Osbeckia chinensis

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 298-300

Osbeckia chinensis L. var. chinensis, Sp. Pl. 345. 1753

Flowering & fruiting: September–May.

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

Habitat: This species thrives best in elevation varying from 300–500 m., commonly seen in borders of evergreen forests as well as grasslands.

Distribution: Australia, Burma, Camboclia, Celebes, China, India, Japan, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Moluccas, Nepal, New Guinea, North Vietnam, Philippines, South Vietnam, Sumatra, Taiwan and Thailand.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Assam, Darrang district, Silburi range office, 30.11.1975, P.K. Hajra 65347 (ASSAM); Goalpara district , s.loc., 15.09.1937, G.K. Deka 17855 (ASSAM); Kochugaum, 27.01.1933, D. Nath 13476 (ASSAM); Golaghat district , Seelampur, 11.10.1885, C.B. Clarke 171801 ( CAL) ; Kamrup district, Garo hills, 01.1904, J. Marten 171804 ( CAL) . Bihar, Begusarai district, Bomiabuna , 18.11.1938, N.L. Bor 10833 ( DD) ; Kadalilmd , 08.01.1960, G.V. Subbarao 22927 (ASSAM) . Chhattisgarh, Bastar district, North Kanjeer valley , 26.08.1959, K. Subramanyan 8633 ( CAL) ; Dandakaranya, Orkal , 10.11.1963, D.C.S. Raju 1072 ( CAL) . Himachal Pradesh, Kangra district, Palampur , 25.09.1896, G.A. Gammie s.n. ( DD) . Jharkhand, Giridih district, Parasnath hills, 04.11.1868, s.coll. s.n. ( DD) ; Ibid. , 21.02.1923., S. Kurz. s.n. ( DD) ; Ibid. , 15.10.1982, G.N. Tribedi 718 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , s.d.,. S. Kurz. s.n, ( DD) ; Ibid ., Madhya Pradesh, Mandal district, Kanha National Park , 11.1970, R.M. Singhal s.n., ( DD) . Manipur, Imphal district, Chingmeirong , 03.09.1952, D.B. Deb 603 ( CAL) ; Khuduk , 18.01.1952, D.B. Deb 233 ( CAL) ; Machahl , 04.1882, George Watt 171794, ( CAL) ; Kakching district, Kakching , 14.11.1954, D.B. Deb 1200 ( CAL) ; Kangpokpi, Sadar hills, 03.10.1943, N.L. Bor 17703 ( DD) ; Konprm , 11.1907, Meebold 5907 ( CAL) ; Shngnu , 12.09.53, D.B. Deb 2676 ( CAL) ; Thoubal district, Wang Jing , 13.09.1954, D.B. Deb 2699 ( CAL) . Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills district, Barapani, 31.08.1950, G.K. Deka s.n. (ASSAM); Cherrapunji , 13.11.1910, D. Hooper 34689 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 13.11.1910, D. Hooper 34690 ( CAL) ; Khasia hills, 06.1876, s.coll. 274 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 29.09.1915, H.G. Carter s.n. ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 27.09.1956, G. Panigrahi 3480 ( CAL) ; Khasia hills, Cherra , 18.10.1932, N.K. Nandi s.n. ( CAL) ; Mawphlang, Lawhyrgdoh, Ibid. , 07.08.1885, C.B. Clarke s.n., ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 24.09.1885, C.B. Clarke s.n., ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 09.1892, Dr. King’s Collector s.n. ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 05.1911, I.H. Burkill s.n. ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 26. 05.1911, I.H. Burkill & S.C. Banerjee s.n., ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 29.05.1911, I.H. Burkill & S.C. Banerjee 82 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 07.1918, s.coll. 889 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 09.1929, s.coll. s.n. ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 20.09.1956, G. Panigrahi 3297 ( CAL) ; Ibid., Laitkor, way to Woodland , 28.06.1963, S.K. Kar s.n. ( CAL) ; 29.10.1972, P.K. Hajra 51907 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , s.d., S.N. Bal 701 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , s.d., J.D. Hooker s.n., ( CAL) ; Shillong , 03.10.1898, Dr. Prain 171766 ( CAL) ; s.loc., 09.1878, Gustavman s.n. (ASSAM); Ibid., 12.1885, s.coll. 350 ( CAL) ; Shillong, Nongthymmai , 20.09.1956, G Panigrahi 3297 ( CAL) ; Upper Shillong , 14.08.1958, R.S. Rao 14034 ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 24.08.1958, R.S. Rao 14036 ( CAL) ; West Khasi Hills district, Markasa village , 18.06.1958, G. Panigrahi 16389 ( CAL) ; Jaintia Hills district, Raling to Garampani Road , 22.08.1968, N.P. Balakrishnan 46953 (ASSAM); Ri Bhoi district , Barapani, 13.10.1954, G.K. Deka 11452 (ASSAM); Barapani forest , 25.10.1931, Shritham Sharma 9498 (ASSAM) . Mizoram, Champhai district, Zote , 10.10.1989, K.P. Singh 94551 (ASSAM) . Nagaland, Peren district, Naga hills, 10.1939, N.L. Bor 6673 ( DD) ; Ibid. , 06.1985, N.L. Bor 21000 ( DD) ; Naga Hills, Tushar 04.09.1948, S.K. Mukerjee 3429 ( CAL) . Orissa, Koraput district, Deomali, 06.12.1962, G.V. Subbarao 29916 (ASSAM); Mayurbhanj district , Similipal Biosphere , Noana vicinity, 26.11.1979, s.coll. 12297 ( CAL) ; Similipal Biosphere, Barakamara , 30.11.1979, s.coll. 12400 ( CAL) . Sikkim, South Sikkim district, s.loc., s.d., G. King s.n. ( CAL) ; s.loc., 09.12.1875, J.S. Gamble 323 ( DD) ; West Sikkim district, Gassing to Ralong river , 02.10.1862, M.D. Anderson s.n. ( CAL) ; s.loc., 05.10.1875, C.B. Clarke s.n. ( CAL) ; s.loc., s.d., J.D. Hooker s.n. ( CAL) . Tamil Nadu, Salem district, Omallur, Shevaroys temple, 19.03.1979, N. Venugopal & Jayaselin 22374 ( RHT) ; Yercaud, Servarayan , 29.06.1979, K.M. Matthew 23296 ( RHT) ; Ibid. , 10.01.1980, K.M. Matthew 25635 ( RHT) ; Ibid. , 16.12.1980, K.M. Matthew, Britto & Rani 28030 ( RHT) . Tripura, Gomati district, Udaipur , 25.04.1965, D.B. Deb, 2885 ( CAL) . Uttarakhand, Dehradun district, Lachhiwala , 10.1930, A.H. Khan s.n. ( DD) ; Tehri Garhwal , 04.10.1979, C. Supia 1056 ( CAL, DD) ; Ibid. , 09.1882, T.F. Dathu s.n. ( CAL) ; s.loc., 30.08.1704, s.coll. s.n. (CAL); s.loc., 09.1869, Griffith s.n., (CAL); s.loc., 10.1891, J.S. Gamble 23157 ( CAL, DD) ; Uttarkashi district, Baramgaon, Gori valley , 27.08.1900, J. Nagar 24437 ( DD) ; Khela, Kalivally, Kumaon , 18.09.1900, Fuayal s.n. ( CAL) ; Ibid. , 18.09.1900, Juagal 24437 ( CAL) ; Kumaon, Didihat- Narayan nagar, 12.10.1967, Arora 36491 ( BSD) ; Sarayu valley , 28.09.1881, Dutha, 1607 ( DD) ; Ibid. , 19.08.1986, Dutha 5575 ( DD) . West Bengal, Darjeeling district , s.loc., 10.03.1995, Chandra Panday 21597 ( CAL) ; s.loc., s.d., Kurz 171844 ( CAL) .

Notes: Osbeckia chinensis is the wide spread species of the genus in Asia. It is very variable, and too many species have been published based on specimens falling within its variation. For example, two entities within O. chinensis have been recognized such as var. attenuata Bakh. and var. parasnathensis . Hansen (1977) treated these varieties as conspecific to O. chinensis . He also described var. procumbens from northern Thailand owing to its creeping habit. Hansen (l.c.) admitted var. pusilla and var. procumbens as varieties in his Asiatic Revision of Osbeckia .