Ceropegia huberi Ansari, Bull. Bot. Surv.

S. S., Kambale & Abstract, S. R. Yadav, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India, Rheedea 29 (1), pp. 1-115 : 44-59

Ceropegia huberi Ansari, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 10. 219. 1969; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 17. 1984; M.P.

Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 58. 1987; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 225. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 133. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 351. 2001; Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra. 3 A: 232. 2001; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 162. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 31. 2013. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Ratnagiri district, Amba Ghat, 29.08.1967, M.Y. Ansari 105001A (holo CAL!). Fig. 24

Vernacular name: Kharpudi (Marathi).

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 1.8–2.6 cm in diam., sub-globose, roots fibrous. Stem c. 200 cm in long, terete, usually single from tuber, branched, glabrous. Lower lamina ovate-lanceolate, 12–13.5 × 3.5–5 cm, acute at apex, broad at base; upper lamina elliptic-lanceolate, 7.5–8 × 2.3–2.5 cm, acute at apex, rounded-cordate at base, membranous, ciliolate along margins; petioles 2.7–3 cm long, glabrous, channeled above. Cymes sub-umbellate, many-flowered; peduncles 10.5–15 cm long, puberulous; bracts 2.5–3.5 mm long, linear, glabrous; pedicels 1.5–1.7 cm long, pubescent. Sepals 2.5–3 mm long, subulate, glabrous. Corolla 1–1.2 cm long, straight; tube c. 5 mm long, with 5 distinct ridges outside, broad at middle, glabrous, purple lines within, pinkish-white; lobes 7–8 mm long, c. 1.8 cm across, ovate, deeply cordate, broader than long, connate at tips and forming depressed circular cage, glabrous. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 lobed, cupular or saucer-shaped, entire, c. 0.7 mm long, inconspicuous, glabrous; inner of 5 elongated conical lobes, c. 0.2 mm long, with upwardly pointed hairs, creamy-yellow. Follicles in pairs, 6–8.5 cm long, tapering at both ends, glabrous. Seeds many, c. 5 × 3 mm, ovate, oblong, winged, comose; coma c. 1 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: July–October.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 ( Raghavan & Ansari, 1975).

Habitat: Grows along rocky hill slopes in association with Euphorbia antiquaorum L., Strobilanthes callosa Nees , Tripogon lisboae Stapf and other grasses at an elevation above 600 m.

Distribution: Endemic to northern Western Ghats

of Maharashtra, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Kolhapur district, Anuskura ghat, 24.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 285; Bhuibawda ghat, 24.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 287; Gaganbawada , 09.1996, M. P . Bachulkar-Cholekar MPB s.n.; Ibid. , 04.08.2003, M. Y . Kamble MYK s.n.; Karul Ghat , 28.07.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 55; Ibid. , 19.08.2013, S. S . Kambale & P. R . Lawand SSK 71; Panhala , 15.07.1973 K. S . Patil P 3280 ; Tillari , 03.09.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 20 ( SUK!); Ratnagiri district, Amba ghat, 05.07.1997, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Ibid. , 12.08.1997, P. S . Walkunde s.n.; 22.09.1998, P . D. Mahekar & V. B . Shimpale 5823; Ibid. , 25.09.1999, V. T . Patil 417; Ibid. , 20.07.2003, M. Y . Kamble MYK 2115; Ibid. , s.d., S. P . Gaikwad SPG 474; Ibid. , (grown in garden), 30.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2588 ; Ibid. , 15.08.2013, M. M . Lekhak SSK 70 ( SUK!); Pune district, Mulashi , 24.08.2013, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 57; Ibid. , 24.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SSK 262; Varandha Ghat , 07.07.2004, M. Y . Kamble MYK s.n. ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Vulnerable.

Notes: Ceropegia huberi is closely similar to C. santapaui but differs by its bright white flowers and much depressed cage of corolla lobes.

Ceropegia lawii Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 67. 1883; Blatter & McCann, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 36: 534. 1933; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Broter. 12: 67. 1957; T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 2: 240. 1905; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 19. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 60. 1987; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 228. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 136. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra Dicot. 2: 352. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 85. 2002; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 35. 2013; Punekar et al., Nelumbo 55: 17. 2013. Lectotype (Step I designated by Huber, 1957; Step II designated by Punekar et al., 2013): INDIA, Maharashtra, Concan, s.d., Stocks & Law Ceropegia 25 (K000357607 image!).

C. maharashtrensis Punekar, Tamhankar, Lakshmin., Kumaran, Raut & S.K. Srivast., Nelumbo 55: 22. 2013. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Dhak killa (Dhakeshwar), 1100 m, 08.2005, S. A. Punekar &

A. Raut 357 (holo CAL!; iso AHMA).

“ C. lawii Hook.f. var. wadhwae ” M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 234. 2001. nom. inval.

C. sahyadrica auct . Lakshmin. & Sharma, Fl. Nasik District 302. 1991, non Ansari & B.G. Kulk, 1997.

Fig. 25

Vernacular names: Kharpudi, Tilori, Korpudi (Marathi).

Perennial erect herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 2–4.5 cm in diameter, sub-globose, roots fibrous. Stem c. 45–60 cm long, usually single from individual tuber, rarely 1–3 from the same tuber, terete, sometimes quadrangular, generally unbranched, pubescent. Leaves opposite-decussate to whorls of 3–4; lamina variable, lower ovate, acute at apex, rounded-cordate at base, upper ovate-lanceolate 5–6 × 2.8–3 cm, puberulous above with bulbous based hairs, glabrous beneath, ciliate along margins, lateral nerves 3–5 pairs; petioles 1.5–1.7 cm long, hairy, channeled above. Cymes umbellate, 2-many-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 0.5–2 cm long, puberulous; bracts 1–1.5 mm long, linear; pedicels 8–9 mm long, puberulous. Sepals 2–2.5 mm long, linear, hairy along midnerve, glabrous otherwise. Corolla 2.5–3 cm long, straight or slightly curved; tube 1.7–1.9 cm long, narrow in the middle, sub-cylindrical above, minutely hairy at the base of dilated part within, greyish white, deep purple in the lower 2/3 rd part and white in upper 1/3 rd part within; lobes 8–9 mm long, ovate-cordate, connate at the tip forming globose-ovoid cage, 3–7 mm across, glabrous, variously coloured, externally greyish-white, faint green-faint purple within. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 entire-bifid lobes, saucer to cupular-shaped, shorter than gynostegium, c. 2 mm long, hairy along the margins, yellow-deep purple with black margins; inner straight, 2.5–3 mm long, linear-spathulate, yellow-white. Follicles in pairs, 9–12 cm long, erect, tapering towards apex. Seeds c. 6 × 2 mm, oblong-elliptic, brown, comose; coma c. 2.5 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: July–September.

Habitat: Grows along hill slopes in association with Strobilanthes callosa Nees , at an elevation ranging from 210–1232 m.

Distribution: Endemic to northern Western Ghats

of Maharashtra, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Ahmednagar district, Harishchandragad , 15.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 272; Ibid. , 24.08.2014, S. S . Kambale & A. N . Chandore SSK 290; Ibid. , 12.09.2014, S. S . Kambale & A. A . Adsul SSK 304; Ibid., 20.10.2014, Ibid. (grown in garden), S. S . Kambale SSK 328 ( SUK!); Nasik district, Anjaneri (grown in garden), 22.06.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2572 ; Ibid. , 16.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2579 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Satry (1987) assessed it as Endangered.

Notes: According to Huber’s (1957) classification of the genus, C. lawii comes under Ceropegia sect. Buprestis . This species is highly variable in its floral morphology and inflorescence pattern ( Kambale & Yadav, 2015). Inflorescence is sometimes a solitary flower to few flowered, lateral umbellate cyme. Number of inflorescence also varies from 1–4 per node. Colour of corolla lobes within upper-half varies considerably from pale-green and deep purple to yellow. It is closely allied to C. panchganiensis , C. sahyadrica , C. rollae and C. maccannii in having erect habit, but differs in having linear, erect, glabrous, inner corona forming a complex of these taxa. Meve (2002) synonymised C. maccannii and C. panchganiensis under C. lawii and Punekar et al. (2013) added two new species, viz. C. maharashtrensis Punekar, Tamhankar, Lakshmin., Kumaran, Raut & S.K. Srivast. and C. karulensis Punekar, Tamhankar, Lakshmin., Kumaran, Raut, S.K. Srivast. & Kavade. The former is recognized as a synonym while the latter is considered as a variety under C. sahyadrica Ansari & B.G. Kulk. This taxon is distinct from the other species of the complex in having cupular, outer hirsute corona and narrow corolla tube.

Ceropegia maccannii Ansari, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 22(1–4): 227. 1980 (1982); Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 22. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 2: 47. 1988; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 230. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 138. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra Dicot. 2: 352. 2001; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 164. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 35. 2013; Punekar et al., Nelumbo 55: 21. 2013. Ceropegia lawii var. maccannii (Ansari) M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 234. 2001. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune district, Sinhgad hill, 08.1964, M.Y. Ansari 97574A (holo CAL!; iso BSI!).

C. lawii auct . T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 2: 175. 1904; H. Huber, Mem. Soc.Brot. 12: 67. 1957; Venkatareddi, Willdenowia 5(1): 32. 1968, non Hook.f., 1883.

Fig. 26

Vernacular name: Kharpudi (Marathi).

Perennial erect herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 2–6 cm in diam., sub-globose, roots fibrous. Stem 40–180 cm long, usually single from each tuber, rarely two, terete, usually unbranched, rarely branched, pubescent, pale purple. Lamina variable, lower ones 7.2–9.2 × 2.6–3.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, round-cordate at base, pubescent above, with bulbous based hairs, glabrous beneath except along nerves and midrib, usually 2–3 glands at the base of lamina; upper ones linear-lanceolate rarely falcate, 1.7–6.2 × 0.25–1.6 cm, with 2 glands at the base, ciliolate along margins; petioles 0.2–1.9 cm long, channeled above, pubescent. Cymes sub-umbellate, 3–5-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 0.4–1.6 cm, slender, puberulous; bracts 3–4 mm long, linear, glabrous; pedicels 3–6 mm long, slender, pubescent. Sepals 4–4.2 mm long, linear-lanceolate, puberulous along midnerve, glabrous otherwise. Corolla 2–2.1 cm long, greyish-yellow; tube 1.6–1.8 cm long, straight-slightly curved, gradually dilated towards base, light windows at the dilated part within, glabrous within, purple; lobes c. 3 mm, obovate, acute at apex, connate at tips forming a minute obovate or obconic cage of 3–3.5 mm across, glabrous, yellow. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 entire triangular lobes, cupular, c. 2 mm long, hairy almost throughout and within; inner thick, fleshy, sub-clavate to clavate, 2 mm long, hairy, usually white rarely with purple blotching. Follicles in pairs, 4.5–6.5 cm long, linear, terete, tapering at the ends, glabrous. Seeds 5–6 × 2–3 mm, ovate, oblong, marginate, comose; coma 1.5–2 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: May–August.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 ( Raghavan & Ansari, 1975).

Habitat: Grows on hill slopes, in association, with Strobilanthes callosa Nees and Rhinacanthus sp. at an

elevation of 943–1000 m.

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

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune district, Purandhar fort, 08.1991, s.coll. s.n. ( MH!); Sinhgadh, 29.08.1963, M. Y . Ansari 87804 ( BSI!); Ibid., 07.1965, B. V . Reddi 101207 ( CAL!); Torna Fort (grown in garden), 26.08.2010, S. S . Kambale SUK 2558 ; Ibid. , 16.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2582 ; Ibid. , 19.09.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 21; Ibid. , 12.08.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 68; Ibid. , 06.09.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 74; Ibid. , 15.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 273; Ibid. , 21.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 284 ( SUK!); Varandha Ghat, 15.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 271 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Rare. This plant is represented by very few individuals in its area of occurrence due to the habitat loss and exploitation of tubers for food. In the present study, it is assessed as Critically Endangered [CR: B2 a, b (iii, iv, v)].

Notes: Ceropegia maccannii is morphologically related to C. panchganiensis Blatt. & McCann in having clavate inner corona; but it differs in having relatively short flowers, shorter corolla lobes and ovate–lanceolate leaves. C. maccannii is often confused with C. lawii due to its morphological similarities. Specimens of this taxon were collected as early as in 1833 by Law and Stocks, who identified it as C. lawii . Hooker (1833) and Venkatareddi (1968) also misidentified it as the latter. However Ansari (1984) described it as new and can be distinguished by smallest flowers and narrow corolla tube, hence treated here as distinct.

Ceropegia media (H. Huber) Ansari, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 11(1–2): 199. 1971; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 24. 1984; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 232. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 131. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 353. 2001; M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 235. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 89. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 162. 2009. Ceropegia evansii McCann var. media H. Huber, Mem Soc. Brot. 12: 67. 1957. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune district, Bhimashankar hills, N.A. Irani 1194

(holo BLAT image!). Fig. 27

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous, tubers 1–4 cm in diam., globose or sub-globose, roots fibrous. Stem c. 3 m long, usually single from individual tuber, terete, unbranched, green to dull purple, glabrous. Lamina 6–16 × 1.3–4.5 cm, sub-coriaceous, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute-acuminate, narrowed at base, ciliolate along margins and midnerve beneath, glabrous beneath; petioles 0.5–2.4 cm long, channeled above, hairy along margins, glabrous otherwise. Cymes umbellate, 3–8-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1–2.8 cm long, terete, hirsute; bracts 4–7.5 mm long, linear-subulate, glabrous, slightly hairy along margins; bracteoles 2–2.5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, sparsely hairy along margins; pedicels 0.5–1 cm long, slender, hirsute. Sepals c. 5 mm long, glabrous otherwise, linear-lanceolate, subulate, hairy along midnerve, glabrous otherwise. Corolla 2.1–2.5 cm long; tube 1.4–1.8 cm, slightly curved, abruptly dilated at base, cylindrical at middle, funnel-shaped at throat, glabrous within and outside, pale-purple to white outside, pale-green at dilated part and deep purple in the remaining part within, white at throat; lobes slightly reflexed, oblong-spathulate, connate at tip forming obovoid-globose cage, glabrous, pale pink-purple. Corona stipitate, bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid emarginate lobes, cupular, sub-quadrate in outline, 2–2.5 mm long, usually glabrous outside, hairy within, fleshy dark purple with white tinge; inner of 5 linear lobes, 1–2 mm long, white-cream coloured. Follicles in pairs usually unequal, hooked at tip, 9.5–11.4 cm long, tapering at both ends, glabrous. Seeds 6 × 2.5 mm, comose; coma silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: July–September.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 ( Raghavan & Ansari, 1975).

Habitat: Grows along hills slopes in association with Strobilanthes callosa Nees. It also found in forest edges along with Memecylon umbellatum Burm.f.

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

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Ahmednagar district, Kalsubai , 02.09.2003, M. Y . Kamble 2151 ( SUK!); Pune district, Donaje , Dhorjai Forest , 07.08.1964, M. Y . Ansari 97555; Khanapur, Sinhgadh hill slopes, 12.08.1964, M. Y . Ansari 99835 ( BSI!); Varandha Ghat, 15.07.2003, M. Y . Kamble s.n. ( SUK!); Ratnagiri district, Gothane , 24.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 292 ( SUK!); Satara district, Kas , 09.1994, M. P . Bachulkar-Cholekar 5806; 10.1995, M. P . Bachulkar-Cholekar 20660; 25.07.2010, S. S . Kambale SUK 2569 ; 31.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2587 ; Ibid. (grown in garden), 30.08.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 17 ( SUK!); Thoseghar plateau, 29.07.2002, S. P . Gaikwad SPG 212; 14.08.2004, M. Y . Kamble s.n. ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Observations on populations at various localities in northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra revealed that the species represented by a few individuals at each locality. Mishra and Singh, 2011 categorized it as Vulnerable, and is supported in the present study.

Notes: Huber (1957) described this taxon as a variety of C. evansii McCann , based on the collections of Irani (Irani 1194) housed at BLAT. Subsequently, Ansari (1984) elevated the variety to the rank of a species. Ceropegia media is similar to C. evansii and C. omissa , however, it is distinguished by its linear to lanceolate leaves, puberulous pedicels and calyx, straight to slightly curved corolla, cupular to sub-quadrate outer corona and inner corona with linear lobes.

Ceropegia oculata Hook., Bot. Mag. 70: t. 4093. 1844; Dalzell & A. Gibson, Bombay Fl. 154. 1861; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 72. 1883; T. Cooke, Fl. Bombay 2: 242. 1905; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 62. 1987; S.M. Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 1: 258. 1989; S.D. Deshp. et al., Fl. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra 1: 361. 1993; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 234. 1999; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 144. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 354. 2001; M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 236. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 93. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 163. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 37. 2013. Lectotype (designated by Ansari, 1984): Botanical Magazine, t. 4093. 1844.

Ceropegia oculata Hook. var. satpudensis Punekar, S.D. Jagtap & Deokule, Curr. Sci. 91(9): 1143. 2006. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Nandurbar district, Akrani taluka, Toranmal , Legapani village , 09.08.2003, S. D. Jagtap 2919 (holo CAL!; iso BSI!) .

Ceropegia mahabalei Hemadri & Ansari var. hemalatae S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale , Indian Forester 138(2): 201. 2012. Type: INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune district, Junnar taluka, Shindechiwadi , S. R . Rahangdale 0137 (holo BSI!) .

Fig. 28

Vernacular names:Kharpudi, Khapar-khutti (Marathi).

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers c. 5 × 2.5 cm, globose; roots fibrous. Stem sparingly branched, terete, slightly swollen at the nodes, c. 3 m long. Lamina 4–19 × 1.7–11.5 cm, broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, acute or shortly acuminate at apex, rounded-cordate at base, sparsely pubescent with bulbous based hairs above, glabrous or hairy on the nerves beneath, glabrous otherwise; petioles 0.6–5.4 (–8) cm long, channeled above, hairy along margins, glabrous otherwise. Cymes umbellate, 6–11-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1.9–4.4 cm long, terete, hirsute; bracts solitary, 4–9 × 1–1.5 mm, linear-subulate or lanceolate, glabrous; pedicels 0.9–2.5 cm long, slender, glabrous. Sepals 0.65–1.3 cm, linear-subulate, glabrous, sometimes hairy along midnerve, whitish-green to reddish-purple. Corolla 5.8–7.8 cm long; tube 4.7–5.6 cm long, curved in 900 with axis, gradually-abruptly dilated at the base, narrow in the middle, widening into the funnel-shaped throat, whitish-green to faint purple at the dilation and blotched with dark red spots at the mouth, greyish-white with purple striations in the middle; lobes 1.5–2.0 cm long, linear-obtuse, connate at tip to form narrow beak, glabrous, ciliate within above the middle and along margins; downwardly directed hairs within lower half, green at upper-half, white tinged with green at lower half, sometimes purple throughout (colour of corolla lobes is variable; usually deep green above, white at middle and deep purple below). Corona stipitate, bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, saucer-shaped, with 3–4 mm long, sparsely ciliate along margins and within, yellow to deep purple; inner 4–5 mm long, erecto-divergent, linear-clavate, glabrous, yellow, deep purple at base. Follicles in pairs, horizontal, c. 12.5 cm long, glabrous. Seeds c. 7 × 3 mm, comose; coma c. 2.5 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: July–October.

Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 (Raghavan & Ansari,

1975).

Habitat: Grows amidst bushes, along hills slopes in association with Strobilathes callosa Nees , Bridelia retusa etc .

Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats (Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra), India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Kolhapur district, Panhala , s.d., M. M . Sardesai 203; Ibid., Masai Plateau , 30.08.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 14; Ibid. , 13.07.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 240; Patgaon, Shengaon , 24.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2585 ; Ibid. , 16.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2580 ; Radhanagari , 07.08.2003, M. Y . Kamble 2134 ( SUK!); Pune district, Bhor , Dharjai forest , 07.08.1964, M. Y . Ansari 97572; Jaitapur , 14.08.2014, A. V . Mohite SSK 264; Junnar, Bhivade Khurd , 02.10.1965, K . Hemadri 107574; Ibid. , 21.09.1968, K . Hemadri 117939; Katraj , 08.1956, G. S . Puri BSI 2965 ; Malshej Ghat , 23.08.2004, M. Y . Kamble s.n.; Mulashi , 09.08.2013, S. S . Kambale SSK 62 ( SUK!); Purandar, 20.07.1963, S. R . Rao 88651 ( BSI!); Rajgad (grown in garden), 30.08.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 18 ( SUK!); Ratnagiri district, Dukawad , Hanuman Ghat , 07.06.1970, B. G . Kulkarni 121145 ( BSI!); Sinhgadh, Tanki-dara , 10.09.1964, M. Y . Ansari 101569 ( BSI!); Satara district, Yewateshwar , 09.1992, M. P . Bachulkar-Cholekar 5325; Sindhudurg district, Phonda , 05.08.2012, S. S . Kambale SSK 7; 21.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 283; Salwa Dongar , s.d., S. P . Gaikwad 485; s.loc. 09.07.1999, S. R . Yadav s.n. ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Rare while Mishra and Singh 2011 considered it as a low risk. It is represented by a good number of plants in all localities. However, food value of tubers, destruction of habitats are the major threats in near future. In present study, C. oculata is assessed as Near Threatened (NT).

Notes: Ceropegia oculata is an exceptionally variable species in its floral and vegetative characters. Petiole length varies from 0.6–8 cm; leaf shape from elliptic-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, corolla colour from whitish-green to reddish-purple and shape of corolla tube dilation from abruptly to gradually dilated. Ceropegia oculata is closely similar to C. fantastica , C. vincifolia , C. metziana and C. hirsuta in vegetative stage, but differs from them in having greenish-flowers, abruptly to gradually dilated corolla tube and horizontal follicles.

Ceropegia odorata Nimmo ex J. Graham, Cat. Pl. Bombay 118. 1839; Hook.f., Fl. Brit.Ind. 4: 75. 1883; Sabnis & Bedi, Kew Bull. 25 (1): 57. 1971; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 26. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 64. 1987; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Pl. Maharashtra 145. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 354. 2001; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 234. 1999; M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 236. 2001; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 93. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 163. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 37. 2013. Neotype (designated by Singh, 2014): INDIA, Maharashtra, Salsette Island (Mumbai), Concan (Konkan), 11.1847, Stocks & J.S. Law 239 K (K000894261 image!).

Ceropegia blatteri McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 45: 210. 1945. Type: Not located or apparently none preserved. Fig. 29

Vernacular name: Sulati-khutti (Marathi).

Perennial twining herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 1–2.5 cm in diam., depressed, sub-globose; roots fibrous. Stem slender, c. 2 m long, unbranched, sparsely hairy. Leaves whorled at young stage, usually 3 at lower node, opposite at upper nodes. Lamina 6–12.5 × 1.1– 2.6 cm, fleshy at juvenile stage, acute-acuminate at apex, narrowed at base, pubescent above and along margins, ciliolate along midrib and nerves beneath, glabrous otherwise; upper ones elliptic-lanceolate; petioles 0.4–0.6 cm long, channeled, hairy along margins, glabrous otherwise; lower ones large, broadly lanceolate, sub-sessile. Cymes umbellate, 6–10-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 0.5–2 cm long, terete, hirsute. Flowers yellow and sweet scented; bracts 3.5–5.5 mm long, linear, glabrous; pedicels c. 5 mm long, glabrous. Sepals 5.5–6 mm long, linear-acuminate, hairy on mid nerve. Corolla c. 3.2 cm long, tube c. 1.6 cm long, slightly curved, gradually dilated at base, glabrous, yellow with purple lines and hairy within dilated part; 1–1.3 cm long, narrow, slightly reflexed, connate at tips forming an ovoid cage, glabrous, yellow. Corona bi-seriate; outer of entire lobes, c. 1.2 mm long; inner of 5 elongated, linear-oblong, subulate, 2–3 mm long processes, pubescent. Pollinia ovate– oblong. Follicles c. 10 cm long, tapering towards apex. Seeds c. 4 × 2 mm, brown, ovate, comose; coma c. 3.5 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: August–October.

Habitat: Grows in rocky areas amidst grasses and around bushes in association with Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker , Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees , Terminalia elliptica Willd. , Tylophora fasciculata Buch.–Ham. ex Wight and Wrightia tinctoria R.Br.

Distribution: India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Burhanpur district , Nepanagar, M . Shaikh 4501 and M . Shaikh 4561 ( SUK!) . Maharashtra, Thane district, Karjat , 03.09.2011, S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav SUK 2597 ; Kasara Ghat , s.d., S. S . Kambale & S. R . Yadav s.n. ( SUK!) . Rajasthan, s.loc., s.d., A . Powlett s.n. ( CAL!) .

Conservation status: Singh et al. (2014) treated it as Critically Endangered. This plant is not much represented in any of the Indian herbaria . During field surveys, only 50 individuals were located. It has recently been reported from Sabarkantha district of Gujarat by Patel et al. (2017). Its occurrence in Madhya Pradesh proves its wide distribution from Western Ghats to Central India. Hence, it is assessed as Vulnerable [ VN: B2 a, b (iii, iv, v)] in the present study.

Notes: Ceropegia odorata is similar to C. ensifolia , but differs in having yellow (vs. pale green) and shorter corolla lobes (vs. as long as tube). Sweet scented flowers of this species are unusual in otherwise non-fragrant genus.

Ceropegia omissa H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 67. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 27. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 65. 1987; S.R. Sriniv. in Henry et al., Fl. Tamil Nadu Ind., Ser I: Analysis 2: 83. 1987; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 235. 1999; T.S. Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Kerala 86. 2006; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 163. 2009. Ceropegia intermedia var. wightii Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 71. 1883; Gamble, Fl. Madras 4: 858. 1921. Lectotype (designated by Kambale & Yadav, 2015): INDIA, Travancore, Courtallum, 1835, R. Wight s.n. (K000894272 image!). Fig. 30

Perennial twining herbs. Lamina 3–8 cm × 0.7– 2.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, rounded at base, glabrous; petioles 1–2.2 cm long, glabrous. Cymes 4–11-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1–2.7 cm long, glabrous; pedicels c. 1.5 cm long, glabrous. Sepals 4–5 mm long, subulate, glabrous. Corolla 2.8–3.5 cm long; tube 1.5–2.5 cm long, slightly curved, dilated more than half of its length, sub-cylindrical at throat with a ring of hairs; lobes 4–10 mm long, ovate, connate at tips forming an ovoid cage, glabrous throughout. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid, saucer-shaped, deltoid-linear, ciliate lobes; inner erect, linear, glabrous. Follicles 10.5–28 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: July–January.

Habitat: Occurs along shady places in forests.

Distribution: Endemic to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district, Kulamavu MPCA , 24.11.1991, K . Ravikumar , P . S . Udayan & C . R . Jawahar 14297 ( FRLH!) . Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli district, Kollar forest, way to Pothagai , 16.07.1989, R . Gopalan 90689; Kaliankattu Nerappu Parai , 29.01.1991, R . Gopalan 91714; way to Naterikal, 22.09.1916, s.coll. 33369; Sengalteri , 24.09.1916, J . S . Gamble 13540 ( MH!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Endangered while Prasad et al. (2017) assessed it as Critically Endangered. The present study also assess C. omissa as Critically Endangered [CR: B1 B2 a, b (iii)].

Notes: Hooker (1883) described C. intermedia var. wightii based on specimens collected by Wight from Courtallum in Tamil Nadu. Huber (1957) elevated this taxon to the rank of species and gave a new epithet C. omissa since C. wightii was preoccupied. Kambale and Yadav (2015) discussed the typification in detail and designated a lectotype. This taxon closely resembles C. intermedia in its twining habit but distinguished by its linear inner corona and glabrous outer corona.

Ceropegia panchganiensis Blatt. & McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36. 534. 1933; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 27. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 1: 66. 1987; S.D. Deshp. et al., Fl. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra 1: 362. 1993; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 235. 1999; A.P. Jagtap & Das Das in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra, Dicot. 2: 355. 2001; D.K. Mishra & N.P. Singh, Endem. Threat. Fl. Pl. Maharashtra 146. 2001; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 163. 2009; Kambale & S.R. Yadav, Asklepios 115: 37. 2013; Punekar et al., Nelumbo 55: 24. 2013. Ceropegia lawii Hook.f. var. panchganiensis (Blatt. & McCann) M.R. Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 3 A: 234. 2001. Neotype (designated by Ansari, 1984): INDIA, Maharashtra, Satara district, Lingmala near Mahabaleshwar, 20.08.1970, M.Y. Ansari 105090A (CAL!).

Ceropegia lawii auct . F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 85. 2002., p.p. non Hook.f., 1883. Fig. 31

Perennial erect herbs. Rootstock tuberous; tubers 6.5–12 cm in diam., sub-globose; roots fibrous. Stem 14–80 (–120) cm long, generally 1 or rarely 3, usually cylindrical, quadrangular at base, unbranched, pubescent. Leaves rarely in whorls of 3; lamina 3.5–6.3 × 2.2–3 cm, ovate– oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, rounded-sub-cordate at base, hispidulous above, glabrous beneath; petioles 1.3–1.8 cm long, channeled above, pubescent. Cymes sub-umbellate, 16–19-flowered, extra-axillary or terminal; peduncles 0.5–4.9 cm long, slender, pubescent; bracts 3–4.5 mm long, subulate pubescent; pedicels 1–1.6 cm long, pubescent. Sepals 3.5–4 mm long, glabrous, rarely pubescent on the midnerve, linear (subulate). Corolla 3–4 cm long, variable in colour; tube 2.5–3 cm long, usually straight slightly curved sometimes, gradually dilated towards base, uniformly cylindrical above, narrow at throat, glabrous, greyish-white, dark purple within, with hairs at dilated part, window panes distinct; lobes 5–7 mm long, obovate-acute, connate at tip forming a sub globose-globose cage, glabrous. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 shallowly bifid lobes, bowl-shaped, equaling the gynostegium, c. 2 × 2 mm, stiff hairy along margins, dark brown to black along margin; inner of 5 erect, white, densely stiff hairy clavate lobes, c. 3 mm long, purple at tips. Follicles in pairs, c. 11 cm long, tapering towards apex, glabrous. Seeds 4–6 × 1.5–2 mm, ovate, oblong, marginate, comose; coma 1–2 cm long, silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: May–October.

Habitat: Grows along hill slopes in association with Strobilathes callosa and Senecio spp .

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

Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Satara district, Mahabaleshwar , 10.07.2003, M. Y . Kamble 2124; s. loc., 07.07.1999, S. R . Yadav s.n.; s.loc., 25.08.1999, S. R . Yadav s.n.; Panchgani (grown in garden), 22.06.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2571 ; Ibid. , 16.07.2011, S. S . Kambale SUK 2581 ; Ibid. , 03.07.2014, S. S . Kambale & B. U . Jadhav SSK 236; Ibid. , 03.07.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 239; Ibid. , 21.08.2014, S. S . Kambale SSK 277 ( SUK!) .

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed it as Endangered.

Notes: According to Huber’ s (1957) classification of the genus, C. panchganiensis belongs Ceropegia sect. Buprestis . While describing the species, Blatter and McCann (1931) compared it with C. lawii Hook.f. This taxon is often misidentified as C. lawii due to morphological similarities. Ansari (1984) treated it as a distinct species and described another closely similar species C. maccannii Ansari. Subsequently Bruyns et al. (2017) merged it under the latter. However, C. panchganiensis is quite distinct and differs from latter in having yellowish flowers, clavate and hairy inner corona, cupular and hairy outer corona.

Figures

Fig. 24. Ceropegia huberi Ansari: a. Habit; b–d. Inflorescence; e. Top view of corolla lobes; f. Flower L.S.; g. Corona–lateral view.

Fig. 25 Ceropegia lawii Hook.f.: a & b. Habit; c. Flower; d. Flower L.S.; e. Corona–lateral view.

Fig. 26. Ceropegia maccannii Ansari: a & b. Habit; c. Inflorescence; d. Flowers; e. Flower L.S.; f. Corolla tube cut open; g. Corona–lateral view.

Fig. 27. Ceropegia media (H. Huber) Ansari: a & b. Habit; c. Flowers; d & e. Flower L.S.; f. Corona–lateral view; g. Corona–top view.

Fig. 28. Ceropegia oculata Hook.: a & b. Habit; c. Flower; d. Flower L.S.; e. Corona–lateral view.

Fig. 29. Ceropegia odorata Nimmo ex J. Graham: a & b. Habit; c. Inflorescence; d. Flower; e & f. Flower L.S.; g. Corona–lateral view.

Fig. 30. Ceropegia omissa H. Huber a & b. Habit; c. Inflorescence; d & f. Corona–lateral view; e. Corona–top view (Photos Mr. Abhishek Jain).

Fig. 31. Ceropegia panchganiensis Blatt. & McCann: a & b. Habit; c. Inflorescence; d & e. Flower L.S.; f & g. Corona–lateral view.