Ophiorrhiza jojui Hareesh & M. Sabu, 2018

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 : 263

2. Ophiorrhiza jojui Hareesh & M. Sabu sp. nov. ( Figures 2 & 3 )

Type:— INDIA. Andaman Islands ; North Andaman , Saddle Peak National Park, 2 km to the foot hill towards the top of Saddle Peak, ± 650 m a.s.l., 06 August 2017, M. Sabu & V. S. Hareesh 152760 (Holotype: CALI!; Isotypes CAL!, PBL!) .

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to O. infundibularis but differs in having ovate-elliptic leaves (vs. ovate-lanceolate), persistant stipule and bracts (vs. caducous), densely pubescent peduncle and pedicel (vs. puberulent), corolla glabrous on the outside (vs. pubescent) and short-styled flowers with a villous ring just below the middle of the corolla tube (vs. scattered hairs at base of the corolla tube) and pubescent capsule (vs. glabrous).

Erect herbs, 25–35 cm tall; stem branched rarely, woody at base, terete, pale purple and densely pubescent in young stage, dark purple and glabrous on its maturity; internodes 0.5–4.5 cm long. Stipules linear with a broadened base, 3–5 mm long, entire, acuminate at apex, pubescent, persistent. Petioles slender, 0.5–2.5 cm long, pale green to purple, pubescent; leaf blades ovate to ovate-elliptic, 3–10 × 1–4.5 cm, obtuse, acute or shortly acuminate at apex, attenuate at base, margin entire, green above, adaxially glabrous; abaxially glabrous except pubescens in secondary veins below, secondary veins 7–14 pairs on each side, pale yellow when young and gradually dark purple when mature. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, sub-corymbose cyme, 2–3 cm in diameter; peduncle 1.5–3.5 cm long, densely pubescent; bract and bracteoles similar, linear, 1.5–1.75 mm long, puberulent, persistent. Pedicels 1–1.5 mm long, densely pubescent. Flowers 12–17 mm long, white. Hypanthium obovoid, 1.25–1.5 × 1–1.35 mm; disc 0.2–0.3 mm tall, glabrous. Calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, 1–1.25 × c. 0.25 mm, acute at apex, pale green, adaxially pubescent, abaxially glabrous. Corolla campanulate, 10–12 mm long, white, glabrous outside, densely papillose inside with a ring of villous hairs below the middle; lobes ovate-lanceolate, 2.75–3.25 × 1.75–2 mm, acute at apex, shortly keeled on back, spreading. Short-styled flowers 12–16 mm long; stamens 2.25–2.5 mm long, inserted just above the middle of corolla tube above the villous ring; filaments 1–1.25 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong-linear, 1.25–1.5 mm long, pale yellow; style filiform, 1–1.25 mm long, glabrous; style branches 2, ovate-lanceolate, 0.8–1 × c. 0.35 mm, pale green, papillose. Long-styled flowers 15–17 mm long; stamens 1.5–1.75 mm long, inserted at the just above the base of the corolla tube below the villous ring; filaments 0.5–0.7 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong-linear, c. 1 mm long, pale yellow; style filiform, 7.5–8 mm long, filiform, white, glabrous; style branches 2, 0.5 × 2.5–2.75 mm, papillose. Ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous. Capsule obcordate, 5–6.5 × 6–8 mm, pale green, pubescent; seeds many, angular.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes): — India. Andaman Islands ; North Andaman , Saddle Peak National Park, 21 September 1982, R. K. Premanath 9236 ( PBL0000010685 !) ; South Andaman , Rutland, Badakhadi, 26 February 2004, K. Karthigeyan 2166 ( PBL!) .

Phenology: —Flowering starting from June to October and fruiting from August to December.

Etymology: —The specific epithet honours Mr. Joju P.Alappatt, Director, Department of Environment and Forests, Forest Training Institute, Wimberlygunj, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for his contribution to the flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Distribution, Habitat, Ecology and Conservation status: — Ophiorrhiza jojui is distributed in Saddle Peak National Park, North Andaman and Rutland of South Andaman. Saddle Peak is the highest peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with an elevation of c. 720 m above sea level. We observed several populations with about 200 mature individuals of this new species in the inland hill forests on the way to Saddle Peak. The new taxon was growing in association with Ardisia Swartz (1788: 48) sp. , Arisaema saddlepeakense P.S.N.Rao & S.K.Srivast. (1991: 575) , Ixora Linnaeus (1753: 110) sp. , Zingiber Miller (1754: 525) sp. etc. At present, the new species perceives threat. The area was opened to tourist for trekking in Saddle Peak National Park. The plants were seen along the way to the trek-path, clearing of paths may adversily affected the pupulations. Based on the available data the conservation status is assessed as Endangered (EN) B2ab(ii, iv,v) ( IUCN 2017).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Ophiorrhiza jojui A. habitat. B. habit. Photos by M. Sabu & V.S. Hareesh.

FIGURE 3. Ophiorrhiza jojui. A. a twig with flower. B. a twig showing the lower surface of leaves. C. node showing stipule. D. inflorescence. E. single flower. F,G. short styled-flower. H,I. long styled flower. F,H. split opened corolla showing villous ring and stamen. G,I. hypanthium with style and stigma. J. capsule. Photos by M. Sabu & V.S. Hareesh.