Garcinia gamblei Shameer,T.Sabu& N.Mohanan, Phytotaxa

N., Mohanan, P. S., Shameer, Abstract, T. Sabu & L., Garcinia, 2023, Taxonomic revision of Garcinia (Clusiaceae) in India, Rheedea 33 (3), pp. 101-158 : 128-130

Garcinia gamblei Shameer,T.Sabu& N.Mohanan, Phytotaxa 297(1): 71. 2017 . Type: INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Ponmudi , N 080 46’ 11.1’’ E 0770 06’ 32.6’’, 1031 m, 18.05.2016, P.S. Shameer 86601 (TBGT!). FiG. 10a–c

Dioecious evergreen trees, 10–15 m tall; exudation milky; crown pyramidal with horizontal spreading branches; branchlets tetra-angular. Petioles 1–1.5 cm long, stout, transversely rugose with longitudinal ridges, adaxially ligulate at base; lamina comparatively ovate or broadly elliptic, 20–28 × 10–12 cm, obtuse-cuneate at base, margins sub-revolute, acute at apex, coriaceous; midribs prominent on both sides; lateral veins conspicuous, 25–40 pairs per side, raised on both surfaces. Staminate flowers pentamerous, 3–15 flowered, fascicled axillary or on axils of fallen leaves, sessile; sepals orbicular, convex, c. 0.5 × 0.3 cm, margin membranous, ciliate; petals obovate, c. 0.8 × 0.6 cm, green, membranous on margins; stamens 5-phalangiate, 8–17 in each phallenge; disc 5-glandular, alternating with staminal bundles; rudimentary pistil absent. Pistillate flowers pentamerous, solitary, rarely 2–3, axillary or axils of fallen leaves, sub-sessile; sepals orbicular, c. 0.5– 0.6 cm across; petals orbicular-obovate, 0.9–1 × 0.6–0.8 cm, membranaceous on margins; staminodes many in loose bundles of 2–3 united; ovary globose, c. 0.5 cm in diam., 5-locular; stigma peltate, 5-lobed. Berries discoid, 6–8 × 5–6 cm, irregularly ridged on surface, depressed on distal end. Seeds 1–3, rarely 5, oblong, c. 2.3 × 1.7 cm.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from March to May; fruiting from May to August.

Habitat: Shola forests, between 850–1150 m elevation.

Distribution: Endemic to India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Ponmudi , 850 m, 07.3.1980, K . Vivekanandan 66141 ( MH); Ibid. , 1100 m, 08.03.1980, M . Mohanan 66618 ( MH); Ibid , 1040 m, 05.11.2015, P. S . Shameer 86602 ( TBGT); Ibid. , 1022 m, 14.03.2016, P. S . Shameer 86631 ( TBGT); Ibid. , 1005 m, 26.05.2016, P. S . Shameer 86636 ( TBGT) .

Conservation status: Data Deficient ( IUCN, 2018).

Notes: A new species described during the present study. Two specimens (K. Vivekanandan 66141 and M. Mohanan 66618) collected earlier from the type locality were found at Madras Herbarium, erroneously identified as Garcinia xanthochyma . Being doubtful, the locality was thoroughly explored and the plants were relocated. On detailed studies they were proved to be new. Garcinia gamblei is allied to G. pushpangadaniana in general habit; tetragonous branchlets; milky exudation; arrangement of staminate flowers in axillary fascicles; arrangement of stamens in 5-phalanges and shape of stigma lobes; but differs from the latter in having horizontal branches against drooping branches; sessile flowers against pedicellate flowers; arrangement of staminodes in loose bundles or sometimes even free against staminodes always in 5- phalanges; ovary locules and stigma lobes 5 against 6–8 and fruits vertically grooved with depressed apex against non-grooved and warty with mamillate apex.

Garcinia gummi-gutta ( L.) N.Robson, Brittonia 20: 103. 1968; N. C.Nair & A. N. Henry, Fl. Tamil Nadu 1: 27. 1983; Nicolson et al., Regnum Veg. 119. 82. 1998; C. N.Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 80. 1984; C. J. Saldanha & Eswar Rao, Fl. Karnataka 1. 205. 1984; R.Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Dist. 70. 1985; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 19. 1988; V. S.Ramach. & V. J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 54. 1988; V. T.Antony, Fl. Kottayam Dist. 72. 1989; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 70. 1990; N. P.Singh in B. D.Sharma & Sanjappa (eds.), Fl. India 3: 110. 1993; M.Mohanan & A. N.Henry, Fl. Thiruvananthapuram Dist. 71. 1994; K. N.Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 24. 1995; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 52. 1996; Sivar. & P.Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 68. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary 30. 1997, Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 25. 1998, Fl. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary 30. 1999; Sunil & Sivad., Fl. Pl. Alappuzha Dist. 79. 2000; N. Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 84. 2002; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary 22. 2002, Biodiv. Doc. Kerala Fl. Pl. 6: 40. 2004; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta Dist. 70. 2005; Arisdason & P.Daniel in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 335. 2005; T. S.Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Western Ghats 1. 275. 2014. Cambogia gummi-gutta L., Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 522. 1754. Lectotype: ‘ Coddam pulli’ in Rheede, Hort. Malab. Ind. 1: 41. t. 24. 1678.

Garcinia cambogia (Gaetrn.) Desr. in Lamk., Encyc. 3: 701. 1792 nom. illeg.; Willd., Sp. Pl. 2: 848. 1800; Roxb., Pl. Corom. 3: 94. t. 298. 1820, Fl. Ind. 2: 621. 1832; Choisy in DC., Prod.1: 561. 1824; G.Don, Gen. Syst. 1: 620. 1831; Wight & Arn., Prod. 1: 100. 1834; Thwaites, Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 1: 48. 1858; Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat.1: 507. 1859; Planch. & Triana, Ann. Sic. Nat., Bot. ser. 4, 14: 332. 1860; Drury, Handbook Indian Fl. 1: 139. 1864; Bedd., Fl. Sylv. t. 85. 1869– 1873; Laness., Mem. Garcin. 36. 1872; T.Anderson in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 261. 1874, Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 1: 94. 1893; T.Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 1: 77. 1901; Gamble, Man. Indian Timb. 54. 1902; Brandis, Ind. Trees 50. 1907; Talbot, For. Fl. Bombay Pres. 1: 91. 1909; Rama Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore 29. 1914; Dunn in Gamble, Fl. Madras 1: 73. 1915; Engl., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (ed. 2) 21: 219. 1925; Sealy in Kew Bull. 11 (2): 341. 1956; Mac Millan, Trop. Pl Gard. ed. 2, 257.1956, Maheshw; Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 128. 1964, 880.

Cambogia gutta L., Sp. Pl. 728. 1753, nom. illeg.

Mangostana cambogia Gaertn., Fruct. 2: 106. 1790, nom. illeg.

Figures

FiG. 10. Species of Garcinia L. in India: a–c. G. gamblei Shameer, T.Sabu & N.Mohanan; D–f. G. gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson var. gummi-gutta; G–i. G. gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson var. papilla (Wight) N.P.Singh; j–l. Garcinia imberti Bourd. (a, d, g, j. Staminate flowers; b, e, h, k. Pistillate flowers; c, f, i, l. Fruits; photos by N. Mohanan & P.S. Shameer).