Chlorophytum palghatense K.M.P. Kumar & Adsul, 2014

Kumar, Konickal Mambetta Prabhu, Hareesh, Vadakkoot Sankaran, Adsul, Avinash Asraji, Vimal, Kollencherri Puthenveettil, Balachandran, Indira & Yadav, Shrirang Ramachandra, 2014, A new species of Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) from southern Western Ghats of India, Phytotaxa 188 (5), pp. 282-286 : 282-285

Chlorophytum palghatense K.M.P. Kumar & Adsul sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

It is distinct from C. sharmae for the absence of root tubers; broadly lanceolate leaves with entire margins; pedicel articulation close to flower; obtuse anther apex and glabrous stigma.

Type: — INDIA. Kerala: Palakkad district, Dhoni hills, Palamala , ± 1900 m, N10 º 54’ 37.7’’ E 076 º 37’ 41.4’’, 28 September 2013, K. M . Prabhu Kumar 7466 (holotype, CMPR!, isotypes, CALI!, MH!, SUK!) .

Perennial herb, ca. 35 cm tall. Roots up to 16 cm long, 6–11 per plant, fibrous. Leaves 14–24 × 2.2–3.2 cm, 8–16 per plant, rosette, spreading, lanceolate, 11–12 veined, sessile, glabrous and dull green above, very small appressed white hairs beneath; margin entire, hyaline, apex acute-acuminate. Scape 18–30 cm long, solitary, unbranched, bracteate, flowering part 8–14 cm long, flowers in alternate to sub-opposite, 2–4 flowered clusters; sterile bracts 4–6 × 0.7–0.9 cm, 2–3 per scape, triangular, apex acute, glabrous. Flower 2.8–3 cm across, white, bracteate, pedicellate. Bract 3–3.5 × 0.7–0.8 cm, pyriform, acute at apex, glabrous. Pedicel 1.2–1.4 cm long, articulation close to flower, upper part of pedicel articulation 1–1.5 mm, swollen, cylindrical, glabrous, pedicel below articulation cylindric, 1.2–1.25 cm in length. Perigone segments 6, in two whorls of 3 in each, recurved; outer perigone segments 0.9–1.1 × ca. 0.3 cm, 5- nerved, broadly elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, white, margin hyaline, obtuse or acute at apex; inner perigone segments 0.9–1.1 × ca. 0.3 cm, 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, white, margin hyaline, obtuse at apex. Stamens 6, 8–8.2

mm long, divaricated; filaments 4–5 mm long, longer than the anthers, smooth, white; anthers 3.1–3.2 mm long, obtuse, dull yellow. Ovary 1.5–2 mm long, elliptic, sessile, glabrous, green; septal nectaries conspicuous; style 6–6.2 mm long, straight, persistent, white; stigma glabrous. Capsule 6–7 × 8–9 mm, triquetrous. Seeds ca. 0.3 cm across, 2–4 in each cell, reniform, discoid, black. Seed testa granulate.

Flowering and Fruiting:— September–November.

Etymology:— The specific epithet ‘palghatense’ indicates the type locality of the taxon, from ‘Palghat’ (Palakkad) district of Kerala.

Distribution and ecology:— Chlorophytum palghatense grows in grass lands of high mountains of Palamala hills of Dhoni forest and Elival hills of Muthikulam forests of Palakad District of Kerala at about 2150 m.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — INDIA. Muthikulam forests, Elival hills, ± 2100 m 23 November 2013, K. M . Prabhu Kumar & V. S . Hareesh 7745 ( CMPR!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Chlorophytum palghatense sp. nov.A. Habit B. Close up of flower; C. Inflorescence; D. Glabrous filament; E. Infructescence; F. Single fruit (Photos: K.M. Prabhu).

FIGURE 2. Chlorophytum palghatense sp. nov.A. Habit; B. Single flower; C. Outer perigone lobe; D. Inner perigone lobe; E.Sterile bract; F. Floral bracts; G. Stamen; H. Ovary with style and stigma; Single fruit; J. seed (Drawn from K.M. Prabhu 7466 by V.S. Hareesh).