Uniyala keralensis E.S.S.Kumar & Shareef, 2025

Kumar, Ettickal Sukumaran Santhosh, Shareef, Sainudeen Muhammed & Filimban, Faten Zubair, 2025, Uniyala keralensis (Asteraceae), a new species from Kerala, India, Phytotaxa 689 (2), pp. 277-284 : 278-281

Uniyala keralensis E.S.S.Kumar & Shareef , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type: — INDIA. Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram District,Attayar, ± 700 m, 17.09.2023, E. S. Santhosh Kumar & S. M. Shareef 88001 (holotype TBGT!, isotype TBGT!, MH!).

Diagnosis: — Uniyala keralensis is closely similar to U. comorinensis , but clearly distinct from the latter by the consistently shrubby habit, larger lanceolate leaves with serrulate margins, fairly long petioles, fewer lateral nerves with very distinct secondary and tertiary nerves abaxially, many-flowered capitula with longer and narrowly lanceolate-falcate outer phyllaries and oblanceolate inner phyllaries, and smaller 3–4-ribbed achenes with a few hairs near the apex. It is also found distinct from U. salviifolia by the angled branchlets, larger lanceolate leaves with fairly long petioles, fewer lateral nerves, clearly visible secondary and tertiary nerves abxially, many-flowered capitualae, longer outer phyllaries, and 3–4-ribbed achenes that are sparsely ciliate along the ribs near the apex ( Table 1).

Description: —Small to large shrubs, 1.0–3.0 m high; stem and branches 6-ribbed, densely white pubescent; branchlets articulate. Leaves spirally arranged; lamina lanceolate, 3.5–20 × 1.4–6.0 cm, attenuate at base, acute at apex, serrulate and slightly revolute at margin, rugose and glabrous except the nerves above, lanate beneath, brownish black on drying; lateral nerves 11–14 pairs, depressed above, raised beneath, secondary and tertiary nerves conspicuous beneath; petioles 0.8–1.5 cm long, canaliculated above, rounded beneath, densely white-tomentose. Capitula in terminal corymbs, 2–4 together, each 10× 10 mm, 25–35-flowered; peduncle 2.0–6.0 cm long, peduncle and branches angled and lanate; florets 8.0– 10 mm long, ca. 1.3 cm across, light purple. Involucel bract spathulate, 6.0 × 2.0 mm, densely white-tomentose on both surfaces. Phyllaries 5-seriate; I series (outer) narrowly lanceolate-falcate, ca. 6.0–7.5 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, acuminate at apex; II series ovate-deltoid, 4.5–5.0 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, III series broadly ovate-deltoid, 5.0–5.5 × 3.0– 3.5 mm, silky hairy along the margin, glabrous inside, shortly acuminate at apex; IV series ovate-elliptic, 5.5–6.0 × 3.0– 3.5 mm, obtuse at apex, glabrous inside, sparsely hairy outside, 3-nerved; V series (innermost) oblanceolate, 7.0–9.0 × 3.0– 3.5 mm, densely hairy at apex. Corolla tube 6.0–8.0 mm long; lobes 5, linear, 3.0–3.5 × 0.5 mm, obtuse at apex. Stamens 5, filament 2 mm long, anthers linear, 3 mm long. Ovary 4.0– 4.5 mm long, glabrous, 3–4-ribbed; style 5.0–6.0 mm long, arms subulate, 2 mm long. Achenes 2.0– 2.5 mm long, 3- or rarely 4-ribbed, sparsely ciliate on ribs near the apex; outer pappus paleaceous, 1.0– 1.5 mm long, fimbriate at tip; inner linear, 6.0–8.0 mm long with white barbellate hairs.

Flowering and fruiting: —August to April.

Habitat, Ecology and Conservation status: —The new species is found in open areas of the western mountain slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in Kerala at elevations between 700–1400 m. The main associated species are Careya arborea Roxb. , Xanthophyllum arnottianum Wight , Syzygium makul Gaertn. , Osbeckia aspera Blume , etc. The present population consists of nearly 5000 individuals of various ages in four subpopulations occupying an area of 250 km 2. Following the IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2024), Uniyala keralensis is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

Distribution: —Endemic to SW India (Kerala).

Etymology: —The new species is named after Kerala state, where the type locality of the new taxon belongs.

Additional Specimens examined:— Uniyala keralensis : — INDIA. Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram District, Athirumala , 1200 m, 28.02.1991, N. Mohanan 10462 ( TBGT!) ; ibid, 1400 m, 27.08.1998, Shaju & Kiran Raj 34769 ( TBGT!) ; Karamanayar , 500 m, 3.11.2009, Deepthi & Geetha 67942 ( TBGT!) ; Chemunji, 24.11.1998, E. S. Santhosh Kumar & P. C. Suresh 39230 ( TBGT!) ; Merchiston, 30.12.2009, E. S. Santhosh Kumar & P. E. Roy 69206 ( TBGT!) ; Chemunji , 09.05.2012, ± 1200 m, G. Rajkumar & T. Shaju 72908 ( TBGT!) ; Attayar, 19.09.2024, ± 700m, E. S. Santhosh Kumar & S. M. Shareef 102803 ( TBGT!) ; ibid. 19.09.2024, ± 700m, E. S. Santhosh Kumar & S. M. Shareef 102804 ( TBGT!) ; Kottamalai, Bonaccord estate, 22.11.1993, Ramesh & D. de Franceschi 1303 ( HIFP image!). Uniyala comorinensis : — INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Dindigul distr. , Kodaikanal , Beddome s.n. ( CAL0000016756 , CAL image!) ; Madura distr., Panchantangi, Varushanad Hills , 28.07.1993, Ramesh & D.de Franceschi 1082 ( HIFP image!) ; Tirunelveli distr., Sengalteri, Kulavatti Estate , 1000 m, 01.04.1992, Ramesh & D. de Franceschi 160 ( HIFP image!) ; Kakachi, near Kakakkadu sanctuary, 01.02.1991, M. Subhadra MS02 ( HIFP image!) ; Kanyakumari distr., Muthukuzhivayal, 1000 m, 11.10.1992, Ramesh & D. de Franceschi 368 ( HIFP image!). Uniyala salviifolia : — INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Tenkasi distr. , Courtallum , Wight 1522 ( K000814681 , K image!) ; Courtallum, 02. 1836, Wight 510 ( CAL0000201584 , CAL image!) ; Tirunelvelly distr., Agasthiyarmalai, 22.05.1901, C. A. Barber 2905 ( CAL0000201583 , CAL image) ; Sengaltheri-Tirunelvelley hills, 11.02.1916, C. E. C. Fischer 3886 ( CAL0000201582 , CAL image!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Uniyala keralensis E.S.S.Kumar & Shareef, sp. nov. A. Flowering twig; B. Leaf, lower side; B1. Leaf, upper side; C. Stem; D. Stem, cross section; E. Leaf, upper surface; F. Leaf, lower surface; G. Leaf, margin.

FIGURE 2. Uniyala keralensis E.S.S.Kumar & Shareef, sp. nov. A. Flowering twig; B. A portion of inflorescence; B1. Capitula; C. Phyllary, 1st series; C1. Phyllary, 2nd series; C2. Phyllary, 3rd series; C3. Phyllary, 4th series; C4. Phyllary, 5th series; D. Capitula, showing achenes; E. Corolla; F & G. Florets; H. Achene.