Ceropegia anantii S.R. Yadav, Sardesai & S.P. Gaikwad, J.

S. S., Kambale & Abstract, S. R. Yadav, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India, Rheedea 29 (1), pp. 1-115 : 91

Ceropegia anantii S.R. Yadav, Sardesai & S.P. Gaikwad, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 101(1): 141. 2004; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 160. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 29. 2013. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Sindhudurg district, Salva hill, 15.09. 1998, S.R. Yadav 995A (holo CAL!; iso K!, BSI!, BLAT, SUK!) Fig. 48

Vernacular name: Ghayal (Marathi).

Perennial erect herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 1.5–3 cm in diam., depressed globose; roots fibrous. Stem c. 30 cm high, terete, usually one from a single tuber, unbranched, sparingly hairy, green or dark purple. Lamina 4–9 × 0.4–1 cm, linear, acute at apex, narrow at base, scabrous above with bulbous based hairs, ciliolate along margins, glabrous beneath except for midrib. Flowers solitary, extra-axillary; peduncles 4–7 mm long, terete, puberulous; bracts 2.5–4 mm long, linear-subulate, ciliolate along margins at upper-half, glabrous otherwise; pedicels 0.5–1 cm long, terete, puberulous. Sepals 5.5–8 mm long, linear-subulate or subulate hairy along midnerve. Corolla 4.6–6.5 cm long, greenish-yellow; tube 2.2–4 cm long, abruptly dilated at base, glabrous, greenish outside, dilated part yellow with dark purple striation up to the throat of tube; lobes 1.5–3.5 cm long, connate at tip and forming long conical beak, occasionally coiled, pubescent within, greenish white, each lobe with dark purple spot on either side at the base of corolla lobes (spot rarely absent). Corona stipitate, bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, cupular, 2–3 mm long, ciliate along margins and within, yellow blotched with purple at margins; inner of 5 erect lobes, slightly hooked at tip or connivent, yellow, purple at base, 2.5–3.2 mm long. Pollinarium c. 0.4 × 0.3 mm. Follicles 6–8.5 cm long, usually in pairs, rarely single, erect, tapering to a fine point. Seeds c. 0.4 × 0.15 cm, ovate-oblong, brown, comose; coma silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: August–September.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 ( Gosavi et al., 2012).

Habitat: Grows in low elevation (65–400 m) lateritic plateaus amidst bushes, in association with Tylophora fasciculata Buch.-Ham. ex Wight and Wrightia pubescens R.Br.

Distribution: Endemic to northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Sindhudurg district, Fonda , 16.08.2010, S. S . Kambale SUK 2560 ; Ibid. , 20.08.2010, S. S . Kambale SUK 2562 ; Ibid. , 07.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2578 ; Ibid. , 05.08.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 6; Ibid. , 04.08.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 59; 24.07.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 252; Ibid. , 15.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 270; Ibid. , 21.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 281; Ibid. , 24.08.2014, S. B . Chaugule & S. S . Kambale SSK 291; Salva hills, s.d,. S. R . Yadav s.n. ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: So far this species could be collected only from the type locality where the area of occupancy is below10 sq. km and the plants are facing severe threat due to habitat loss. Therefore it is assessed as Critically Endangered [ CR: B2 a, b (iii, v)] .

Notes: This species is similar to C. attenuata but can be easily identified by its purple spots on either sides of the base of corolla lobes and tube abruptly dilated at the base. However, very rarely, the flowers without purple spots and a gradually dilated corolla tube are observed in the field.

Figures

Fig. 48. Ceropegia anantii S.R. Yadav, Sardesai & S.P. Gaikwad: a. Habit; b. Flower; c. L.S of flower; d. Close-up of dilated portion; e. Corona– lateral view; f. Corona–top view.