Lysionotus gamosepalus W.T.Wang, Guihaia

M. K., Akhil, Nampy, Santhosh, Abstract, Javad P. & Detailed, Arunachal Pradesh., 2019, Lysionotus gamosepalus var. gamosepalus (Gesneriaceae): A new record for India, Rheedea 29 (3), pp. 232-235 : 232-235

Lysionotus gamosepalus W.T.Wang, Guihaia 3(4): 278. 1983; Wang et al. in Z.Y.Wu & Raven, Fl. China 18: 393. 1998; Z.-Y. Li & Y.-

Received: 23.08.2019; Revised & Accepted: 24.09.2019 Published Online: 30.09.2019

Z. Wang, Pl. Gesneriaceae China, t. 1.382, p. 412. 2004, var. gamosepalus . Type: CHINA, Tibet, Medog County, 29.06.1980, Chen Weilie 10754 (PE00030827 digital image!). FigS. 1 – 3

Epiphytic sub-shrubs. Stems branched, 20–60 cm long, terete, green with claret dotes, glabrous; nodal region slightly bulged with claret ring; internodes 2.5–4 cm long. Leaves 3 per node, unequal; petioles 0.5–1.8 cm long, glabrous. Lamina 4–15 × 3–8.5 cm, ovate to ovate–elliptic, oblique, dark green above, pale green beneath, glabrous, acute to acuminate at apex, slightly oblique to cuneate at base, margins dentate– spinose; lateral veins 6–8 on each side. Cymes axillary, c. 11-flowered; peduncles 3.5–5 cm long, terete, claret at base, greenish-yellow at tip; bracts 2, c. 1.7 × 1.4 cm, cordate, persistent, yellowishgreen, margins entire to wavy, slightly incurved, minutely pubescent, cordate at base, acute to obtuse at apex; pedicels c. 0.5 cm long, terete, pale green, glabrous. Calyx c. 1.5 × 0.8 cm; tube 0.6– 0.8 cm long; lobes 5, c. 0.7 cm long, divided from middle of the calyx, acute–rounded at apex, pale green, sparsely puberulent, margin entire, reflexed. Corolla c. 5 cm long, lilac-white with two yellow folding on the floor of throat; tube c. 3 cm long, funnel-shaped, densely glandular hairy outside and sparsely within; limb 2-lipped; lower lip 1.8–2 × c. 0.5 cm; upper lip 0.8–1 × c. 0.5 cm; ovate with rounded apex. Stamens 2, coherent; filaments c. 1.5 cm long, coiled, geniculate, white; anthers cream coloured, c. 0.3 cm diam.; connective appendages horn-like, c. 2.5 mm long, yellowish-brown, gland dotted. Staminodes 3; lateral two c. 0.8 cm long, coiled, coherent; median c. 0.2 cm long. Disc ringlike, 5-lobed. Ovary c. 1.8 × 0.2 cm, cylindrical, slightly curved, greenish-white, glabrous; style c. 1 cm long, cylindrical, white, glabrous; stigma c. 8 mm in diam., bilobed. Capsules c. 10 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: June–August.

Habitat: Grow attached on to the trunks of large trees in evergreen forest margins.

Notes: This variety is morphologically similar to var. biflorus in having half way fused calyx, hairy corolla and horn-like anther connective appendages but differs by its habitat (epiphytic vs terrestrial in var. biflorus ), leaf margins (dentate to spinose vs sub-serrate), number of flowers in the axil (11 vs 2), size of bracts (1.7 × 1.4 cm vs 0.6–0.8 × 0.8–0.9 cm), shape of bracts (cordate vs ovate/ orbicular), length of filaments ( c. 1.5 cm vs 0.7–0.8 cm), size of anther connective appendages ( c. 2.5 mm vs c. 1 mm) and number of staminodes (3 vs 2).

Lysionotus gamosepalus has been reported only from a few localities in China, ranging between 4000– 5000 m while the present report is from about 800 km away from the type locality at an elevation of 1900 m. The flowers were described as glabrous by Wang (1983) but they are glandular hairy in the present collections .

Specimens examined: INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, Lower Dibang Valley district, Cheta village, Roing , 28º13’34´´ N; 95 º85´06´´ E ; 1960 m, 10.06.2019, Akhil, Javad & Santhosh Nampy 169301, 169302 ( CALI!) .

Figures

Fig. 1. Lysionotus gamosepalus W.T.Wang var. gamosepalus. a.Habitat; b. Habit; c. Flowering twig; d. Inflorescence; e. Flower; f. Bracts; g. Calyx;h. Corolla–split open;i. Stamens;j. Anthers with horn like connective appendage;k & l. Staminodes (long & short respectively);m. Pistil (from Akhil, Javad & Santhosh Nampy, 169301).

Fig. 2. Type of Lysionotus gamosepalus W.T.Wang (PE00030827). © Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Fig. 3. Distribution of Lysionotus gamosepalus W.T.Wang.