Osbeckia nayarii G.S.Giri, J. Econ.

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 280-282

Osbeckia nayarii G.S.Giri, J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 4(2): 609. 1983. Type: INDIA, Meghalaya, Khasia , 2000 ft., 14.09.1886, C.B. Clarke 44776A (holo CAL0000015810 !).

Melastoma pulchella Roxb., Fl. Ind. , ed. 2, 2: 403. 1832. Type: INDIA, s.loc., 1814, Roxburgh s.n. (holo BM000944362 digital image!).

Ceramicalyx pulchellus Blume, Mus. Bot. 1(4): 50. 1849. Type: BANGLADESH, Chittagong, s.d., Wallich 4059B (holo K000639584 digital image!).

O. pulchella Benth. ex Wall., Numer. List Pl. 143, no. 4059. 1831. nom. nud. non Benth. ex Naudin, 1850. Fig. 19

Perennial, erect, shrubs, 1–1.5 m tall, with straggling branches. Stems and branches strongly quadrangular, winged at angles: wings thick, more or less fleshy, glabrous throughout. Petioles 5–10 mm long; lamina elliptic to lanceolate, 10–15 × 3– 6 cm, 5–7-nerved, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous, dark green. Inflorescence terminal condensed panicles, 5–12-flowered. Flowers tetramerous; pedicels 3–7 mm long; bracts green, ovate, 8–13 × 2–6 mm long, glabrous on either side, caducous. Hypanthium urceolate, 12– 14 × 4–6.5 mm, glabrous; intersepalar emergences absent. Sepals 4, narrowly ovate with prominent midrib, 10–13 × 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous, not persistant in fruit. Petals 4, ovate to orbicular, 16–20 × 10–14 mm, pink to purple. Stamens 8, filaments 2–4 cm long, glabrous; anthers ‘S’ shaped, 2–4.5 cm long, attenuate into a narrow, tubular beak (4– 8 mm long), yellow, glabrous, pore apical, connective prolonged in to a small, indistinctly lobed collar. Ovary 12–14 mm long, 4-locular, united with hypanthium; anther pockets and crown covered with appressed hairs; style 2.5–4 mm long, glabrous, curved; stigma slightly swollen. Capsules urceolate, 12–14 × 4–6.5 mm, glabrous with a long neck; seeds numerous, minute, 0.1–0.2 mm long, curved and muricate.

Flowering & fruiting: July–November.

Habitat: Found in open grasslands above 1000 m.

Distribution: India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Assam, Golpara district, Golpara , 1914, U. Kanjilal 6914 ( CAL) . Meghalaya, East Khasia hills district, Pynursla , 1755 m, 15.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6112 ( DEV) ; Ri-Bhoi district, Nongpoh , 987 m, 06.08.2014, K.M. Manudev & Prashob 57412 ( DEV) . Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Valparai, Sholayar dam, 1225 m, 03.10.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6018 ( DEV) . Kerala, Kozhikode, St. Joseph’s College Botanical garden (cultivated), 55 m, 06.10.2015, Sibichen & Prashob 1620 ( DEV) .

Notes: Roxburgh (1832) described Melastoma pulchella in his Flora of India based on specimens collected from Chittagong. Prior to the publication of Roxburgh, Wallich (1831) included this name in his catalogue as a species of Osbeckia viz ., O. pulchella Benth. , treating Roxburgh’s name ( Melastoma pulchella ) as its basionym. However, Wallich’s name is not valid as it is not accompanied by a description, diagnosis, or reference to any published diagnosis. Later Blume (1849) adopted Wallich’s specific epithet and placed this taxon under the genus Ceramicalyx and validly published as C. pulchellus . The specific epithet “ pulchella ” cannot be validly combined with the genus Osbeckia as it was preoccupied for another taxon, O. pulchella Benth. ex Naudin , (= O. rostrata D.Don ). Therefore, the present valid name for the taxon is O. nayarii G.S.Giri.

Figures

Fig.19.OSbeCkia NayaRii G.S.GiRi:aa.. Habit;b.FlOweR;C.HypaNthiUM; d.BRaCt;e. CalyX lObe;F.StaMeNS;g.CalyX lObeS withOUt iNteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe; hh.. SeedS.