Argyreia barbigera Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 345-346

4. Argyreia barbigera Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 6: 424. 1834. Lettsomia barbigera (Choisy) C.B.Clarke in Hook.f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 193. 1883.

Lettsomia strigosa Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 80. 1824. nom.

superfl.

Lettsomia confusa var. brevipes Prain, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 63: 96. 1894. Lettsomia hirsutissima C.B. Clarke, Hook.f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 193. 1883. Argyreia hirsutissima (C.B. Clarke)

Raizada, Indian For. 93: 754. 1967. syn. nov. Argyreia capitata Arn. ex Choisy var. conferta Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 6: 424. 1834.

Lettsomia thomsonii C.B. Clarke, Hook.f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 193. 1883. Argyreia thomsonii (C.B. Clarke) Craib ex C.R. Babu, Herb. Fl. Dehra Dun 320: 661.1977. syn. nov.

Argyreia nasirii D.F. Austin, Nasir & Ali, Fl. W. Pakistan 126: 4. 1979 nom. superfl. Lectotype (designated here): MYANMAR. Birmanie, Estuaire du Irawaddi, Prome, 1826, Wallich cat. 1404 (G-DC [ G00134955 !]; Isolecto G-DC [ G00017107 !, G00134944 !, G00134812 !; K-W [ K000830703 !]). Fig. 1i–l

A scandent shrub. Stem semiwoody at base, herbaceous towards apex, hairy, terete, green. Leaf petiole 4–6 cm long, terete, brown hirsute; leaf lamina ovate, lanceolate, 6–12 × 3–5 cm, apex acuminate, base cordate, strigose adaxially, densely hirsute abaxially, secondary veins 9–11 pairs, raised prominently abaxially. Inflorescence axillary sub-capitate cyme, 5–8-flowered; peduncle 5–10 cm long, usually longer than the petiole, hairy. Bracts 2, spathulate-oblong, 1–1.5 cm long, villous hirsute outer, glabrous inner. Sepals 5, ovate, 1–1.5 cm long, softly hirsute outer, glabrous inner, persistent, enlarges in fruit. Corolla campanulate type with wider mouth, 4–5 cm long, rose purple colored, dark in throat, hairy on midpetaline bands. Stamens 5, included in the corolla tube, equal, 2.5–3 cm long; filaments dilated and glandular hairy at base, purple at base; anthers 1–2 mm. Ovary glabrous, 2–4-celled; stigma biglobose, papillate; style filiform, c. 3 cm long. Berries c. 8–10 mm in diam., globular, 2–4-seeded.

Flowering & Fruting: Flowering from September to November and fruiting from November to February.

Habitat: Prefers evergreen forests.

Distribution: India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,

West Bengal); Nepal and Pakistan.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘barbigera’ [barba: beard, gera: carry or bear] is cause of excessive hairiness of plant parts.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Harilalgarh , 04.10.1977, Pritam Lal 63119 ( BSD

[77145]). Jammu & Kashmir, Udhampur, 16.10.1986, Ajai Swami 613 (BSD [85634]). Punjab, Dholbah, Hoshiarpur , 22.10.1970, O .P. Mishra

39842 (BSD [46651]); Gundaspun, Dhar, 600 m,

30.08.1969, U. C . Bhattacharya 39423 (BSD [44729]).

Uttarakhand, Dehradun District, Sahastradhara , 09.10.1963, S. K . Malhotra 30739 ( BSD [32785]) ;

Dehradun, Rispana, 13.09.1964, C. R. Babu

34717 (BSD [40947]); Dehradun, on the way to

Chheskhot, September 1993, Bipin Balob & Megh

Singh 67091 (BSD [94252]); Dehradun District,

Rajaji National Park , 18.10.1970, J. V. S. Rao 40115

(BSD [49368]); Dehradun District, Rajaji National

Park, 18.10.1970, J. V. S . Rao 40116 (BSD [49367]);

Dehradun District, Rajaji National Park, Mohand

Range, 22.09.1969; J. V. S . Rao 39842 (BSD [49239]);

Dehradun, Mothranwala, 700 m, 12.09.1958,

K.M.M. Dakshini 6213 (BSD [62331]); Dehradun,

Kandoli village , 22.09.1961, S. K. Malhotra

17388 (BSD [25117]); Dehradun, on the way to

Bhaniyawala, 24.10.2019, P. R . Lawand 059 (NCK);

Dehradun, on the way to Bhaniyawala, 24.10.2019,

P.R. Lawand 060 (NCK). Uttar Pradesh, Pilibhit District, Garha , 30.05.1898, Inayat 22310 (DD);

Haldwani, Modinagar, 31.12.1987, U. Singh 388

(BSD [93336]); Meerut, Siwalik forests, Sept. 1984,

T.S. Murthy & A.K. Goel 1194 (BSD [81850]).

Notes: Argyreia barbigera and A. capitiformis shares similarities like hirsute cordate leaves, ovate hirsute sepals, and sub-capitate inflorescences. However, the latter can be differentiated by its spathulate, densely hirsute bracts and purplecolored flowers.

Figures

Fig. 1. Argyreia arakuenSiS N.P. Balakr. (a-d): a. Flowering twig; b. Inflorescence; c. Bracts; d. Sepals. Argyreia argentea (Roxb.) Sweet (e-h): e. Flowering & fruiting twig; f. Leaf abaxial surface; g. Bract; h. Sepals. Argyreia barbigera Choisy (i-l): i. Flowering twig;j. Flower; k. Bracts; l. Sepals.