On the identity and rediscovery of Hedyotis beddomei Hook. f. (Rubiaceae): a lesser known endemic species of Western Ghats, India Prabhukumar, Konickal Mambetta Jagadeesan, Raveendran Aiswarya, Pilathottathil Sunil, Chandrasseril Narayanan Thomas, Valukattil Ponnachan Prasad, Kothareddy Balachandran, Indira Phytotaxa 2018 2018-11-13 375 3 229 234 3JZYH Hook. f. (1880: 52) Hook. f. 52 1880 [136,575,1876,1903] Magnoliopsida Rubiaceae Hedyotis Plantae Gentianales 0 229 Tracheophyta species beddomei  Erect shrubs, 15–30 cmhigh, dichotomously branched. Stems angular, canaliculated, broadened below nodes, slightly winged towards tips when young, terete when mature, stipular scars present, whitish when dry, glabrous. Leaves simple, opposite, sessile or subsessile, compactly arranged; stipules 4.2–4.5 × 2.5–3.2 mm, triangular, pubescent on the middle; lamina 2–3 × 1–2 cm, elliptic–ovate or elliptic–oblong, acute at apex, entire, rounded and contracted at base to 1 mmlong petiole, coriaceous, glabrous, green above, pale beneath; nerves 6–9, conspicuous, nerves never reaching the apex, glabrous, convergent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary umbellate cyme, involucrate up to 80-flowered; peduncle 2.5–3 cmlong, purple, pubescent, canaliculate, slightly winged, flattened above; bracts in 2–3 series, sessile or subsessile; outer bracts 5–10 × 5–8 mm, orbicular–ovate, acute at apex, truncate at base, ciliate on margin, 6–8- nerved, nerves obscure on upper and prominent beneath, glabrous, sparsely pubescent beneath; inner bracts 4.5–7 × 1.8–5, ovate–elliptic or lanceolate, acute at apex, ciliate on margins, glabrous. Flowers 6–8 mmlong, compact, sessile, pubescent. Calyx greenish-purple, pubescent; tube 1.8–2.2 × 1.2 × 1.4 mm; 4-lobed, lobes valvate, lanceolate to triangular, 1.8–2mmlong, acute, pubescent, green. Corolla tubular, blue, pubescent; tube 2.2–2.5 long, woolly inside, sparsely pubescent outside, 4-lobed; lobes 1.4–1.7 × 0.8–1.2 mm, lanceolate, acute, recurved, sparsely scabrid on both surfaces, glandular ciliate on margin. Stamens 4, epipetalous, filament 0.3–0.5 mmlong, to nearly sessile, pubescent; anthers 9–11 mmlong, linear–oblong, dorsifixed, dark blue, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 1.2–1.5 mmlong, oblong, sparsely pubescent, green; ovules 2–5 ineach locule; style 2.2–2.4 mm, pubescent towards tip; stigma bi-lobed, papillose. Capsule oblanceolate, 3.4–3.6 × 1.6–1.8 mm, hispid, angular, 15–20 seeded, dehiscing septicidally. Seeds planoconvex or angular, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.8 mm, testa reticulate, black, glabrous.  Phenology:—October–March.  Habitat and Distribution:—Occurs in grasslands at an altitude of ± 2100 min Elivalmala region of Muthikulam forest in the Agali Forest Range of the Mannarkad Forest Division, Palakkad. The Muthikulam forest area is located on the northern side of the Palakkad gap, a comparatively less explored region with rich biodiversity ( Prabhukumar et al.2014).  Conservation Assessment:—  Nayar&Sastry (1987)commented on the status of  H. beddomeiin the Red Data Book of Indian Plants: “Endangered, known only from the original collection made about 100 years ago. Though the region has been well explored, it could not be rediscovered”. Duringour first exploration in the region in 2013, we noted the vegetative stages of the species but were unable to identify it in the absence of flowers. Thepresent collections with profuse flowering material made during  November 2016helped us to finally identify the species. The areaof occupancy is estimated to be less than 1 km². Thenumber of individuals in the population varied from 25–40. Since2007, previous explorations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu stateof Western Ghats, especially in Palakkad Hillsand Nilgiri Biosphere Reserveregions, helped us to conclude that this species is strictly endemic to the Elivalamala regionof Muthikulam forest. Basedon the area of occupancy, number of populations and individuals per population, the species is assessed here as ‘ Critically Endangered’( CR B1ab(i,ii,iv); 2ab(i,ii,iv); E) following IUCNRed List Categories and Criteria.  Note:—The species was initially described as  H. capitataBedd. (1872: 191)by Beddome, was based on one of his collection from Palakkad Hills. However, Beddome overlooked several earlier homonyms, which rendered the name an illegitimate later homonym. Hence, Hooker replaced the same as  Hedyotis beddomeihonored to R.H. Beddome. The Muthikulam forest area is a comparatively little-explored region in Palakkad district, Kerala. The authors made ample botanical surveys in the region during 2013–2017and described several new taxa such as  Isacne manilalianaSunil, K.M.P. Kumar & V.P. Thomas (2017: 101),  Arundinella muthikulamensisSunil, K.M.P. Kumar & V.P. Thomas (2017: 101),  Habenaria sahyadricaK.M.P. Kumar, T.K. Nirmesh, V.B. Sreek. & Kumar (2016: 196),  Ophiorrhiza sahyadriensisHareesh, V.B. Sreek. & K.M.P. Kumar (2015b: 219),  Impatiens glabrataK.M.P. Kumar, Hareesh & Bhaskar (2016: 33),  Exacum keralenseGeethakum., K.M.P. Kumar, Pandur. & Deepu (2016: 429), and also reported the rediscovery of  Gnidia glauca(Fresen.) Gilg var. sisparensis(Gardner) Kumari (1987:214)by Prabhukumar et al.(2014: 131). During 1860–1872, Beddome have done many collection from the Western Ghats especially on ‘Palakkad Hills’ as indicated on the labels of his collections ( Beddome 1864). Interestingly, we have found many species that Beddome reported from ‘Palakkad hills’ from Elivalmala area at 6000 ft.such as  Gnidia glaucavar. sisparensisand  H. beddomeiat an elevation of ± 6000ft.We guess, the typelocality of Beddome’s collection from ‘Palakkad hills’ might be the Elivalamala region of Muthikulam forest.  Specimens examined: —  INDIA: Kerala, Palakkad district, Muthikulam forest, Elivalmala, ±  2050m.,  13 November 2016,  K. M. Prabhukumar& P. M. Binu Prakash9895 ( CMPR!); ca.  2000 m.,  13 November 2016,  C. N. Sunil & V. P. Thomas4564 ( SNMH!);  Palakkad district, Palakkadhills,  March 1872, Beddome255 ( K000031036!). 2016-11 CR, E, IUCN Red Data Book of Indian Plants The During 3 232 B1 1 Kerala and Tamil Nadu state 2016-11-13 K, M, P, CMPR Palakkad district 2050 Elivalmala Muthikulam forest 3 232 1 Kerala 2016-11-13 C, N, V, P, SNMH 2000 3 232 1 Kerala [418,1280,2068,2093] 1872-03 K Palakkad Palakkad district 3 232 K000031036 1 Kerala