Osbeckia capitata D.Don ex Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient.

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 295-298

Osbeckia capitata D.Don ex Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 323. 1834; Walp., Nov. Actorum Acad. Caesp. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19. Suppl. 1: 331. 1843; Naudin, Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. 3. 14. 1850; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 517. 1879; C.Hansen, Ginkgoana 4: 47. 1977; N.P. Balakr., Fl. Jowai & Vicinity 206. 141. 1983. Lectotype (designated by Hansen, 1977): BANGLADESH, Sillhet, s.d., Wallich 4072 (K000890015, digital image!)

O. glauca Benth. ex Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Ser. 3. 14: 68. 1850, non Benth. ex Triana, 1871. Type: BANGLADESH, Sillhet , s.d., Wallich s.n. (holo P02441104, digital image!). Fig. 24

Annual herbs, main stem prostrate with erect branches, 7–50 cm tall. Stems quadrangular, branched or unbranched, covered with appressed, hairs. Leaves sub-sessile; petioles 0.2–1.2 mm long; lamina ovate to broadly ovate, l–3 × 0.5–2.3 cm, apex acute, base obtuse to subcordate, 3–5-nerved, both sides clothed with ascending short hairs. Cymes terminal, cluster of 2–3 flowers or solitary, subtended by 1 or 2 pairs of leaves. Flowers tetramerous; pedicels to 1 mm long. Bracts ovate to elliptic, 3.5–6 mm long, margins ciliate, appressed-hairy dorsally. Hypanthium urceolate, 6– 8 × 3–5 mm, glabrous or occasionally hairy, with emergences; intersepalar emergences scale-like, 1– 2.5 × 0.5–1 mm, caducous, rounded at apex, without a distinct head, length of hairs on margins increases towards the tip, dorsal side clothed with appressed hairs. Sepals 4, triangular or ovate, 6–10 mm long, caducous, dark brown to green in color with indistinct nerves, margins ciliate, dorsal side clothed with appressed-hairs. Petals 4, pink, obovate, 10–17 × 6–11 mm, 10–12-nerved, apical margins ciliate. Stamens 8; filaments 5–11 mm long, dark pink; anthers ovate, 5–8 mm long, yellow, narrowed into a slender, tubular beak 2–4.5 mm long, not twisted, pore oblique on the ventral side of tip, narrow, connective prolonged into a collar. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half of its length; anther pocket extending to the base of ovary; free part glabrous, crown distinct; style 14–17 mm long. Capsules urceolate, 7–9 × 3.5–5 mm, not ribbed; seeds 0.2–0.4 mm long, numerous, curved.

Flowering & fruiting: August–October.

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

Habitat: This species thrives best in elevation varying from 500–1500 m., commonly seen in boarders of evergreen forests as well as grasslands, occurs in massive number in association with O. stellata var. stellata and O. stellata var. crinita .

Distribution: China, Bhutan and India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Assam, Dima Hasao district, Umrangso, N.C. Hills , 12.01.2007, R.S. Baruah 115222 (ASSAM) . Meghalaya, Cherrapunji , 27.09.1956, G. Panigrahi 3480 ( CAL) ; Cherrapunji, way to Nokthlang , 30.07.1913, Upendranath Kanjilal 2365 (ASSAM) ; East Khasi Hills district, Mawphlanag, Hill slope, 29.10.1972, P.K. Hajra 51907 ( CAL) ; Jaintia hills district, Dawki , 12.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6134 ( DEV) ; Jarain pitcher plant lake, 19.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6143 ( DEV) ; Jowai , 03.06.1952, A. Das 39288 (ASSAM) ; Ibid. , 19.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6149 ( DEV) ; Khasia & Jaintia Hills, 13.07.1913, Ranjilal 2365 (ASSAM) ; Ibid. , 22.08.1935, G.K. Deka 13082 (ASSAM) ; Laitkor Shillong , 28.06.1963, S.K. Kar 18072 (ASSAM) ; 28.06.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6112 ( DEV) ; Ibid. , 26.09.2016, Prashob & Sibichen 6627 ( DEV) ; Mawphlang sacred forest, 17.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6140 ( DEV) ; Mawsynram , 16.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6138 ( DEV) ; Nongtalang village , 19.09.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6146 ( DEV) ; Nongthymai , 20.09.1956, G. Panigrahi 3297 (ASSAM) ; Pynursula , 25.08.1956, G. Panigrahi 2982 (ASSAM) ; Pynursula, way to Sohra , 27.06.2015, Prashob & Sibichen 6110 ( DEV) ; Shillong , 20.09.1956, G. Panigrahi 3297 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 09.07.1943, N.L. Bor 17965 ( DD) ; Ibid. , 24.07.1971, Ramesh Bedi 434 ( DD) ; Ibid. , 24.09.1885, C.B. Clarke 40517 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 26.05.1911, I.H. Burkill & S.C. Banerjee 42 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 29.05.1911, I.H. Burkill & S.C. Banerjee 82 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 29.09.1915, H.G. Carter 41408 ( CAL) ; Shillong, Laitkor , 28.06.1963, S.K. Kar 18073 ( CAL) ; Shillong, Woodland , 16.07.1964, H. Deka 36912 (ASSAM) ; Shillong peak, 26.10.1960, D.C.S. Raju 22023 (ASSAM) ; Sohra , 11.09.1940, R.N. Desai 2044 (ASSAM) ; Ibid. , 26.09.2016, Prashob & Sibichen 6628 ( DEV) ; Ibid. , 06.09.1962, G.K. Deka 23376 (ASSAM) ; Ummulong to Jowai , 16.08.1968, N.P. Balakrishnan 46105 (ASSAM) ; Upper Shillong , 24.08.1958, R.S. Rao 14034 ( CAL, ASSAM) ; West Khasi hills district, Markasa village , 18.06.1958, G. Panigrahi 16389 ( CAL, ASSAM) . Mizoram, Lunglei district, Mizo hills, Darzo to Leite , 18.07.1963, R. Dutta 34102 (ASSAM) .

Notes: Osbeckia capitata resembles O. chinensis in having tetramerous, pink flowers with caducous sepals but the latter can be readily distinguished by its sub-sessile ovate leaves, as opposed to the petiolate, linear-lanceolate leaves of the former.

Osbeckia chinensis L., Sp. Pl. 345. 1753; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 2(6): 515. 1879; C.Hansen, Ginkgoana 4: 49. 1977; T.Pullaiaih & Ramam., Fl. East. Ghats, India. 56. 2001; N.P.Balakr. Fl. Jowai & Vicinity 206. 141. 1983; R.S. Rao, Fl. East Godavari Dist., 366. 1999; T.Pullaiah, D.M. Rao & K.S.Ramam., Fl. East. Ghats 56. 2002; G.V.S. Rao & G.R.Kumari, Fl. Visakhapatnam Dist., Andhra Pradesh, 339. 2003. Lectotype (designated by Hansen, 1977): s.loc, s.d., P. Osbeck s.n. (LINN digital image!).

O. sessilifolia Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. 2: 348. 1812. Type: Not seen.

O. chinensis L. var. gerzuina Kurz., J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal. 2. Nat. Hist. 46: 74. 1877. nom.illeg. Type: Not seen.

O. chinensis L. var. typica Hochr., Candollea 2: 469. 1925. nom. illeg. Type: Not seen.

O. angustifolia D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 221. 1825. Osbeckia chinensis var. angustifolia (D.Don) C.Y.Wu & C.Chen, Fl. Yunnan. 2: 80. 1979. Type: Not seen.

Tristemma angustifolium Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 17: 1079. 1826. Type: Not seen.

O. linearis Blume , Flora 14: 473. 1831. Melastoma linearis Reinw. ex Blume , Flora 14: 474. 1831. (pro.syn.). Osbeckiachinensis var. linearis (Blume) Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal pt. 2. Nat. Hist. 48: 74. 1877. Osbeckia linearis Blume var. moluccana Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavum 1: 51. 1849. Lectotype (designated here): Indonesia, s.d., s.coll. s. n. (K000867922 digital image!).

O. ciliaris Ser. ex DC., Prodr. 3: 132. 1828. Type: Not seen.

O. multiflora Blanco, Fl. Filipinas 293. 1837. Type: Not seen.

O. myrtifolia Blume, Mus. Bot. 1(4): 51. 1849. Type: NEPAL, 1831, Wallich 4067A (holo K000890012 digital image!).

O. japonica Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Ser. 3, 14: 70. 1850. Type: JAPAN, s.loc., s.d., Textor (Blume) s.n. (holo P02441110 digital image!).

O. perrotteti DC. ex Naudin., Ann. sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3, 14: 71. 1850. Lectotype (designated here): PHILIPPINES, Manille, Prape, s.d., Perrette s.n. ( BR0000005208692 digital image!).

O. chinensis L. var. linearifolia Kuntze, Rev. Gen Pl. 1: 247. 1891. Type: INDIA, West Bengal, Silligori-Terrai, s.d., C.E.O. Kuntze 6548 (holo NY00229579 digital image!)

O. chinensis L. var. parasnathensis Haines, Bot. Bihar & Orissa 370. 1922. Type: INDIA, s.loc., s.d., Clarke 34727 (holo K000890005 digital image!) .

O. watanae Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 4: 171. 1930. Type: THAILAND, Watana , 14.10.1928, Put 1909 (holo K000867933 digital image!).

O. chinensis L. var. attenuata Bakh.f., Meded Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 91: 50. 1943. Type: CHINA, s.d., Elbert 987 (holo L digital image!) .

Rhexia napaulensis Ser. ex DC., Prodr. 3: 142. 1828, pro syn.

O. ciliata Ham. in Wall., Numer List. 143: 4067 C. 1831. (pro parte), nom. nud.

O. tenuis Buch.-Ham. ex G.Don, Gen. Hist. 2: 760. 1831. (pro parte), nom. nud.

O. decora Wall., Numer. List 144, 4070. 1831. nom. nud.

O. ciliaris Buch.-Ham. ex G.Don, Gen. Hist. 2, 760. 1832. in syn. Type: Not seen.

O. glabrata Benth. in Wall., Numer. List 144. 4071. 1837. nom. nud.

O. ridleyana Hosseus., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: (3) 371. 1911. nom.nud. Fig.25

Annual, erect, branched herbs, c. 70 cm tall. Stems branched, branches clothed with appressed hairs. Petioles 0.5–2.5 mm long; lamina ovate to lanceolate, l.5–4.5 × 0.8– 2.4 cm, 3–5-nerved, apex acute, base acute to rounded, both sides thinly clothed with short to long, ascending to patent hairs. Inflorescence a dense terminal cluster of 5– 10 flowers, subtended by 1–2 pairs of leaves. Bracts ovate, minute, 1–4 × 6–8 mm, margins ciliate, appressed-hairy along the midline dorsally or sometimes glabrous. Flowers tetramerous; pedicels c. 3 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, 3–7 × 2– 4 mm, with a few emergences, hairs simple; intersepalar emergences not stalked, flat, 0.3–1 × 0.3– 11.5 mm, margins ciliate, caducous; other emergences appressed, but smaller, sometimes much reduced in size. Sepals 4, triangular, 6–7 × 2-5 mm, apex acute, base obtuse, with few distinct nerves, margins ciliate, few appressed hairs dorsally, caducous, or very rarely persistent. Petals 4, pink, ovate, 12–17 × 5–7 mm, ciliate at apex. Stamens 8; filaments 5–6.5 mm long; anthers 1.1–3.7 mm long beak narrowed 0.5–1.5 mm, connective prolonged into a small collar. Ovary united with hypanthium for about half its length, anther pockets extending to base of ovary; the rim of hypanthium extending beyond the crown is glabrous or very rarely with a few bristles, crown very distinct; style 9–14 mm long. Capsules campanulate to urceolate, 4.5–8 × 3–4 mm; seeds minute, 0.1–0.2 mm long, minute, curved.

Figures

Fig. 24.OSbeCkia Capitata D.DON eX Wight & ARN.:aa.. Habit;b. HypaNthiUM with StaMeNS; C C.CalyX lObe;dd.. INteRSepalaR eMeRgeNCe;e. BRaCt; F. SeedS.

Fig. 25.OSbeCkia ChiNeNSiS L. VaR. ChiNeNSiS: aa.. Habit; b. FlOweR (IMageS by PRaSad KUMaR DaSh,OdiSha BiOdiVeRSity BOaRd).