Osbeckia stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don. var. stellata

P., Prashob & Thomas, Sibichen M., 2019, The genus Osbeckia (Melastomataceae) in India, Rheedea 29 (4), pp. 236-305 : 287-288

Osbeckia stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don. var. stellata

Flowering & fruiting: August–March.

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

Habitat: Seen in cluster on the margins of evergreen forests at an elevation above 500 m. The associated species are O. stellata var. crinita and O. stellata var. hispidissima .

Distribution: India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang district, Yambung Camp, 07.01.1911, I.H. Burkill s.n. (CAL); Lohith district, Khamti village, 09.09.1969, A.S. Rao 47760 (CAL, ASSAM); Khopa village, 26.09.1969, A.S. Rao 48128 (CAL, ASSAM); Lohith, 24.11.1969, J. Joseph 48314 (CAL); Lohith- Payanava, 17.11.1957, R.S. Rao 10674 (CAL); Siang F.D., Tuting, 06.11.1958, R.S. Rao 17366 (CAL, ASSAM). Ibid., 03.04.1958, G.K. Murty 13126 (CAL, ASSAM); Lower Subansiri district, Subansari F.D., Kherbavei, 28.09.1959, G. Panigrahi 19732 (CAL); Subansiri-Klerbari, 28.09.1954, G. Panigrahi 19732 (CAL); Ziro, 01.10.1959, G. Panigrahi 19900 (CAL). Himachal Pradesh, Kangra district, Baslahar, 26.06.1923, R.N. Rarker s.n. (DD); Ibid., 13.06.1928, R.N. Parker 3013(DD); Ibid., 07.10.1940, H.F. Mooney 87460 (DD); Ibid., 13.10.1950, M.B. Raizada 19962 (DD); Ibid., 12.09.1969, C.N. Nair 30666 (CAL, BSD); Ibid., 12.09.1969, C.N. Nair 30666 (CAL, BSD); Palampur, 26.09.1896, G.A. Gammie 18722 (DD); Upper Baslahar, 07.1950, S.P. Selhi 20360 (DD); Kullu district, Shaman, 20.08.1977, S.K. Murti & R. Prasad 61917 (BSD); Shimla district, Fifth Water fall, Yamunotri, 20.06.1953, S.N. Mitra 9430 (CAL); North West Himalaya, 10.1891, J.H. Lace s.n. (DD). Manipur, Bishnupur district, Limatak, 27.08.1887, George Watt 7175 (CAL). Sikkim, East Sikkim district, Machong, Chota pathing, 09.07.1991, N.R. Mandal & P. Singh 13583 (BSHC); Rangpo, 14.10.1949, K. Biswas 9848 (CAL); Rumtek, 06.08.1981, B. Krishna 1629 (BSHC); Singtam, 12.05.1967, N.C. Mazudia & R. M Dutta 210 (CAL); North Sikkim district, Chungthang to Lachen, 16.08.1989, N.R. Mandal, 10447 (BSHC); Mangan, 15.11.1901, Dr. Prain s.n. (CAL); Mangan, Rang Rang bridge, 17.09.2016, Prashob, Anilkumar & Sibichen 6616 (DEV); near Tista bridge, 26.07.1986, D.C.S. Raju & S. Singh 6312 (BSHC); South Sikkim district, Mogipokri, s.d., R.C. Srivastava 14530 (BSHC); Namchi forest, 10.08.1992, R.C. Srivastava 10989 (BSHC); Rateypani Suntale, 11.09.1981, B. Krishna 1752 (CAL, BSHC); West Sikkim district, Dentam, 29.08.1994, P. Singh 16340 (BSHC); Dherap, 14.09.2016, Prashob, Anilkumar & Sibichen 6608 (DEV); Geyzing, 13.09.2016, Prashob, Anilkumar & Sibichen 6601 (DEV); Pelling, 13.09.2016, Prashob, Anilkumar & Sibichen 6602 (DEV); Ibid., 14.09.2016, Prashob, Anilkumar & Sibichen 6610 (DEV); Pelling to Yuksom, 16.08.1985, D.C.S. Raju 4304 (BSHC). Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur district, Sharanpur, 09.1898, Rao s.n. (CAL); s.loc., 04.05.1916, R.S. Hole 252 (CAL). Uttarakhand, Almora district, Dinapani, 12.10.1975, J.N. Vohra 57813 (BSD); Debra, 13.10.1975, B.M. Wadhwa 57694 (BSD); Dwarahat, 05.10.1975, B.M. Wadhwa 57392 (BSD); Bageshwar district, Kapkot, 19.09.1957, T.A. Rao 4187 (BSD); Chamoli district, Gopeswar to Mandal, 29.08.1978, Panigrahi & Wadhwa 65596 (BSD); Narayan bagarah, 07.09.1985, H.J. Chawdhary 78256 (BSD); Sitel, 09.1993, s.coll. 77199 (BSD); Sutal-Sitel, 09.1993, s.coll. 87956 (BSD); Dehradun district, Dehradun-Sahasradhara, 06.09.1963, S.K. Malhothra 29271 (CAL, BSD); Ibid., 14.09.1962, S.K. Malhothra 23788 (CAL, BSD); Mussori, 08.1895, P.W. Mackinnon s.n. (CAL); Ibid., 1859, G. King s.n. (CAL); Ibid., 06.09.1960, Hari Om Saxena s.n. (DD); Thangaon, s.d., Bipin Balodi & Megh Singh 73076 (BSD); Garhwal district, Garhwal, 10.09.1972, B.D. Naithani 3677 (DD); Garhwal- Dodital, 09.1995, Raj K. Gupta 933 (CAL); Garhwal-Gauri kund, 14.08.1968, M.A. Rao 38752 (CAL, BSD); Garhwal-Mondal, 01.10.1970, B.D. Naithani 41974 (CAL, BSD); Garhwal- Vishnuprayag-Govind Ghats, 14.08.1963, U.C. Bhattacharya 29324 (CAL, BSD); Kumaon, Dalfia, 01.09.1973, C.M. Arora 53231 (DD); Kumaon- Girgaon, 29.08.1969, Pant & Naithani 38565 (CAL, BSD); Kumaon-Munsiari, Pithoragarh, 30.08.1900, Juayal 24438 (CAL, DD); Ibid., 12.06.1960, T.A. Rao 11788 (CAL, BSD, DD); Ibid., 10.06.1960, T.A. Rao 11672 (CAL, BSD); Ibid., 12.10.1962, Surendra Singh 23622 (CAL, BSD); Ibid., 05.05.1965, C.N. Nair 35674 (CAL, BSD, DD); Ibid., Askol, 31.01.1971, C.M. Arora 45452 (BSD); Kumaon-Tavaghat, 10.06.1960, s.coll, s.n. (CAL); Naitwar, Tehri-Garhwal, 21.09.1955, K.C. Sahni 21513 (DD); Napainkoli, 22.09.1958, M.A. Rao 6468 (BSD); Rampur Garhwal, 20.10.1938, Kirt Ram 8969 (DD); Ringalgarh, Tehri-Garhwal, 26.09.1954, K.C. Sahni 21513 (DD);Tehri, Budhalcedar, 02.10.1974, M.V. Viswanathan 55224 (BSD); Tehri, Ghuttu, 18.08.1978, A.K. Goel 64588 (BSD); Pauri district, Balakhal, 09.08.1976, R.P. Srivastav 57078 (BSD); Khirsu, 18.09.1975, A.S. Rao 56332 (BSD); Khirsu road, 19.08.1978, G. Panigrahi 65000 (BSD, DD); s.loc., 15.05.1989, P.S. Karki 68633 (BSD); Pithoragarh district, Didihat, 01.10.1970, C.M. Arora 41366 (BSD); Didihat, Narayan nagar, 30.09.1975, C.M. Arora & P. Prasad 56631 (BSD); Dhanliganga, 10.09.1985, H.J. Chawdhary 76267 (BSD); Sobla, 08.08.2004, S.K. Srivastava 105907 (BSD); Bungling, 04.08.1998, B.P. Uniyal & Bipin Balodi 93811 (BSD, DD); Lilam, 15.09.1983, Bipin Balodi 75241 (BSD); Maitli, 01.10.2001, M.S. Pundir 97034 (BSD); Tawaghat, 09.1986, Bipin Balidi 83210 (BSD); Uttarkashi district, Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Sanctuary, Thalluka, 24.09.2010, R. Manikandan 113706 (BSD); Mori, 17.09.1995, Surendra Singh 89861 (BSD); on way to Sangam, 07.1999, Bipin Balodi 95004 (BSD); on the way to Thalluka, 19.09.1995, Bipin Balodi 89349 (BSD). West Bengal, Darjeeling district, Kalimpong, 14.09.1914, Thornton Ripley s.n. (CAL); Ibid., 17.09.1914, Thornton Ripley s.n. (CAL); Rimbik, 06.08.1981, B. Krishna 1629 (CAL); Rishyap, 23.10.1870, C.B. Clarke s.n. (CAL); Sureil, 21.09.1908, W.W. Smith 006 (CAL).

Notes: O. stellata can be easily recognized by the more or less ‘S’ shaped large anthers with long beak, urceolate hypanthium with dense emergences and hairs. However, wide variations in vestiture created confusion in the delimitation of taxa and often resulted in the description of too many taxa which are not tenable. Presently two varieties have been recognized under O. stellata such as var. crinita and var. hispidissima . Var. crinita differs from the latter by patent hairy stems and green emergences on the hypanthium. Similarly, var. hispidissima differs from var. stellata and var. crinita by its reddish brown emergences onthe hypanthium.