Tripogon idukkianus Sunil & Pradeep, 2015

Sunil, C. N., Pradeep, A. K. & Kottekkattu, Thoiba, 2015, Tripogon idukkianus (Poaceae: Chloridoideae), a new species from India, Phytotaxa 202 (4), pp. 294-297 : 295

Tripogon idukkianus Sunil & Pradeep , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ).

Tripogon idukkianus is morphologically similar to T. anantaswamianus but differs in having linear acuminate, 5–13 mm long glabrous leaf blades, spikelets with 6–14 linear, secund florets, lemma 4-lobed, 3-awned, scabrid and palea 2-keeled, ciliate, bisetaceous subapically with an obtuse or acute apex.

Type: — INDIA, Kerala, Idukki District, Ramakkalmedu, 1500 m, 10 November 2002, C. N. Sunil 2267 (holotype K! isotypes CALI! MH!).

Plants caespitose perennials. Culms up to 55 cm tall, nodes glabrous. Leaf sheaths 5–9 cm long, coriaceous, sparsely hispid, summit with a tuft of hairs, the hairs 1–2 mm long, basal leaf sheaths papery; blades 20–62 × 0.2–0.3 cm, flat or involute, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, midrib inconspicuous, margins entire. Racemes 15–45 cm long, with 20–58 spikelets, terminal; rachis smooth, angular, glabrous. Spikelets 5–13 mm long, 6–14-flowered, secund, gray-green, distant, laterally compressed, florets loosely imbricate, rachilla usually not visible; callus bearded; lower glumes 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm, 1-veined, membranous, asymmetrical, broadened on one-side below the middle, apex subacute, sometimes lobed; upper glumes 4–5 × 1–1.5 mm, lanceolate-oblong, 1-veined, membranous, apex acute, notched, mucronate, the mucro 0.5 mm long, scabrous, the lateral lobes as long or shorter than the mucro; lemmas 3–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, membranous, gray-green, 3-veined, 3-awned, central awn 2–2.5 mm long, straight, rigid, scabridulous, lateral awns up to 2 mm long, apex acute, 4-lobed, each lobe, 0.5–1 × 0.25 mm, ovate-lanceolate; paleas 2.5–3 × 1 mm, hyaline, obovate, apex obtuse or acute, bisetaceous subapically, setae 0.25 mm long, curved, ciliolate; stamens 3, anthers 1–1.5 mm long; Ovary 0.25 mm long, globose with 2 styles, stigmas 0.75 mm long, purplish, feathery. Caryopses 1.5 × 0.25 mm, oblong, cylindric.

Distribution and Ecology: — Tripogon idukkianus is endemic to Kerala and is known only from the type locality, Ramakkalmedu in Idukki District of Kerala, South India. This species grows from 1000–1500 m elevation on rocky hillsides.

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting in October to late December.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tripogon idukkianus. A. Habit. B. Sheath and a portion of lamina. C. Spikelet. D. Lower glume. E. Upper glume. F. Floret. G. Lemma. H. Palea. I. Stamens, pistil and lodicules. J. Caryopsis. A–J, drawn from the holotype.