Ophiorrhiza infundibularis N.P. Balakrishnan (1982: 61)

Hareesh, Vadakkoot Sankaran & Sabu, Mamiyil, 2018, The genus Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India with a new species, Phytotaxa 383 (3), pp. 259-272 : 260-263

1. Ophiorrhiza infundibularis N.P. Balakrishnan (1982: 61) . ( Figure 1 )

Type: — INDIA. Great Nicobar Island : 31–32 km on East-West road, 14 June 1977, N. P. Balakrishnan PBL5745 (Holotype: CAL!; Isotypes: CAL0000010865 !, PBL 0000000098 !, PBL 0000000099 !)

Erect herbs, 20–50 cm tall; stem branched, woody at base, terete, sparsely puberulent towards the apex, dark green; internodes 0.75–7 cm long. Stipules linear with a broadened base, 2.5–4 mm long, entire, acuminate at apex, puberulous, caduous. Petioles slender 1–5 cm long, puberulous, pale green; leaf blades ovate-lanceolate, 5–15 × 3–6 cm, acute to acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, margin entire, adaxially green, glabrous or puberulent, pale yellow and puberulent abaxially; secondary veins 10–14 pairs on each side, glabrous except puberulous on secondary veins below. Inflorescence terminal, corymbose cyme; peduncle 3–5 cm long, slender, puberulous; bract and bracteoles similar, linear, c. 1 mm long, puberulous, caducous. Pedicels 1–2 mm long, puberulous. Flowers 9.5–12 mm long, pale purplish-white. Hypanthium obovoid, 1.5–1.75 × 1.25–1.5 mm; disc c. 0.75 mm tall, glabrous. Calyx lobes triangular, 0.75–1 × c. 0.5 mm, acute at apex, adaxially puberulent, adaxially glabrous. Corolla campanulate, 8–10 mm long, pale purplish-white, pubescent; lobes ovate, c. 3 × 2 mm long, slightly curved inwards, acute, spreading. Short-styled flowers 9.5–11 mm long: stamens 5.5–6 mm long, inserted just below the middle of corolla tube above the scattered hairs of the base; filaments 3.5–4 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong-linear, 1.75–2 mm long, white; style filiform, 1.75–2 mm long, glabrous; style branches 2, ovate-lanceolate, c. 1.5 mm long, papillose. Long-styled flowers 9.5–12 mm long: stamens 3.25–3.5 mm long, inserted at just above the base of the corolla tube below the villous ring;

MAP 1. Distribution map of the genus Ophiorrhiza in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Small map showing part of India and adjacent countries. Andaman and Nicobar Island included in square.

filaments 1.25–1.5 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong-linear, c. 2 mm long, white; style filiform, 8–9 mm long, filiform, glabrous, white; style branches 2, deeply incurved c. 1.5 mm long, papillose. Ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous. Capsule obcordate, 5–6 × 8–10 mm long, reddish green, glabrous; seeds numerous, angular.

Phenology: —Flowering starts from May to December and fruiting from June to February.

Distribution, Habitat and Ecology: —Known only from Great Nicobar Island, ie. 31–32 km on East-West road and 41 km on North-South road between 90 to 100 m a.s.l. This taxon was growing in the moist shady places in the inland hill forests. The major threat observed was the natural calamities and developnmetal activities (road broadening).

Note: In the original description of O. infundibularis , the author gave the length of style in the long-styled flower as “ 1 mm long”, which is apparently a typographical error. This does not agree with the illustration provided in the protologue. The actual size of the style is 8–9 mm long.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ophiorrhiza infundibularis A. habit. B. inflorescence. C. infructescence. D. inflorescence top view. Photos by Joju P. Alappatt.