Lagenandra kalugalensis Madola, D.Yakandawala & K.Yakandawala, 2021

Madola, Indrakheela, Yakandawala, Deepthi, Yakandawala, Kapila & Karunaratne, Senani, 2021, Two new species of Lagenandra (Araceae) from the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka, Phytotaxa 522 (3), pp. 187-199 : 190-193

Lagenandra kalugalensis Madola, D.Yakandawala & K.Yakandawala , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2–4 )

The habit of L. kalugalensis differs from all other species described to date, both from the leaf shape and orientation of the limb in relation to the kettle. The large, more or less oblong/linear leaf blades with parallel margins are distinct from other species. All other species possess either elliptic, elliptic-ovate, ovate-narrowly ovate, narrowly lanceolate or linear leaves with no parallel margins. The light maroon-violet spathe with un-twisted limb that opens up widely and is placed 45° to the kettle are other distinct features of L. kalugalensis . Even though limb of L. koenigii is occasionally placed approximately 45° to the kettle, the peduncle of L. koenigii is much shorter than of L. kalugalensis and the limb is always less open. The limb of both L. srilankensis and L. koenigii are untwisted but can be easily separated from L. kalugalensis as the limb of the latter is widely opened.

Type:— SRI LANKA, Western Province, Kalutara District, Kalugala in the periphery of the Kalugala Forest Reserve of Sri Lanka , 47 m asl. Collected 1 February 2020, Madola, Yakandawala & Yakandawala L69 (holotype PDA!, isotypes PDA!, K!) .

Evergreen large herb with creeping to erect rhizome ca. 1.0– 1.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls ca. 6.5–15.0 cm. Petiole ca. 17–45 cm long, ca. 0.5–0.7 cm wide, sheath ca. 3.5–9.5 cm long, unequal. Leaf blades green, blade more or less oblong/linear with parallel margins, apex acuminate, base gradually tapering/acute, margin entire, blade ca. 19.0–28.5 × 5.0– 10.5 cm; midrib visible on both surfaces and prominent on the lower surface. Peduncle ca. 14.0– 29.5 cm long, 0.5–0.6 cm width, terete. Spathe light maroon/violet, slightly rugose with no distinct warts, ca. 9.5–15.0 cm long, kettle ca. 1.5–3.5 × 1.0– 1.5 cm, light maroon/violet with smooth longitudinal striations inside; limb ca. 4.0–6.5 x 1.3–2.5 cm, un-twisted, placed 45° angled to the kettle and opens up widely, light maroon/pink and horizontally irregularly roughened inside; tail ca. 3.0–6.5 × 0.1–0.3 cm. Spadix ca. 2.0– 2.7 cm long; pistillate flower zone ca. 0.5–0.7 × 0.6–0.7 cm; sterile zone ca. 0.8–1.5 cm long (whitish pink); staminate flower zone ca. 0.3–0.5 × 0.2–0.3 cm, cream; appendix ca. 0.2–0.3 x 0.1–0.2 cm long, whitish maroon. Pistils ca. 55–60, upright. Style clearly visible. Staminate flowers ca. 80–84. Infructescence up to 21cm long, oblate with few fruitlets, fleshy capsule up to 38–40, with warty out-growths. Seeds 4–5, size ca. 0.4–0.6 × 0.2–0.3 cm and longitudinally ridged.

Distribution, phenology and conservation status:— To date distribution of L. kalugalensis appears to be restricted to one locality is Sri Lanka, in the stream-let, that originates from the Kalugala Forest Reserve, which joins the Kaluganga (River). The population is scattered and spread over a stretch of about 150 m. The population consists of about 35 mature individuals. The streamlet where the plant populations are occurring is bordering the Kalugala Forest Reserve and not within the protected area. Therefore, the plants are exposed to anthropogenic activities. According to personal communication with the villagers, a few years back there had been a person who visited the area regularly and collected plants in large scale with the help of the villagers for export. The plants inhabit the bank of the stream and is exposed to strong water currents during the rainy season where the rains are severe in the Wet Zone.

Peak flowering of L. kalugalensis was observed from January-April, occasional flowering from July-October. Fruiting from February to May and July-November. The open inflorescence persists for 3–4 days.

The calculated AOO accounted to 4 km 2 while we were unable to calculate the EOO due to the presence of only one data point. Therefore, the EOO was also taken as equal to AOO. Considering the facts that L. kalugalensis being restricted to only one locality in the country, and the number of healthy individuals in the population is restricted to less than 35 mature individuals, scattered along the bank of a streamlet bordering the protected area and is subjected to anthropogenic activities, the population could be considered as under threat. Following the present IUCN guidelines (2019); based on geographic range, with only 4 km 2 of EOO and AOO, this species qualifies for Critically Endangered category (CR) under the thresholds for both B1 and B2. Considering the anthropogenic activities at the border of the protected area, number of locations is considered as 1 (a). Further, considering the conditions, the large healthy population of L. kalugalensis located in the broader of the protected area exhibited a continuing decline in the EOO (bi) and AOO (bii) which is evident from the personal communication with the villagers, where large scale collections have been made few years back. Further, a continuing decline is observed in the quality of the habitat (biii) as well as the number of mature individuals (bv). Considering all these facts, L. kalugalensis qualifies for Critically Endangered category under Criterion B1ab (ii,iii,v) + B2ab (ii,iii,v).

Habitat:— The plants inhabit the bank of the streams.

Eponymy:— The new species is named after the Kalugala Forest Reserve that was recently declared as a forest reserve, where the type locality falls in the boundary of the reserve.

Other specimens examined (paratypes):— Kalugala Forest Reserve , 47 m asl. Collected 16 January 2021, Madola, Yakandawala & Yakandawala L220 ( PDA!)

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lagenandra kalugalensis; A. Habitat. B and C. Habit.

FIGURE 3. Lagenandra kalugalensis; A. Leaf, B. and C. Spathe from different angles showing the opening in the limb; note the untwisted spathe and the limb placed 45° angled to the kettle and opening up widely. D. Spathe dissected and opened. E. Kettle with the spadix; note the light maroon/violet smooth longitudinal striations. F. Pistillate flower zone. G. Appendix and staminate flower zone. H. Infructescence and I. Seeds.

FIGURE 4. Lagenandra kalugalensis; A. Habit. B. Spathe. C. Infructescence and D. Seeds.