Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker Gawl., Bot. Reg.

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 354-355

10. Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker Gawl., Bot. Reg. 8. t. 661. 1822. Convolvulus cuneatus Willd. ,

Sp. Pl., ed. 4. 1: 873. 1798. Lettsomia cuneata

(Willd.) Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 81. 1824. Rivea cuneata

(Willd.) Wight , Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 3: 8, t. 890.

1845. Type: INDIA. s.loc., anno, 1796, Klein s.n. ( B

[holo B-W 03676-010 digital image!].) Fig. 4i–l

An erect shrub, grows up to height of 3–7 ft. Stem older–semi-woody, glabrous; Young stem glabrous. Leaf lamina 4.5–9 × 1.5–2.5 cm in length, oblong–obovate, base cuneate, apex rounded rarely emarginate or apiculate, silky strigose below, glabrous above, secondary veins 7–9 pairs, not too much raised beneath; petiole 5–9 mm long. Inflorescence 3–5 flowered cyme; peduncle hairy 2–5 cm long. Bracts 1–2, 5–7 mm long, linear, early caducous, green, hairy. Sepals 5, subequal, 1.0– 1.5 cm long, lance–ovate to ovate, apex acute, hairy outer, inner two hairy outer except on overlapped portions, glabrous inside. Corolla tubular–infundibuliform, bright purple colored, 4–6 cm long, 2–2.5 cm across, glabrous outer or very sparsely hairy. Stamens 5, inserted, subequal 2–2.5 cm long; filaments 1.5–2.0 cm long, dilated, glandular hairy at base; anthers white, 4–5 mm long, basifixed. Ovary glabrous, 4–celled; style single, white in color; stigma biglobose, pink. Fruit a dry brown colored berry, 0.8–1 cm across, 2–4 seeded. Seeds 5–8 mm long, brown–black.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to October and fruiting from November to February.

Habitat: It is common in the dry deciduous forests, along the Ghats slopes.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘cuneata’ is derived from cuneate leaf base.

Distribution: The species is endemic to peninsular India: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Chittoor District, Madanikonda , 15.07.1957, S. K. Wagh 46327 ( BLAT) . Karnataka, Dharwad District, Hubli , Sept. 1931, R. D. Acland 46317

(BLAT); Bangalore Rural District, Kalkere, 05.02.1980, S.K. Wagh 122107 (BSI); Hassan District, Hirakalgudda–Arsikere, 23.11.1958, B.M. Wadhawa 26519 (BSI); Hassan District, Hirakalgudda–Arsikere, 23.11.1958, B.M. Wadhawa 53407 (BSI); Mysore District, Sandal Reserve, 26.04.1959, G.S. Puri 10954 (BSI); BelgaumDistrict,Khanapur, 4.09.1963, M.Y. Ansari 101196 (BSI); Chitradurga District, Hosadurga, 21.04.1979, B.R. Ramesh & K.P. Sreenath 7235 (CAL); Shimoga District, Mysore, October 1908, A. Meebold 10100 (CAL); Bandipur, 24.08.1964, B.D. Naithani 21117 (MH [MH00139582]); Mysore, October 1955, C.E. Brown 97098 (MH [MH00139572]); Chikkaballapur District, Nandi Hills, 1470 m, 30.03.2019, P.R. Lawand 037 (NCK). Kerala, Palghat District, Anakatti, 22.09.1977, R. Ansari 51451 (CAL); Calicut, Pavagada, 15.08.1984, J.L. Ellis 20414 (MH [MH00139569]); Palghat District, Anakatti, 22.09.1977, R. Ansari 51451 (MH [MH00139567]). Maharashtra, Pune District, Katraj Ghat, 8.09.1954, U.M. Patel 46329 (BLAT); Pune District, Purandhar, January 1918, E. Blatter 46324 (BLAT); Pune District, Bhimashankar, 18.09.1955, U.M. Patel 46323 (BLAT); Pune District, Pashan Lake, 11.08.1955, U.M. Patel 46322 (BLAT); Pune District, Katraj Ghat, 2.10.1959, Y.M. Marchant 46321 (BLAT); Pune District, Katraj Ghat, 18.10.1958, S.C. Tavakari 46320 (BLAT); Pune, Sinhagad Fort, 19.09.1950, H. Santapau 46319 (BLAT); Pune, Aug. 1920, R.D. Acland 46318 (BLAT); Pune District, Poona Garden, July, E. Blatter 46316 (BLAT); Pune District, Dive Ghat, Dec. 1912, E. Blatter 46315 (BLAT); Kolhapur District, Rukadi, Sept. 1920, R.D. Acland 46312 (BLAT); Pune District, Khed, 8.08.1961, K.P. Janardhanan 57052 (BSI); Satara District, Dhawadi, 21.09.1983, S.D. Deshpande 108658 (BSI); Pune District, Junnar, 27.10.1910, Hemadri K. 64631 (BSI); Pune District, Khadakwasla, 15.09.1960, R.S. Raghawan 88744 (BSI); Pune District, Katraj Ghat, 25.03.1956, V.D. Vartak 10936 (BSI); Mumbai, Gawrah khind Garden, 17.08.1910, H.P. Paranjapye s.n. (BSI); Pune District, Law College Hill, 20.08.1988,

V.N. Joshi 0019452 (AHMA); Pune District, Law

College Hill, 20.08.1988, V.N. Joshi 0019451

(AHMA); Thane District, Umbraj, Pimpalgaon,

12.09.2002, S. B. Nagarkar 23056 ( AHMA); Thane

District, Umbraj, Pimpalgaon, 12.09.2002, S. B .

Nagarkar 23055 (AHMA); Thane District, Umbraj,

Pimpalgaon, 12.09.2002, S. B. Nagarkar 0021408

(AHMA); Satara District , Jadhavwadi, 29.08.2002 ,

P.P. Sharma 22029 (AHMA); Pune District,Velhe,

Sakhar, 02.11.1954, V . D. Vartak 5120 ( AHMA) ;

Pune District, Pachgaon–Parwati, 23.09.1981,

D.K. Kulkarni 16414 (AHMA); Pune District,

Sinhagad Fort, Atkarwadi, November 1956, V .D.

Vartak 5124 (AHMA); Pune District, Sinhagad

Fort, Atkarwadi, 07.08.1955, V. D. Vartak 5121

(AHMA); Satara District , Pateshwar, 15.09.2016 ,

P.R. Lawand & V.B. Shimpale 008 (NCK); Satara

District, Karad, Shamgaon Ghat, 13.09.2018, P. R .

Lawand 035 (NCK); Pune District, Mulashi ghat,

Aug. 2016, P. R. Lawand 036 ( NCK). Tamil Nadu, Dharampuri District, Sekkapatii , Sittheri Hills ,

25.03.1979, K. M. Matthew & G. Paramiswami 24333

(CAL). Telangana , Mehabubnagar District, Mannanur Core Zone, 30.07.1987, V. B. Hosagonzar

86613 ( DRC).

Conservation status: The species has large Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy, more mature and reproducing individuals at each population, therefore assessed here as Least Concern (LC) ( IUCN 2024). Ghat road widenings is major threat to the species.

Vernacular Names: Mahalungi (Marathi); Kallanegida (Kannada).

Notes: This is the only species in the genus with shrubby habit. The fruits are indehiscent but unlike other species the berries are dry rather than pulpy. The carmine red-colored flowers are beautiful and it lacks hairs on midpetaline bands, it can be a good hedge plant.

Figures

Fig. 4. Argyreia CapitiFOrmiS (Poir.) Ooststr.(a-e): a. Flowering twig;b. Flower front view;c. Split open corolla hairy inside (in inset); d. Bracts, e. Sepals. Argyreia COOnOOrenSiS W.W. Sm.& Ramaswami (f-h): f. Flowering twig; g. Bracts;h. Sepals. Argyreia Cuneata Ker-Gawl.(i-l): i. Habit; j. Leaf; k. Open flower showing stamens;l. Fruiting twig.