Osbeckia brachystemon Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat.

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 239-246

Osbeckia brachystemon Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat.

Bot. ser. 3, 14: 57. 1850; C.Hansen, Ginkgoana 4:

100. 1977; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 111. 1988;

Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 141. 1995; Sasidh.,

Fl. Shenduruny W.L.S. 130. 1997; Sasidh., Fl.

Periyar 144. 1998; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl.

Agasthyamala 278. 2002. Type: INDIA, Tamil

Nadu, Nilgiris (as Nellighery), 1840, M. Perrottet

189 (holo P02441103 digital image!).

O. cupularis D.Don ex Wight & Arn., Prodr. 323.

1834; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 514.

1879; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1: 494. 1919, p.p. Fig. 1

Annual, erect, branched herbs, 10–65 cm tall, generally with profuse short branches at the base. Stems covered with appressed, long, thin hairs. Petioles 1–4 mm long; lamina ovate, 2.2–4.5 × 1.5– 2.5 cm, apex acute to broadly acute or acuminate, base obtuse, margins ciliate, 3–5-nerved, both surfaces with patent, thin, long hairs. Inflorescence a terminal condensed panicle of 5–9 flowers, subtended by 1 or 2 pairs of leaves. Flowers tetramerous; bracts green, narrowly ovate, 1–2.5 × 0.5–1.5 mm long, densely hairy; pedicels 1–1.5 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, 3–7 × 2–5 mm, thinly clothed with hairs and stellate emergences; intersepalar emergences stalked, 0.5–2 mm long, stalk with patent short hairs, head stellate with long bristles; other emergences a few, occurring only on the uppermost part of the hypanthium, hairs patent, light brown, long and thin. Sepals 4, persistent in fruit, triangular to attenuate, 1.2–3 mm long, 1-nerved, margins ciliate, tip stellate with long hairs, hairy on nerves. Petals 4, obovate, 4–8 mm long, white tinged with pink, ciliate at apex. Stamens 8; filaments 2–3 mm long, white, glabrous; anthers oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, yellow, not twisted, not beaked, pores one or two, oblique on dorsal side; connective prolonged into a small collar. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half of its length; anther pockets absent; crown absent, clothed with bristles around base of style; style 3.5–5 mm long, glabrous. Capsules campanulate, slightly ribbed, 4–4.5 × 3–4 mm; seeds minute, 0.1–0.2 mm long, curved, muricate.

Flowering & fruiting: August–November.

Chromosome number: n = 10 ( Meenakumari & Kuriachan, 1990).

Habitat: Seen mostly on boarders of evergreen forests and grasslands at an elevation above 500 m. This species occur as large clusters, usually in association with O. virgata and O. parvifolia .

Distribution: Endemic to South India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district , Anamudi Shola N.P., 08.11.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5552 ( DEV) ; Devikulam , 12.1910, A. Meebold 171757 ( CAL) ; on the way to Edamalakudi , 23.08.2014, Prashob & Sibichen 5530 ( DEV) ; Eravikulam N.P., Petimudi, 23.08.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5528 ( DEV) ; Methap , 08.11.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5555 ( DEV) ; Munnar, Lockhurt gap, 10.10.1963, K.M. Sebastine 17507 ( CAL) ; Palakkad district, Silent Valley , Anginda, 12.10.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5539 ( DEV) ; Sispara , 12.10.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5537 ( DEV) ; Vengitapal , 12.10.14, Prashob & Sibichen 5540 ( DEV) . Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district , s.loc., s.d., C.E.C. Fischer 171760 ( CAL) ; Valparai, Anaimalais , 02.10.1984, K.M. Matthew 18314 ( RHT) ; Dindigul district, Berijam slope, Kodaikanal , 06.08.1984, K.M. Matthew 40604 ( RHT) ; Berijam Lake, Mathikettan range, 06.10.1994, V.S. Ramachandran 10333 ( FRLH) ; Kodaikanal , 15.09.1956, J. Pallithanam 2135 ( RHT) ; Leving path, Kodaikanal , 09.1955, K.M. Matthew 240 ( RHT) ; Pillar rocks, Kodaikanal , 13.08.1912, S.J. Manju 171749 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 27.07.1965, K.M. Matthew 24555 ( RHT) ; Thoopithooki parai, 16.08.1987, K.M. Matthew 50254 ( RHT) ; Upper Palani , 06.09.1911, C.E.C. Fischer 171756 ( CAL) ; Vandaravu Marian shola, Kodaikanal , 29.08.1987, K.M. Matthew 50534 ( RHT) ; Nilgiri district, Cinchona plantation, 24.02.19707, A.A. Ansari 1005 ( CAL) ; Coonoor , 08.1883, J.S. Gamble 171743 ( CAL) ; Kodanad , 10.11.1970, E. Vajravelu 3815 ( MH) ; Kotagiri- Aravenu , 22.10.1956, K. Subramanyam 1063 ( CAL) ; Kunnacombai road, 01.09.1957, K.M. Sebastine 4205 ( CAL) ; Mettukal , 28.07.1990, V.B. Hosagondan 162905 ( MH) ; Morley lake , 20.07.1948, V. Narayanaswami 2232 ( CAL) ; Mukuruti N.P., 20.09.2006, K. Ravikumar, R. Murugan & Shyla 105175 ( FRLH) ; Mullimund , 12.10.1972, K. Vivekananthan 42920 ( MH) ; Naduvattam , 02.10.1956, N.P. Balakrishnan 141 ( MH) ; Parsons valley, Ooty , 10.07.1970, J.E. Ellis 34607 ( MH) ; way to Pykara , 12.09.1930, V. Narayanaswami 4216 ( MH) ; Sholar , 26.08.1970, B.D. Sharma 35761 ( MH) ; s.loc., 10.1910, A. Meebold 171755 ( CAL) ; s.loc., 08.1887, G. King 171761 ( CAL) .

Notes: Osbeckia brachystemon is closely similar to O. parvifolia . They are usually found growing together at elevations above 500 m. However, O. brachystemon can be distinguished by its white flowers with pink blotches and 2-pored short anthers as opposed to pink to purple flowers and single pored, long anthers in O. parvifolia .

Osbeckia muralis Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3, 14: 56. 1850; C.Hansen, Ginkgoana 4: 41. 1977; C.J. Saldanha, Fl. Karnataka. 42. 1984; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist., 187. 1984; J.L.Ellis, Fl. Nallamalais 187. 1987; Ramach. & V.J.Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 187. 1988; Sasidh. et al., Bot. Stud. Med. Pl. Kerala 18. 1996; Sasidh. & Sivaraj., Fl. Pl. Thrissur 190. 1996; Sivaraj. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 273. 1997; Pull. & Chennaiah, Fl. Andhra Pradesh 389. 1997; B.D.Sharma et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 28. 2000; S.R.Yadav & M.M.Sardesai, Fl. Kolhapur Dist., 196. 2002; Pull. et al., Fl. Eastern Ghats 56. 2002. K.G.Bhat, Fl. Udupi 219. 2003; G.V.S. Rao & G.R.Kumari, Fl. Visakhapatnam Dist. Andhra Pradesh 339. 2003; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 223. 2005; Sunil & Sivad., Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 296. 2009. Lectotype (designated by Hansen, 1977): INDIA, Karnataka, Mangalore, R.F. Hohenacker 577 (P02441130 digital image!).

O. zeylanica Steud. ex Naudin., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3, 14: 56. 1850.

O. truncata D.Don ex Wight & Arn., Prodr. 332. 1834. C.B. Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 514. 1879; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1: 494. 1919. O. truncata var. kurzii C.B.Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 514. 1879. Type: INDIA, Bihar, Parasnath, s.d., Kurz s.n. (holo K000890021 digital image!)

O. truncata Arn., Companion Bot. Mag. 2: 308. 1837, nom. illeg. Fig. 2

Annual, erect, branched, herbs, 5–55 cm tall. Stem quadrangular, sparsely covered with patent thin hairs, laxly villous. Petioles 2–9 mm long; lamina elliptic to ovate, 1–4.5 × 0.8–2 cm, apex acute, base obtuse, margins ciliate, both sides thinly clothed with ascending to thin patent hairs, 3-nerved. Inflorescence a terminal dense panicle of 6–15 flowers, subtended by 1 or 2 pairs of leaves, occasionally one or a few flowers arise from adjacent nodes. Flowers tetramerous; bracts triangular, 1.5–3 mm long, margins ciliate; pedicels 1–3 mm long, covered with patent thin hairs. Hypanthium campanulate, 3–4.5 × 2–3.5 mm, sparsely covered with patent emergences and long hairs. Intersepalar emergence stalked, 0.5–1.5 mm long, stalk terete with patent hairs, head stellate with a few long persistent hairs. Other emergences similar, smaller in size towards base, or restricted to uppermost part of hypanthium. Sepals 4, broadly triangular, 0.5–2 mm long, 1-nerved, persistent in fruit, margins ciliate, apex with one to few patent hairs and sometimes emergences on nerves dorsally. Petals 4, broadly ovate, 4–6 × 3–4 mm, pink, with few hairs at apex. Stamens 8, isomorphic; filaments 1–2 mm long; anthers ovate-oblong, 2–4 mm long, yellow, glabrous, apex truncate not twisted, pore large, oblique on dorsal side, connective prolonged into a small, slightly widened collar. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half its length, 1.5–2.5 mm long, 4-locular, anther pockets absent; crown absent, apically with many erect bristles; style 2–4 mm long, glabrous; stigma slightly widened. Capsules campanulate, ribbed, 3–4.5 × 2–3.5 mm; seeds numerous, 0.1–0.2 mm long, minute, curved.

Flowering & fruiting: July–December.

Chromosome number: n = 10 ( Meenakumari & Kuriachan, 1990).

Habitat: Occurs as clumps in lateritic soil and in rock crevices, between 50–650 m elevation. It appears on earth cuttings immediately after the monsoon.

Distribution: Endemic to India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Mysore district, Hosuru Agumbe , 05.10.1962, R.S. Raghavan 83008 ( CAL) ; Shimoga district , s.loc., 26.09.1978, K.P. Sreenath & K.R. Keshava Moorthy 2910 ( CAL) . Kerala, Ernakulam district, Tripunithura , 10.10.1975, K.N. Subramanyam 5366 ( CAL) ; Idukki district, Kattappana , 08.11.1981, R. Ramanujan & C.N. Mohanan 72426 ( CAL) ; Kozhikannam , 11.11.1975, K. Viveakananthan 46629 ( CAL) ; Kannur district, Karimbam , 16.11.1977, s.coll. 52369 ( CAL) ; Kollam district, Parackode , 11.08.1978, C.N. Mohanan 58464 ( CAL) ; Kozhikode district, Medical College campus, 22.09.2014, Prashob & Sibichen 5946 ( DEV) ; Thondayad , 21.09.2014, Sibichen & Prashob 5944 ( DEV) ; Malappuram district, Calicut University campus, 17.07.1984, A. Babu 38296, ( CAL) ; Palakkad district, Attapadi, South Malabar , 10.1910, C.E.C. Fischer 2305 ( CAL) ; Kanjarampuzha , 26.10.1964, K.M. Sebastine 21074 ( CAL) ; Pathanamthitta district, Punaloor , 24.08.1913, M. Ramaswami 1412 ( CAL) ; Thrissur district, Chalakudi , 11.1910, A. Meebold 171884 ( CAL) ; Edamadathara peak, 02.09.1913, C.C. Calder & S. Ramaswami 497 ( CAL) ; Travancore , 09.1884, J.S. Gamble 14694 ( CAL) . Maharashtra, Pune district, Ambavne village , 29.12.1964, s.coll. 101092 ( CAL) ; Dajipur , s.d., Milind Sardesi s.n. ( SUK) ; Dalkhand forest , 15.10.1967, K.V. Billore 111878 ( CAL) ; Malani forest , 26.10.1967, K.V. Billore 113026 ( CAL) ; Jamboti , s.d., Nilesh V. Mulpure 2381 ( SUK) . Uttarakhand, Hindugragh , 11.1891, Prain 171724 ( CAL) ; s.loc., 12.1869, G. King 171717 ( CAL) . West Bengal, Jambalpur-Hatigirdha , 04.11.1986, S. Panda & A.P. Das 270 ( CAL) .

Notes: Osbeckia muralis is one of the smallest species of the genus. It is often confused with O. chinensis var. pusilla , but can be distinguished by its thin patent hairs on the stem and much smaller flowers (4–8 mm diam.).

Osbeckia parvifolia Arn., Companion Bot. Mag. 2: 308. 1837; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 515. 1879; C.Hansen, Ginkgoana 4: 104. 1977; Ramach. & V.J.Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 188. 1988; B.D. Sharma et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 28. 2000; S.R.Yadav & M.M.Sardesai, Fl. Kolhapur Dist. 196. 2002. Amblyanthera parvifolia Blume, Mus. Bot. 1(4): 50. 1849. O. cupularis D.Don ex Wight & Arn. var. parvifolia (Arn.) Trim., J. Ceylon Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 9: 34. 1885. Lectotype (designated by Hansen, 1977): SRI LANKA, s.d., Walker 332 (K000867959 digital image!).

O. cupularis D.Don ex Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Indi. Orient. 1: 323. 1834, p.p.

O. confertiflora Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3 14: 59. 1850. Type: INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Nellighery, s.d., Perrottet 235 (holo P02441140 digital image!).

O. erythrocephala Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3, 14: 58. 1850. Osbeckia cupularis var. erythrocephala (Naudin) C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 514. 1879. Type: SRI LANKA, 1838, Macrae s.n. (holo P02441138 digital image!).

O. cupularis var. purpurascens Wawra, Itin. Princ. S. Coburgi 1: 33. 1883. Type: SRI LANKA, Piselava, s.d., H. Wawra 1163 (holo W0056490 digital image!).

O. rosea Fyson, J. Indian Bot. Soc. 11: 49. 1932. Type: INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri, s.d., Fyson 5731 (not traced). Fig. 3

Prostrate to erect, branched herbs, c. 30–90 cm tall. Stems quadrangular, brownish, with appressed or patent to slightly retrorse, long hairs. Petioles 3–6 mm long; lamina green, ovate, 1.5–6 × 0.8–3 cm, 3-nerved, apex acute to acuminate, base acute to broadly attenuate, both sides with ascending to patent, thin long hairs. Inflorescence a terminal loose cluster of 5–15 flowers, subtended by the upper 1 or 2 pairs of leaves; bracts ovate, 1.5–4 × 0.5–1.5 mm, green, ciliate. Flowers tetramerous or pentamerous; pedicels 1–5 mm long. Hypanthium globose, 2–5 × 1.4–4 mm, clothed with emergences and hairs; intersepalar emergences 1–2 mm long, stalk slender, terete to slightly flattened, with a few patent hairs, head small, stellate with a few long purplish bristles, persistent; other emergences similar, patent, large on upper part and much reduced below; hairs patent, white to purplish. Sepals 4, triangular, 2–4 × 0.5–2 mm long, one nerved, margins ciliate with a few patent hairs on nerve, persistent. Petals 4, broadly obovate, 5– 12 × 4–10 mm long, pink to purple, ciliate at apex. Stamens 8, filaments 2–5 mm long; anthers narrowly ovate, 2–3.5 mm long, subobtuse at apex, pore slightly oblique on dorsal or ventral side, connective prolonged into a collar with a small dorsal lobe and a larger ventral lobe. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half of its length; anther pockets not extending to the base of ovary; crown ciliate; style 5–9 mm long. Capsules globose, 5–7 × 4.5–6.5 mm; seeds minute, 0.1–0.2 mm long, numerous, curved.

Flowering & fruiting: August–March.

Chromosome number: n = 10 ( Subramanyam, 1946)

Habitat: In forest margins, open grasslands and tea plantations at elevations between 600–1700 m.

Distribution: India and Sri Lanka.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Chikmagalur district, Bababudangiri , 03.03.2016, Prashob & Sibichen 6023 ( DEV) ; Kadur , 09.1893, W.A. Taecot 171759 ( CAL) ; Kemmanaguddi , 05.09.1997, Ravikumar & Udayan 09643 ( FRLHT) ; Ibid. , 29.09.1996, Devar 09463 ( FRLHT) ; Ibid. , 03.03.2016, Prashob & Sibichen 6024 ( DEV) ; Kutheramukha , 16.03.1997, Ramesh, Udayan & Subramani 10220 ( FRLHT) ; Tithkole , 19.10.1965, R.K. Arora 5080 ( CAL) . Kerala, Idukki district, Kadalar , Munnar, 09.1937, Barnes 119542 ( DD) ; Marapalam , 20.01.1957 K.M. Sebastine 2109 ( CAL) ; Rajamala , 02.02.1970, B.V. Shetty 31787 ( CAL) ; Thiruvananthapuram district, Kallar , 09.1037, Barnes 119539 ( DD) ; Wayanad district, Chembra , 08.12.2014, Prashob & Sibichen 5559 ( DEV) ; Tirunnelli , 16.11.1978, V.S. Ramachandran 17804 ( CAL) . Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Sholayar submergible, 25.12.1963, K. Ramamurty 18097 ( MH) ; Nilgiris district, Coonoor , 10.1910, Meebold 171754 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , s.d., J.S. Gamble 21380 ( MH) ; Ibid. , 18.11.1940, Brown 85986 ( MH) ; Gudalur , 09.1937, Barnes 119540 ( DD) ; Gudalur light house, 10.1910, A. Meebold 172075 ( CAL) ; Gudalur- Naduvattam Road , 17.11.1958, K.M Sebastine 7313 ( CAL, MH) ; Marapalam, Coonoor , 18.11.1940, Brown 85986 ( MH) ; Ibid. , 20.01.1957, K.M. Sebastine 2109 ( MH) ; Ibid., Hulical Droog , 27.08.1957, K.M. Sebastine 4140 ( CAL, MH) ; Kengarai, Kotagiri , 25.01.1972, E. Vajravelu 39636 ( MH) ; Kotagiri Avenue , 22.10.1956, K. Subramanyam 1063 ( MH) ; Naduvattam , 30.08.1970, B.D. Sharma 35929 ( MH) ; Ooty , 09.1883, J.S. Gamble 12456 ( DD) ; Nilgiri , 10.1884, J.S. Gamble 172072 ( CAL) ; Sholurmattam , 23.07.1970, E. Vajravelu 35058 ( MH) .

Notes: Osbeckia parvifolia closely resembles and often confused with O. brachystemon but can easily be distinguished by its globose hypanthium.

Figures

Fig. 1. OSbeCkia bRaChySteMON NaUdiN:aa.. Habit; b. INFlOReSCeNCe; C. CalyX lObeS with iNteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCeS; d. BRaCt;e. StaMeNS aNd hypaNthiUM; F. GyNOeCiUM; g. SeedS.

Fig. 2. OSbeCkia MURaliS NaUdiN: aa.. Habit; b. FlOweR; C. HypaNthiUM; d. BRaCt; e. CalyX lObe; F. INteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe; g. StaMeNS; h. SeedS.

Fig. 3. OSbeCkia paRViFOlia ARN.: aa.. Habit; b. FlOweR; C & d. HypaNthiUM; e. CalyX lObe; F & i. StaMeNS; g. INteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe; h. Style; j jj. SeedS.