Osbeckia mehrana G.S.Giri & M.P.Nayar, Kew Bull.

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 257-259

Osbeckia mehrana G.S.Giri & M.P.Nayar, Kew Bull. 41(2): 429. 1986. Type: INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, way to Chemungi , 1200 m, 08.03.1979, M. Mohnan 61706 (holo CAL0000015811 !). Fig. 9

Perennial, erect, woody shrubs, c. 3 m tall. Stems branched, quadrangular, densely clothed with long, brown ascending or sub-patent hairs. Petioles 7–13 mm long, clothed with thin ascending hairs; lamina ovate, 1.5–4.5 × 0.8–3 cm, 5-nerved, dark green, apex acute, base obtuse, margins entire, upper side with ascending to sub patent hairs, lower side with patent hairs, hairs on the nerves are longer. Inflorescence terminal and axillary panicles, 5–7- flowered; bracts ovate, 2.5–4.5 × 1–2.5 mm, green, margins ciliate, wooly dorsally, caducous; Flowers pentamerous, pedicels 2–5 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, 4–6 × 3–5 mm, densely clothed with patent hairs and stellate emergences, sometimes emergences absent; intersepalar emergences stalked 1–2 mm long, stalk terete with ascending hairs, head disc-like with stellate long hairs, caducous; other emergences similar but smaller. Sepals 5, triangular, 3–5 × 1.5–2 mm, with acute apex, 1- nerved, margins ciliate, hairs at apex longer, midrib prominent with long patent hairs dorsally. Petals 5, obovate, 11–23 × 6–8 mm, pink, margins ciliate. Stamens 10; filaments 4–6 mm long, glabrous; anthers narrowly ovate, 4.5–5.5 mm long, yellow, pore oblique on ventral side of the tip; connective extended to a small collar with small dorsal and ventral lobe. Ovary 3–4.5 mm long, united with hypanthium for about half of its length; anther pockets extending to base of ovary, with dense cover of ascending hairs; crown with ascending hairs; style 12–17 mm long, glabrous, curved; stigma capitate, papillose. Capsules campanulate, 6–10 × 6–8 mm, enclosed by the calyx tube; seeds minute, numerous, 0.1–0.2 mm long, curved and muricate.

Flowering & fruiting: November–April.

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

Habitat: Occurs in evergreen forests and in grasslands at an elevation above 1500 m., in association with O. aspera var. wightiana and O. tirunelvelica .

Distribution: Endemic to South India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Agasthyamala, Chemungi , 08.03.1979, M. Mohanan 61706 ( CAL) ; Agasthyamala, Pongalapara , 15.03.2016, Prashob & Sibichen 6025, 6026, 6028 ( DEV) ; near Natarikal, Travancore boundary, 04.03.1917, s.coll. 21111 ( MH) ; Poonkulam, on the way to Agastyarkudam , 05.03.1980, M. Mohanan 115996 ( MH) . Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli district, Kothayar Dam house, 16.04.1997, V.S. Manickam 12532 ( XCH) ; Kothayar Hills, Dam valley , 12.03.1998, V.S. Manickam 14994 ( XCH) ; Kothayar, Muthukuzhivayal , 11.03.1998, V.S. Manickam 14944 ( XCH) ; Kothayar Hills, Stream across Dam house, 10.03.1998, V.S. Manickam 14878 ( XCH) ; Papanasam hills, Uppuma mottai, 07.04.1999, V.S. Manickam 18856 ( XCH) .

Notes: This taxon is morphologically allied to O. gracilis but can be easily distinguished by dense, long hairs on stem and leaves, hypanthium with emergences and stellate headed intersepalar emergences. But in O. gracilis the stems and leaves are thinly covered with hairs and the hypanthium is without emergences.

Figures

Fig.9.OSbeCkia MehRaNa G.S.GiRi & M.P. NayaR: aa.. Habit; b. FlOweR;C & d. HypaNthiUM; e. BRaCt;FF.. CalyX lObe;g. INteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe; hh.. StaMeNS & Style; ii i. SeedS.