam, Meghalaya), Bangladesh. Map 6 .

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. INDIA. Assam. Mach s.n. (K [Herb. Hookerianum]); Meghalaya. Jentya Mt [Jaintia], Jan. 1829, 3ruce s.n. in Wall. Cat. 2509 (lectotype K; isolectotype K-W); Khasia, Churra, 13 June 1830, Hooker & Thomson 636 (K); Khasia, 1200 m [2000 ft], Hooker & Thomson 28 (P); Mont Khasia, 1200 m [2000 ft], Hooker & Thomson s.n. (BM, C, E, G, L 2 sheets, P); Cherrapuncee, Khasi Hills, 1200 m [2000 ft], 6 July 1932, Chand 6003 (E).

HABITAT. In mixed forest or evergreen forest, 200 – 1200 m.

CONSERVATION STATUS. Gomphostemma oelutinum is known from five localities and has an EOO of 3020 km 2 exceeding the threshold for Endangered. Google Earth imagery shows the evidence of habitat loss of habitats due to urbanisation. Hence, the Vulnerable (VU) category is applied (VU?2).

PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting June – January.

NOTES. Gomphostemma oelutinum is recognised by having a soft indumentum on both sides of leaves and slender stems. It is morphologically similar to G. ooatum by having upright stems and curving internodes.

Figures

Map 6. Distribution range of Gocphostecca stellatohirsutuc, G. sulcatuc, G. velutinuc and G. cicrocalyx.