Globba tyrnaensis Y. Ritu & V. Gowda, 2024

Yadav, Ritu & Gowda, Vinita, 2024, Six new species of Globba L. (Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae) from the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India, PhytoKeys 246, pp. 197-228 : 197-228

Globba tyrnaensis Y. Ritu & V. Gowda sp. nov.

Fig. 9

Type.

India. Meghalaya: East Khasi Hills district, Tyrna village, Double decker bridge , 25.2513, 91.672, elevation 731 m, 25 July 2022, Y. Ritu VG 2022 WB 3725 (holotype: BHPL!; isotype: ASSAM!) .

Diagnosis.

G. tyrnaensis is morphologically similar to G. orixensis and G. macroclada but different in having short inflorescence, absence of inflorescence bracts, petiolate lamina, short filament, large anther (Fig. 9 ) vs. large inflorescence, presence of inflorescence bracts, sessile lamina, large filament and small anther.

Description.

Terrestrial herbs, 32–59 cm tall including inflorescence height, pseudostem swollen at the base. Rhizomes compact, non-tuberulous, creamish-white. Leafy shoot with 6–11 leaves; sheath ligulate, ligule 3 mm long, bilobed, translucent margin and green in center, turns papery when dry, pubescent; lamina 13–18 × 2.8–3.2 cm, subsessile, petiole 0.5 cm, green with cream color stripes, glabrous, narrowly ovate, base obtuse, apex caudate, margin entire, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal to the leafy shoot, 3–8 cm long, erect; peduncle 18 mm long, light green with maroon dots, glabrous; rachis, green with maroon patches, glabrous, bracts and bracteoles absent. Ebracteate cincinni 5–16, each cincinni with 2–3 flowers. Floral pedicel 0.15–0.5 cm, light green, glabrous. Flowers 3–3.9 cm long, orange, recurved; calyx 8–9 mm long, yellowish orange; floral tube 1.2–1.3 mm long, dull orangish red, densely pubescent, bent upwards holding the flower upright; dorsal corolla lobe 5.2–5.5 × 2.3–3.2 mm, ovate, apex cucullate, orange, glabrous; lateral corolla lobes 5.7 × 3.3 mm, ovate, apex acute, yellow, glabrous; labellum 7 × 5 mm, corniculate, ovate, orange in center with lighter orange margin, labellum notch with echinate structures, cornicula 0.2–0.3 mm in length, glabrous; lateral staminodes 4.7–4.8 × 2.7 mm, narrowly ovate, apex acute, orange, hairs on margin. Stamen 2.1 cm long; filament 1.8 cm long, orange, glabrous, arching; anther 3.7 mm long, ovate, apex truncate, orange, crest 0.7–0.8 mm long, non-appendaged; style filiform, apex broader than the base, stigma 4–5 mm, cylindrical, apex ciliate. Ovary 3.1–3.6 × 2.5 mm, obovate, yellow, verrucose, epigynous glands 2, 0.3 cm long, linear, cream. Fruit 1.2 cm in diameter, globose, green, verrucose, calyx persistent. Bulbils 1.2–2 × 0.5–0.8 cm, ovoid, light green to light yellow, pubescent, bulbils present in the inflorescence and axil of leaves.

Distribution and ecology.

At present, we have seen G. tyrnaensis in the Double decker bridge, Tyrna village, and Thangkharang Park, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya. We have observed 150–200 individuals in Tyrna village and 10–15 individuals in Thangkharang Park, and the overall area of these two populations is ca. 400 m 2 each. G. tyrnaensis is terrestrial mostly growing in understory habitats inside forests at an elevation of ca. 731 m. We have observed different species of bees visiting the flowers of this species.

Phenology.

Flowering and fruiting were observed in the month of July.

Etymology.

The species epithet refers to the type locality for this species, which is at the Tyrna village, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya.

Informal conservation status.

We have documented G. tyrnaensis from two populations within the state of Meghalaya: at Double decker bridge (Cherrapunji district) and near Thangkharang Park (Cherrapunji district). Both populations were in community-protected areas with limited anthropogenic disturbance. The first population was spread across 20–30 km along the edge of the road, where 300–400 individuals were counted. The second population was spread across 5–6 km with 10–15 individuals. We surveyed seven potential locations in Meghalaya, which accounts to ~ 50 km 2 around the type locality (Double decker bridge), and we did not locate any other population of this species in this region. Based on the IUCN (2022) guidelines and observed population sizes and area of occupancy, we propose the conservation status of G. tyrnaensis to be Endangered according to criteria B 1. (a) (B 1: extent of occurrence is less than 100 km 2, a: less than or equal to 5 locations).

Specimens of allied species examined.

G. orixensis : India. Assam: Barak valley, Cachar district, Kumbhirgram, 21 July 2009, Coll.: D. Bhattacharyya 2501, Fl. & Fr.; Dargakona, Assam University Silchar Campus, behind Life Science and Bioinformatics Department, along the trek path to ecoforest, 24.6870 N & 92.7521 E, 13 July 2010, Coll.: Fl. (Herbarium of Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar), L. Darlong & D. Bhattacharyya 10063,

28 May 1808 ( E 00095817), 13 June 1920 ( E 00095807), ( E 00097427), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882 ( E 00097430), 13 June 1920 ( E 00095807), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882 ( E 00097430), 28 May 1808 ( E 00095817), 28 May 1809 ( E 00095821), ( E 00095820), ( E 00097427), ( E 00095812), 25.583 N, 91.633 E ( L 0487999), Wallich N ( L 0487998), Nayagarh, 5 August 1936, H. F. Mooney 528 ( L 0487991). Odisha: Keonjhar, H. F. Moooney 152 ( L 0488000). Meghalaya: Khasia, Regio Trop, Hooker J. D. ( L 0488002), Regio Trop, 28 September 2001, Hooker J. D. (P 01743148) Hort Bot. Calcutta et Serampore, Voigt, J. O. 101 (P 00252266), East Himalaya, 5634 (P 01743147). Myanmar. 13 August 1908 ( E 00097420), elevation 137 m, 13 August 1909 ( E 00097421), 13 August 1908 ( E 00097420), Sagaing Division, W. J. Kress 2-7123 ( US 00605376). Bangladesh. Elevation 40 m, 3 September 1999 ( E 00189266), 22.695 N, 92.237 E, elevation 40 m, 5 September 1999 ( E 00189267), Sreemangal, Lawachera forest, 24.25 N, 91.583 E, 8 May 1997, Williams K J ( L 0413463)

G. macroclada : India. Wallichn 6411 ( L 0487998), Assam: Khasia, 25.583 N, 91.633 E, 5 August 1936, Tea Deputation Tea Deputation s. n. ( L 0487999), Nayagarh, 8 May 1997, Mooney H. F. 528 ( L 0487991). Sikkim: East Himalaya, Griffith W 5639 ( L 0041113), Herb. Watt 8702 ( E 00095812), ( E 00097427), 6536 G ( E 00095820), 28 May 1808, 7 ( E 00095821), elevation 610 m, 31 May 1882, 6931 ( E 00097430), 13 June 1920, 277 ( E 00095807), Khasia, Hooker J. D. (P 01743148), East Himalaya, Herb. Griffith 5634 (P 01743147), Hort. Bot. Calcutta et Serampore, Voigt, J. O. 101 (P 00252266), East Himalaya, 12 July 1884, Griffith, W. 5639 (P 032726), Mogpoo, Silake, elevation 3000 m, 12 July 1884, s. c. | Boissier, P. E. (P 00686490), Silake, elevation 609.6 m, Buissier, P. E. (P 00686489). Bangladesh. 24.25, 91.583, elevation 35 m, 1 March 1971, Huq AM; Mia MK ( L 0413463), elevation 40 m, 3 September 1999, 972 ( E 00189266). Myanmar. 13 August 1908, elevation 137 m, 4195 ( E 00097420). Nepal. 26.816 N, 87.3 E, elevation 500 m, 13 August 1972, 1427 ( E 00500193). United States of America. Maryland: NMNH Botany Research Greenhouses. Suitland, 28 September 2001, W. J. Kress & M. Bordelon 02-7123 ( US 3432988).

Taxonomic notes.

The new species is similar to two species in flower color, and absence of anther appendages. This species is different from G. orixensis in its petiolate leaves 0.5 mm (vs. subsessile), absence of inflorescence bracts (vs. present), short filament 1.8 cm (vs. 2.4 cm), and large anther 3.7 mm (vs. 2 mm). The species is different from G. macroclada in its petiolate leaves (vs. sessile), short inflorescence 3–8 cm (vs. 15 cm), and absence of inflorescence bract (vs. present). The detailed morphological comparisons between G. tyrnaensis and G. orixensis are presented in Table 3 .

Figures

Figure 9. Globba tyrnaensis sp. nov. A habit B rhizome C ligule D inflorescence E flower (front view) F flower (side view) G gynoecium H dissected flower, cl (corolla lobes), an (anther), ls (lateral staminodes), la (labellum) I fruit J Bulbils. Photographs by Y. Ritu.