Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn., Madras J. Lit. Sci.

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 378-379

26. Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn., Madras J. Lit. Sci. 5: 18. 1837. Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn., Madras J. Lit.Sci. 5: 38.1837. Lectotype (designatedbyKrishnaraj, Joseph & Ramalingam, 2018: 392): INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Kolli Hills (Colemala), s.d. R. Wight s.n. 2255 (E [E00174872 digital image!]). Fig. 10j–n

A prostrate herb; stems terete, herbaceous when young, semi-woody when old, white hirsute, 3–5 mm in diam. Leaf lamina ovate, 11–16 × 7–12 cm, apex acute, base cordate (rounded in young leaves), strigose below, strigulose above, secondary veins 7–8 pairs, raised beneath; petiolesa green, hirsute, 7–12 cm, longer than the peduncle. Inflorescence 4–8-flowered axillary cymes with one flower in the fork; peduncle 4–7 cm, shorter than the petiole, white hirsute, hairs bulbous based; bracts 2–3, lanceolate, subequal, 2.5–3.0 cm, apex acute to acuminate, hirsute on both surfaces, hairs bulbous based, bract of the flower in the fork leaf like, foliose, 3.0–3.2 × 0.9–1.0 cm. Flower subsessile; pedicels 1–2 mm. Sepals 5, lanceolate, subequal, 1.0– 1.3 cm, apex acuminate, hirsute outside, glabrous inside, inner sepals only non-overlapped portion hairy, hairs bulbous based; corolla infundibuliform, 5–5.5 × 6–6.2 cm, purple, corolla lobes twisted in bud. Stamens 5, unequal, 3 short, 2 long; filaments 1–1.5 cm, pale pink, dilated at base, glandular hairy; anthers pink, oblong, 4 mm. Ovary conical, pale green; stigma biglobose, pale pink; style white, 2.5–2.7 cm. Berries yellow, fleshy, 0.7–1 cm across; seeds 6–7 mm long, white, hilum prominent.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering from August to September and fruiting from October to December.

Habitat: The species is more frequent at shady places underneath the forest and in grasslands at 700 m altitude.

Distribution: India (Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil nadu and Maharashtra); endemic.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘ pilosa’ refers to the pilose nature of the plants.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Shimoga District, Jog Falls , 06.11.1956, U. M . Patel 1909 ( BLAT); Uttar Kannda District, Siddhapur , 05.11.1956, U. M . Patel 1856 ( BLAT); Uttar Kannada District, Dandeli , 26.12.1955, U. M . Patel 1669 ( BLAT); Shimoga District, Tirthanhalli , 19.12.1964, R. S . Raghavan 97471 ( BSI); Mysore District, Tenginhyle , 21.12.1964, R. S . Raghavan 103758 ( BSI); Kodagu District , 23.07.1978, S. R . Ramesh 1938 ( CAL); Uttar Kannada District, Yellapur , 29.09.1884, W. A . Talbot 1029 ( CAL); Shimoga District, near Thirthahalli , October 2018, P. R . Lawand 058 ( NCK) . Kerala, Travancore Division, Ariculari , 07.09.1913, M . Rama Rao 1613

(CAL). Maharashtra, Kolhapur District, near Pushpanagar, Bhudargad , September 2016, P . R .

Lawand 021 (NCK); Kolhapur District, Ajara,

Velvatti, August 2018, P. R . Lawand 056 (NCK);

Kolhapur District, Ajara, Chaloba, August 2018,

P.R. Lawand 057 (NCK).

Conservation status: The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of species is more than 20,000 km 2 and Area of Occupancy (AOO) of species is less than 2000 km 2. Number of mature individiduals in EOO are greater than 10,000. According to IUCN guidelines for such a taxon the category Near Threatened (NT) can be allotted ( IUCN, 2024).

Vernacular names: Pasari sonarin (Marathi); Kugnatha Val (Kannada); Koppakkizhangu, Paei Unnankizhangu (Tamil).

Notes: Argyeria pilosa is morphologically similar to A. hirsuta , with both species occurring sympatrically. However, they can be distinguished by differences in habit, peduncle length, number of flowers, and fruit color.

Traiperm and Staples (2017) reported the occurrence of this species in Jammu and Kashmir; however, this report is erroneous, as no herbarium specimens were found during consultations, nor has the species been documented in any floras or collections.

Figures

Fig. 10. Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Bojer (a-e):a. Habit;b. Leaf abaxial surface;c. Flower with bracts;d. Bracts;e. Infructescence. Argyreia osyrensis (Roth ex Roem. & Schult.) Choisy (f-i): f. Flowering twig; g. A flower; h. Sepals; i. Infructescence. Argyreia pilosa Wight & Arn. (j-n): j. Habit;k. Inflorescence; l. Bracts;m. Sepals; n. Infructescence.