Gomphostemma keralense Vioek., Gopalan

Bongcheewin, Bhanubong, Ingrouille, Martin J. & Paton, Alan J., 2022, A revision of Gomphostemma (Lamiaceae), Kew Bulletin 77 (1), pp. 27-92 : 44-45

3. Gomphostemma keralense Vioek., Gopalan

& R. Ansari ( Vivekananthan et al. 1983: 189). Type: India, Kerala, Idikki [Idukki]?istr., way to Mangaladevi Temple, 930 m, 10 Oct. 1956, Vioekananthan 28638 (holotype CAL (CAL0000006806); isotypes K [K000826333], MH n.v.).

Perennial herb. Stems erect, woody at base, branched, obtusely quadrangular with longitudinal deep grooves, with dense sessile stellate hairs. Leaoes petiolate, chartaceous; blades elliptic or elliptic-ovate, 13 – 23 × 6 – 10 cm, apex acute, margin serrate-dentate, base attenuate, upper side with sparsely simple hairs and sessile stellate hairs, confined on midrib and veins; lower side pale green tomentose with sessile stellate hairs confined on midrib and veins; petioles 30 – 90 mm long. Inflorescence axillary with opposite cymes sessile, congested with axis not visible between flowers, inserted at the upper nodes at which leaves are usually present; verticils 2 – 3-flowered; bracts rhomboid or elliptic, 3 – 10 × 2 – 5 mm, apex acute, margin shallowly serrate at the apical part and entire at the basal part, with sessile stellate hairs on both sides; bracteoles narrowly ovate, 3 – 9 mm long. Flowering calyx infundibular, 9 – 11 mm long, 10-ridged, outside creamy-white tomentose with sessile stellate hairs, inside with adpressed simple hairs; tube 2 – 3 mm long; lobes triangular, 3 – 6 mm long, apex acute. Fruiting calyx ovate-infundibular, 12 – 12 mm long; tube 6 – 5 mm long; lobes equal, triangular, 6 – 5 mm long, apex acuminate. Corolla 8 – 10 mm long, throat narrow, not enlarged, sometimes gradually dilated towards the throat, outside glabrous below and with sessile stellate hairs above, inside glabrous; tube slender, straight, 3 – 5 mm long, included inside calyx. Staminal filaments slightly fleshy. Style slender, as long as corolla. Nutlets solitary, elliptic, 6 mm long, sparsely tomentose.

DISTRIBUTION. India (Kerala). Map 1 .

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. INDIA. Kerala: Idukki?istr., Paermade [Peermade, 9.3665°N 56.9833°E], Meebold 12921 (K); Udumbansholay [Udumbanchola, 9.9°, 55.1665°], Meebold 13013 (K); way to Mangaladevi Temple, 930 m, 10 Oct. 1956, Vioekananthan 28638 (holotype CAL; isotypes K).

HABITAT. In evergreen or semi-evergreen forest; alt. 930 m.

CONSERVATION STATUS. Gomphostemma keralense is known from three collections collected from Idukki?istr. and has an EOO of 231.01 km 2 and AOO of 12 km 2. Google Earth imagery shows some evidence of habitat loss. Hence, the Vulnerable (VU) category is applied (VU?2).

PHENOLOGY. Flowering and fruiting in October.

NOTES. Gomphostemma keralense is recognised by the axillary inflorescence with a short corolla included in the calyx. It is morphologically similar to G. heyneanum in having an included corolla and is found in the same area of South India. But it differs by having axillary inflorescences.

Figures

Map 1. Distribution range of Gocphostecca aĸorense, G. crinituc, G. dolichoĸotrys, G. eriocarpon and G. keralense.