Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus

Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Lasianthus
Species:
L. agasthyamalayanus
Binomial name
Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus
R.Jagad., S.P.Mathew, Gangapr. & E.S.S.Kumar

Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India.[1] The species was formally described in 2018 from the Agasthyamalai region of the southern Western Ghats.[1]

Description

Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus is an understory shrub of evergreen forests. It resembles Lasianthus obliquus but differs in having glabrous mature branches, comparatively smaller leaves with apiculate apices, broadly ovate triangular stipules, larger flowers, elliptic-lanceolate calyx lobes, and black mature fruits.[1]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Jagadeesan Raveendran, Sam P. Mathew, Gangaprasad Appukuttannair and E.S. Santhosh Kumar in 2018.[1] It belongs to the genus Lasianthus, a tropical Asian genus within the tribe Lasiantheae of the family Rubiaceae.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The species is known only from the southern Western Ghats in Kerala, particularly from the Agasthyamalai hills.[1] It grows in tropical evergreen forest habitats.

Etymology

The specific epithet agasthyamalayanus refers to the Agasthyamalai region of the southern Western Ghats, where the species was discovered.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Raveendran, Jagadeesan; Mathew, Sam P.; Appukuttannair, Gangaprasad; Kumar, Ettickal Sukumaran Santhosh (2018). "Lasianthus agasthyamalayanus (Rubiaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India". Annales Botanici Fennici. 55 (1–3): 87–91. doi:10.5735/085.055.0110.
  2. ↑ Ridsdale, Colin E. (1998). "Rubiaceae". In Dassanayake, M.D.; Clayton, W.D. (eds.). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. Vol. 12. Oxford & IBH Publishing. pp. 141–343.