Argyreia daltonii C.B.Clarke

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 358-359

12. Argyreia daltonii C.B.Clarke in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India. 4:190. 1883. Lectotype (designated here): INDIA, Jharkhand, Chhota Nagpore, Bundgao in Singhboom , 2000 feet, 28.10.1873, C.B.

Clarke 20503D (K [K000830715 digital image!];

isolecto BM [BM000035627 digital image!];

CAL [CAL0000018517!]; K [K000830716,

K000830717, K001081782, K001081781 digital images!]). Fig. 5e–h

A huge semiwoody climber. Stems herbaceous towards apex, strigose, semi-woody at older parts. Leaf lamina ovate, 15–25 × 8–13 cm, base shallowly cordate to round, apex acute, secondary veins 6–7 pairs raised beneath, strigose below, sparsely strigose above; petiole green, strigose, terete, 3–5 cm long. Inflorescence axillary 6–9-flowered cyme; peduncle strigose, 6–9 cm long. Flowers pedicellate, bracteate; pedicels very short, 3–4 mm. Bracts 2–3, linear–lanceolate to spathulate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, acute apex strigose on both the surfaces but sparsely on adaxial side. Sepals persistent even after fruit falls off, subequal; outer 3 large, ovate, 1.0– 1.2 cm long, narrowly acute to acuminate apex, strigose hairy on outer side, glabrous inside, outer two sparsely hairy inside on upper half. Corolla infundibuliform, 5–7 cm long, 5–6.5 cm across, pink–purple, petals twisted in bud; tube strigose on mid-petaline bands. Stamens 5, included in the corolla tube, unequal, 3 long 3–3.5 cm long, 2 short 2–2.5 cm long; filaments pink, glandular hairy and dilated at base; anthers 4–5 mm long. Ovary pale green, glabrous, style single; stigma biglobose, white. Berries yellow, fleshy, 1–1.5 cm in diam., 2–4 seeded. Seeds c. 1 cm long.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to October and fruiting from October to January.

Habitat: The individuals of the species climb on the tall trees like Shorea robusta along roads in the jungle.

Etymology: The species is named after General Dalton who was the commissioner of the Chhota Nagpore.

Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu); endemic.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Chittoor District, Towards Akasganga , 30.12.1975, G. V . Subba Rao 46875 ( CAL); Srikakulam District, Salur , Jaypore Roadside , 10.09.1978, N. P . Balkrishnan 1078 ( CAL); East Godavari District, Vettukurn, Maredumilli , 19.12.1993, M . Mohanan 100783 ( DRC); East Godavari District, Maredumilli , 17.12.1993, M . Mohanan 100750 ( DRC); East Godavari District, Tadepalli , 12.10.1986, N . Rama Rao & D. Narsimhan 84329 ( DRC); Maredumilli, Valamum , 18.10.1994, M . Mohanan 102038 ( MH [ MH00139459 ]); Chittoor District, Near Japali , 30.09.1974, G. V . Subba Rao 45896 ( MH [ MH00139463 ]); Visakhapatnam District, Anantagiri , 17.10.1964, G. V . Subba Rao 21709 ( MH [ MH00139449 ]); East Godavari District, Maredumilli to Kakur , 21.09.1980, G. V . Subba Rao & G. R . Kumari 67581 ( MH [ MH00139448 ]); Visakhapatnam District, Limmaguda Hills , 4.01.1970, G. V . Subba Rao 31164 ( MH [ MH00139445 ]); Visakhapatnam District, Venkachita , 21.12.1967, G. V . Subba Rao 29586 ( MH [ MH00139441 ]); Chittoor District, towards Akasganga , 30.12.1975, G. V . Subba Rao 46875 ( MH); Visakhapatnam District, Near Borra caves, 20.09.2018, P. R . Lawand 039 ( NCK). Chhattisgarh, Raipur District, Madan Dongri , Taurenga , 09.10.1976, D. M . Verma 25152 ( BSA); Raipur District, Singpur Range , 17.01.1976, D. M . Verma 23734 ( BSA); Bastar District, Kanta Dubhatota , 25.12.1971, C. R . Das 17329 ( BSA); Bastar District, 100 th mile Raipur to Jagdalpur road, 24.09.1962, S. K . Jain 5115 ( BSA). Jharkhand, East Singhbhum District, Dalma Pahar WLS, 12.09.2007, C. R . Magesh 13842; Ranchi, Singhbhoom Forest , Pareya , 15.10.2017, P. R . Lawand 010 ( NCK). Karnataka: South Kanara District, Hosagadi , Jan. 1939, S. R . Raju 6343 ( MH [ MH00139440 ]); Udupi District, Kervashe , Someshwar , 16.02.1940, S. R . Raju 586 ( MH [ MH00139439 ]). Tamil Nadu, Dharmapuri District, Harur , Chitteri Hills , s.d., K. M . Matthew & G . Paramsivan 24308 ( CAL) .

Conservation status: As its Extent of Occurrence is restricted to East Indian States and Eastern Ghats of India and taxon is likely to qualify criteria B1 and C2a(i) for Vulnerable category. But it will not qualify the all the criteria for vulnerable category in such cases as per IUCN guideline Near Threatened (NT, IUCN 2024) category can be assigned to this taxon.

Vernacular name: Karu onamkodi (Tamil).

Uses: A wiry stems of the plant are utilized by local inhabitants for tying the bamboo bundles and as ropes in hut construction.

Notes: The species shares similarities with Argyreia involucrata in leaf shape, flower size and fruit morphology but differs in several characters including habit, bract and sepal morphology and inflorescence architecture.

C.B. Clarke’s original collections of A. daltonii from Singhbhoom, Chhota Nagpore are housed at K ( K000830715 , K000830716 , K000830717 , K001081782 , K001081781 ), one at BM ( BM000035627 ) and one at CAL ( CAL0000018517 ), with all being syntypes. Among these, the specimen C.B. Clarke 20503D K ( K000830715 ) is selected here as the lectotype .

Figures

Fig. 5. Argyreia CymOSa (Roxb.) Sweet (a-d): a. Habit; b. An inflorescence; c. Bracts; d. Sepals. Argyreia daltOnii C.B. Clarke (e-h): e. Habit;f. Leaf abaxial surface;g. Bracts;h. Sepals.Argyreia elliptiCa (Roth ex Roem.& Schult.) Choisy (i-l): i. Habit;j. Inflorescence; k. Sepals;l. Infructescence.