Leptoboea multiflora (C.B.Clarke) Benth. ex Gamble subsp. grandifolia B.L.Burtt, Thai For. Bull. (Bot.)

J. P., Alappatt, 2020, Leptoboea multiflora subsp. grandifolia (Gesneriaceae), a new record for India, Rheedea 30 (1), pp. 187-189 : 187-189

Leptoboea multiflora (C.B.Clarke) Benth. ex Gamble subsp. grandifolia B.L.Burtt, Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 29: 99. 2001. Type: THAILAND, Chanthaburi, Khao Phra Bat, Kathing Falls, 26.08.1972, Larsen et al. 32065 (holo AAU; iso E, K). Fig. 1

Perennial herbs, to 60 cm tall. Stems branched, spreading. Leaves opposite, oblique, serrate, equal to subequal in a pair; petioles upto 4 cm long; lamina elliptic to ovate, 11–14 × 3–5 cm, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, margins shallowly serrate, adaxially appressed pilose, especially along veins, abaxially appressed pubescent; lateral veins 9–12 on each side of midrib. Cymes axillary, 3–5-flowered, umbellate; peduncles 7–8 cm long, filiform, puberulent; bracts linear to subulate, 3–4 × 0.2–0.4 mm, puberulent. Pedicels 1.5–2 cm long, filiform, often bracteolate. Sepals 5, linear to narrowly triangular, free to base, equal, 2.0–2.5 × 0.5–1.0 mm. Corolla shallowly campanulate, white with pink blotches on the adaxial side at the base of two upper lobes, c. 1.0 × 1.5 cm, glabrous outside; tube 4–5 mm long; limb obscurely bilabiate, lobes sub-equal, sub-orbicular to oblong, 5–6 × 4–6 mm. Stamens 4, inserted at corolla base, included; filaments 1.0– 1.5 mm long; anthers free, c. 2 × 1.5 mm, basifixed, thecae subparallel, confluent at apex, dehiscing apically; staminodes sometimes present. Ovary ellipsoid, c. 1.5 × 0.5 mm, sparsely puberulent; style 4 mm long, glabrous; stigma capitate. Capsules straight, linear with persistent calyx and style, 1.5–2 cm long. Seeds minute, black.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from August to September and fruiting from September to November.

Habitat: Rare in inland evergreen forests growing in shady, rather cool, humid and moist rock crevices on the sides of small perennial streams along with Globba pauciflora King ex Baker , Begonia andamensis Parish ex C.B.Clarke , Argostemma neurocalyx Miq. , Boesenbergia siphonantha (King ex Baker) M.Sabu, Prasanthk. & Skornick. , Amorphophallus longistylus Kurz ex Hook. f. and Bolbitis appendiculata (Willd.) Iwatsuki , at an elevation of about 50 m.

Distribution: Thailand and India (South Andaman Island).

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, South Andaman Island, Western slopes of Mt. Harriet Hill Ranges near Wrightmyo, Parachattan water falls, 26.09. 2015, Joju P. Alappatt 552 (PBL). THAILAND, Chanathaburi, Khao Khitchakut National Park, Khao Phra Bhat, 27.08.2012, David J. Middleton, P. Karaket, S. Suddee & P. Triboun 5680 (E [E00547429 digital image]) Prachin Buri, Na Di, Khao Yai National Park, trail to Heo Narok waterfall, 20.08.2012, David J. Middleton, C. Hemrat, M. Poopath & P. Triboun 5627 (E [E00629427 digital image]).

Notes: Leptoboea multiflora subsp. grandifolia differs from the other subspecies by having larger leaves and inflorescences that are axillary to the leaves of main shoots. In Leptoboea multiflora subsp. multiflora flowers are borne in inflorescences axillary to the leaves of short shoots that are themselves axillary to the leaves of the main shoot. Dwarf shoots are not formed in Leptoboea multiflora subsp. grandifolia .

Leptoboea Benth. has a relatively narrow distribution with its two species and one subspecies distributed from Nepal, Bhutan, China, India and Myanmar to Thailand. Leptoboea multiflora (C.B.Clarke) Benth. ex Gamble subsp. multiflora is reported from Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Thailand while subsp. grandifolia B.L.Burtt had until now only been reported from Thailand and now from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Leptoboea glabra C.B.Clarke is reported from Northeast India (Sikkim, West Bengal & Assam).

There are a number of plants reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that also occur in Thailand. The Andaman and Nicobar group of islands are situated between two major biodiversity hotspots, the Indian subcontinent and the Malaysian-Indonesian region ( Malesia) and consequently contains floristic elements representative of the Indian, Myanmarese, Thai, and Malesian floras. For the Nicobar Islands, the flora resembles closer to that of Malesia rather than India (Balakrishnan & Ellis, 1996).

Figures

Fig. 1. Leptoboea multiflora (C.B.Clarke) BentH. eX Gamble SubSp. grandifolia B.L.Burtt: a. Habit and Habitat; b. Flowering and fruiting branCH; c. Flower; d. Young CapSuleS (from Joju P. Alappatt 552).