Argyreia srinivasanii Subba Rao & Kumari, Fl. Visakhapatnam Distr.

P. R., Lawand & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Revision of the genus Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from India, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 337-396 : 389-390

33. Argyreia srinivasanii Subba Rao & Kumari, Fl. Visakhapatnam Distr. Andhra Pradesh 1: 556. 2003. Type: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Sileru to Donkarayi road, near Busi-konda, Subba Rao 42707 (MH). Fig. 14e–i

A climber grows up to 5–15 ft tall; stems semiwoody towards base, glabrous, young, purple, white sericeous, terete. Leaf lamina ovate–broadly ovate,

15–25 × 9–12 cm, base cordate, leaf lobes rounded,

apex shortly acuminate, adaxially strigulose, brown hirsute abaxially, not shining, secondary veins 6–7

pairs. Inflorescence axillary cymes, 5–7-flowered;

peduncle 3–6 cm long, white tomentose; petiole

7–10 cm long, longer than peduncle. Bracts 2,

outer leafy 2–2.5 × 0.5 cm lance-ovate, single prominently veined, inner bract 1–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 cm, linear-lanceolate. Flower pedicellate; pedicels c.

0.5 cm, tomentose. Sepals-5, subequal, outer three

c. 1.5 cm, ovate apically reflexed, inner two, 1–1.2

cm, shortly acuminate, hirsute without except on overlapped parts, glabrous within, lance-ovate,

enlarges in fruiting. Corolla infundibuliform, 4–6 ×

5–6 cm, rose pink, throat dark purple, c. 1 cm wide,

hirsute on midpetaline bands. Stamens 5, unequal,

2 long 2.5–3 cm long, 3 short 1.5–2 cm; filaments dilated and glandular hairy at base; anthers 4–5

mm long, sigittate, pink. Ovary pale green; style 1,

white; stigma biglobose, pale pink. Berries yellow,

1–1.5 cm across, 2–4 seeded.

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

Habitat: The species is frequent along the semi-evergreen forests of the Eastern Ghats.

Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh); endemic.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam District, Sileru , near water fall, 22.09.2018, P. R . Lawand 027 ( NCK) ;

Visakhapatnam District , Sileru, Busikonda road, 22.09.2018, P. R . Lawand 064 ( NCK) .

Chhattisgarh, Kanger Ghati National Park, on the way to Tirathgadh waterfall, 27.09.2018 ,

P.R. Lawand 066 (NCK). Odisha, Malkangiri District, Chitrakonda, forests near Chitrakonda,

22.09.2018, P. R . Lawand 065 (NCK).

Conservation status: Argyreia srinivasanii was initially known only from its type locality, Sileru in Andhra Pradesh. However, recent collections by the authors from Chhattisgarh (on the way to Tirathgadh Waterfall) suggest that the species’ distribution may extend to Odisha. Information on potential threats to this taxon remains unavailable. Therefore , it is appropriate to assign the category of Data Deficient ( DD) to this species, as per IUCN (2024) .

Note: In the protologue, Subba Rao & Kumari (2003) noted its similarity to Argyreia pilosa . However, apart from the presence of yellow berries and general flower morphology, the species is entirely distinct from A. pilosa . Instead, it is more closely allied to Argyreia arakuensis and may represent a geographic variant of it. Argyreia arakuensis and A. srinivasanii share several common traits, including a densely white-tomentose lower leaf surface, compactly arranged inflorescences, similar flower shape and size, comparable sepals, and yellow-colored fruit. However, A. srinivasanii is distinguished by its ovate leaves (longer than broad), the presence of 6–7 secondary veins, shorter peduncle length, and lanceolate-spathulate bracts that are narrower compared to those of A. arakuensis .

Figures

Fig. 14. Argyreia SplendenS (Hornem.) Sweet (a-d): a. Flowering twig; b. Corolla side & front view; c. Sepals; d. Fruit. Argyreia SrinivaSanii Subba Rao & Kumari (e-i): e. Flowering twig; f. Leaf abaxial surface; g. Inflorescence; h. Bracts; i. Sepals. Argyreia walliChii Choisy (j-m): j. Habit-flowering; k. Inflorescence;l. Sepals;m. Infructescence.