Abutilon persicum var. narasimhanii

Nimbalkar, Varsha Vilasrao & Sardesai, Milind Madhav, 2025, The Genus Abutilon (Malvaceae: Malvoideae) in India: A Taxonomic Revision and Insights from Micromorphology of Seeds, Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 49 (4), pp. 708-742 : 728

ABUTILON PERSICUM var. NARASIMHANII Devanath in Rheedea 28(2): 92–96. 2018.

TYPE: INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Namakkal district, Kolli hills, 27 Jan 2017, Devanathan 11330 ( Holotype: MH; Isotype CALI ).

Calyx 1 cm across, lobes lanceolate, 6–10 mm long, apex acute, below or up to the middle of the fruit. Ovary 6–9- loculed, with ≤ 1 mm awn. Capsules infundibuliform. Figures 11F–J , 12H–N .

Distribution and Habitat —The variety was first described from the Eastern Ghats by Devanathan (2018). He reported its occurrence in Myanmar also based on a specimen in CAL (138, s.d., s.l., s.c. Accession no. 53848). It was collected from Devikulam, on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border as part of an excursion during the present study. A herbarium specimen collected in 1926 from Nainital ( Uttarakhand) deposited at DD is also identified as of A. persicum var. narasimhanii . Thus, its distribution is known from both the southern and northern parts of India ( Fig. 13 ). The variety grows on the fringes of deciduous or semi-deciduous forests at high altitudes ( 400–1000 m).

Etymology —The varietal epithet is assigned in honor of D. Narasimhan for his significant work in the taxonomy and diversity of peninsular Indian plants.

Representative Specimens— India. — KERALA: Koyttayam Dt., 875m, 27 Jan 1965, K. Vivekanathan 23013 ( MH); Idduki Dt., Munnar, Devikulam to Bodi medu, 20 Feb 2019. — TAMIL NADU: Vellakoil, s.l., s.d., s.c. s.n., (labeled as A. ramosum ) Accession no. 93949 ( MH). Namakkal Dt., Kolli hills, Poongulam 27 Jan 2019, VVN 606 ( BAMU, SPPU). Theni Dt., Meghamalai, High wave estate, 16 Mar 2019, CG 610 ( SPPU). — UTTARAKHAND: Nainital Dt., Malwa Tal, 3 Dec 1926, A. G. Osmorton 1321 ( DD).

Figures

FIG. 11. Habit and morphology of A. pannosum (A–E) and A. persicum var. narasimhanii (F–J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D. Mericarp. E, J. Seed. I. Locule. (A, B by Gajanan Tambde; F, G and H by Arun Prasanth)

FIG. 12. Line drawing illustration of A. pannosum (A–G, drawn from VVN 580) and A. persicum var. narasimhanii (H–M, drawn from VVN 606). A, H. Leafy twig with flower and fruits. B. Flower. C, I. Staminal column. D, J. Gynoecium. E, K. Fruit. F. Mericarp. L. Locule. G, M. Seed.

FIG. 13. Distribution of A. pannosum, A. persicum var. narasimhanii, and A. persicum var. persicum in India.