Osbeckia nepalensis Hook. var. albiflora Lindl.

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 262-264

Osbeckia nepalensis Hook. var. albiflora Lindl. , Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 17: t.1475. 1831. Lectotype (designated here): Edward’s Bot. Reg. 17: t.1475.

Fig. 11

Perennial, erect, branched shrubs, c. 2 m tall. Stems clothed with appressed to ascending or shaggy hairs. Leaves sessile or sub sessile (petioles 0.5–1.5 mm long); lamina lanceolate, 5–16 × 2–5.5 cm, 5– 7-nerved, apex acute, base cordate or subcordate, both sides clothed with ascending shaggy hairs above, soft beneath. Inflorescence terminal or axillary panicles, 5–10-flowered. Flowers pentamerous; bracts ovate to broadly ovate, 7–15 × 5–9 mm, ciliate and appressed-hairy; pedicels 1– 6 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, 6–10 × 5.5– 7 mm, with few to several sub appressed scale like emergences, simple hairs absent; intersepalar emergences 1–1.5 × 1–2 mm, lobed, with a tuft of short bristles, caducous; other emergences similar in shape. Sepals 5, ovate, 8–11 × 4–7 mm, apex often acute, with few indistinct nerves, margins ciliate, caducous. Petals 5, broadly obovate to obcordate, 15–20 × 4–7 mm long, white, margins ciliate. Stamens 10; filaments 4–6 mm long; anthers narrowly ovate, 6–9 mm long, attenuate, not twisted, pore oblique on ventral side at the apex, connective sometimes slightly prolonged between collar and sacs. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half of its length; anther pockets extending to the base of ovary; crown distinct; style 13–19 mm long. Capsules campanulate, 6–l0 × 5–8 mm, rim of hypanthium exceeding the crown; seeds minute, curved, 0.1–0.2 mm long, numerous.

Flowering & fruiting: June–December.

Chromosome number: n = 19 ( Favarger, 1962), n = 20 ( Mehra & Khosla, 1969).

Habitat: Occurs in swampy areas of evergreen forests while in high altitudes it is seen in open grasslands.

Distribution: Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, North Vietnam and Thailand.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang district , Kameng F.D., Kalaktang, 14.01.1958, G. Panigrahi 15615 ( CAL) ; West Kameng district, Kalaktang, 14.11.1973, P.K. Hajra 54102 (ASSAM); Sessa Orchid Sanctuary , Tippi , 01.07.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6110 ( DEV) . Meghalaya, East Khasi hills district, Barapani , 13.10.1954, G.K. Deka 1435 (ASSAM); Khasia & Jaintia Hills, 21.12.1956, G. Panigrahi 4949 (ASSAM); Pynursula, 12.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6133 ( DEV) ; Shillong, 23.01.1931, Shriram Sharma 9003(ASSAM); Jaintia hills district, Jowai , 18.11.1969, N.P. Balakrishnan 49989 (ASSAM) . Sikkim, West Sikkim district, Dantam to Pelling , 13.09.2016, Prashob, Sibichen & Anilkumar 6105 ( DEV) ; Khecheopalri lake , 14.09.2016, Prashob, Sibichen & Anilkumar 6609 ( DEV) .

Figures

Fig.11.OSbeCkia NepaleNSiS HOOk.VaR.albiFlORa LiNdl.: aa.. Habit;b.FlOweR; C.HypaNthiUM; d.BRaCt;e.CalyX lObe;F.INteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe; g. CalyX lObeS & iNteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCeS; hh.. StaMeNS;i ii. SeedS.