Abutilon ranadei, Woodrow & Stapf Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1894

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 : 732

11. ABUTILON RANADEI Woodrow & Stapf Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1894 (87): 99. 1894.

TYPE: INDIA. Maharashtra, Amba ghat, Kolhapur . 18 Dec 1853. N. B. Ranade s.n., K. [lectotype: designated by Nalawade et al. 2015: K-000659531 [photo]!] .

Shrubs, 2–4 m tall. Stem with light brown thin bark, young stem covered with stellate indumentum, intermixed with simple hairs on young stem. Leaf lamina 8–25 ˟ 4–15 cm, cordate or orbicular, simple and stellate pubescence on adaxial and abaxial surface, glandular hairs on abaxial surfaces, apex acuminate, margin serrate or sharply dentate in young leaves, coarsely serrate or subentire in matured leaves, 7-nerved. Petioles 8–15 cm long, pubescent with stellate and long simple hairs. Stipules 6–8 mm long, lanceolate or triangular, acuminate. Flowers axillary, solitary, blue-yellow, drooping, bell shaped when full bloomed; flowering pedicel 1.5 cm, articulated 5 mm above the flower; fruiting pedicel 2.5–3, articulated 1 cm below the fruit. Calyx campanulate, 5-parted, divided below the middle, lobes thick, lanceolate, gradually tapering towards apex, 1.5–2 cm long, apex acute to short acuminate, up to or exceeding the apex of mature fruit. Corolla 3–4 cm long, campanulate or bell shaped; petals 7–15 ˟ 5–9 mm, glandular hairy on dorsal side; base of a petal shortly clawed, white; gradually widening towards apex, bluish at middle; apex broader than middle, yellow, truncate, reflexed; middle blue part and apical yellow part intermixed with white veins. Staminal column 2–2.5 cm, base glabrous, tube 1.5–2 cm, glabrous, filaments 8–10 mm, glandular hairy below the anther. Ovary ca. 5 ˟ 3 mm, cylindrical, indented, pubescent with stellate hairs, 5-loculed. Capsule 2.5–3 ˟ 1 cm, campanulate, divided at apex, locules 5; a locule 15–20 ˟ 5–6 mm, dorsally straight and stellate pubescent, base rounded, apical part acuminate, with 2–3 mm awn, 4–5- seeded. Seeds 2.8–3 ˟ 2.8–3 mm, oval, unevenly depressed, warted, glabrous throughout, surface brown. Figures 17A–E , 18A–G .

Distribution and Habitat — India (Maharashtra). It is endemic to the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra state and is known to occur in 9–10 locations (Amba ghat, Radhanagari, Prachitgad, Torna fort, Rajgad fort, Mulshi, Vasota fort, Kaas, Gothane plateau) ( Fig. 16 ). The species prefers a high altitudinal range of 600–1500 m, shady, and slope regions of hills and it observed with fragmented populations in moist deciduous forests.

Etymology — Woodrow and Stapf (1894) described this species based on specimens collected by N. B. Ranade, former Herbarium Keeper of the College of Science, Pune, and the specific epithet ranadei is in his honor.

Phenology —Flowering starts in November and continues up to March. The flower usually opens after 11 AM. An individual flower goes through different stages of opening over 2–3 d viz., paintbrush stage, at which petals come out of the swollen calyx tube with fewer anther-tipped filaments protruding from the yellow apex of the petals; the trumpet stage, during which several changes take place in the structure of the flower such as the enlargement of floral parts like petals and the staminal column, and the differentiation of the middle blue and apical yellow shades of the petal can also be seen; the pollination stage, when the flower appears as a typical drooping bell. Insects and birds visit the flower at this stage to collect nectar, achieving pollination. After pollination, the flower enters a twisted corolla stage, at which petals twist, closing the staminal column and gynoecium, and later the floral parts fall off the plant.

Conservation Status —Endangered ( Gadkari and Datar 2021).

Notes —It grows among thickets of Strobilanthes callosa Nees. Plants of S. callosa are known to be used by local people for agricultural practices and fuelwood, usually harvested along with Abutilon ranadei . Some diseases and pests are also responsible for its rapid decline ( Tetali et al. 2004). This creates both natural and anthropogenic threats to the species. The conservation status of the species is rapidly shifting towards the threat of extinction as the number of individuals from all populations is declining at a high rate. Recently, Gadkari and Datar (2021) discussed the threat and declining individuals of A. ranadei in subpopulations. Although A. ranadei is usually observed to grow in exposed situations, some populations are seen as undergrowth in moist and dry deciduous forests.

Representative Specimens— India. — MAHARASHTRA: Kolhapur Dt., Amba Ghat , MMS 1800 ( SUK) ; ibid. 25 Jan 2021, VVN 639 ( BAMU, SPPU). Pune Dt., Tailbaila-Mulshi Road , 16 Mar 2011, V. S. Ghate s.n .; ibid Prakash Patel s.n .; ibid Mandar Datar s.n. ( AHMA) ; Torna fort, 16 Feb 2017, VVN 593 , ( BAMU, SPPU) ; Rajgad fort , 16 Jan 2021, VVN 634 ( BAMU, SPPU). Satara Dt., Vasota , Dec 1993, M. P. Bhachulkar 5829 ( SUK) ; Nageshwari hill, Jan 1995, M. P. Bachulkar 20012 ( SUK) ; on the way from Kas to Bamnoli , 17 Dec 2001, S. P. Gaikwad s.n. ( SUK) ; s.l., s.d., S. R. Yadav 5801 ( SUK) ; Near Kaas, 30 Jan 2021, VVN 643 ( BAMU, SPPU) .

Figures

FIG. 17. Habit and morphology of A. ranadei (A–E) and A. theophrasti (F–J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D. Locule. E, J. Seed. I. Mericarp.

FIG. 18. Line drawing illustration of A. ranadei (A–G, drawn from VVN 593) and A. theophrasti (H–N, drawn from VVN 594). A, H. Leafy twig with flowers and fruits. B, I. Flower. C, J. Staminal column. D, K. Gynoecium. E, L. Fruit. F. Locule. G, N. Seed. M. Mericarp.

FIG. 16. Distribution of A. ramosum, A. ranadei, and A. theophrasti in India.