Ceropegia longifolia subsp. sinensis H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot.

S. S., Kambale & Abstract, S. R. Yadav, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India, Rheedea 29 (1), pp. 1-115 : 19-23

Ceropegia longifolia subsp. sinensis H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 42. 1957. Type: CHINA, Western Szechuan , 06.1908, E.H. Wilson 2313 (holo GH image!).

C. mizoramensis Ram. Kumar & S. Sharma, Taiwania 63(2): 164. 2018. syn. nov. Type: INDIA, Mizoram, Champhai, Murlen National Park , c. 1100 m, 18.09.2014, R. Kumar & S . Sharma 131485 (holo ASSAM!; iso CAL!) .

C. murlensis Ram. Kumar & S. Sharma, Taiwania 63(2): 166. 2018. syn. nov. Type: INDIA, Mizoram, Champhai, Murlen National Park , c. 1100 m, 18.09.2014, R. Kumar & S . Sharma 131486 (holo ASSAM!; iso CAL!) .

Lamina 6–9 × 1–2 cm, linear to elliptic-lanceolate, acute at apex, narrow at base, glabrous above pubescent beneath; petioles c. 1.2 cm long. Cymes umbellate, 2–12-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles c. 2.5 cm long. Flowers whitish-green to yellowish-green; pedicels 0.4–1.5 cm long, terete, puberulous. Corolla c. 5 cm long; tube c. 2.5 cm long, straight to slightly curved, dilated at base, funnel-shaped at throat, ring of hairs at dilated part; lobes c. 2.5 cm long, elliptic-oblong to broadly ovate, reflexed half to completely, connate at the tip forming ovoid to linear cage, hairy within, hairs are translucent, variously colored, red to greenish in the upper-half, yellowish green to purple veined in lower half,.

Flowering & fruiting: August–October.

Distribution: India (Mizoram) and China. Notes: C. longifolia subsp. sinensis differs from typical variety in having oblong to linear corolla lobes. Huber (1957) recognized subsp. sinensis based on the specimens collected by Wilson from China. Ansari (1984) reported this taxon in India based on the specimens collected by G.K. Deka (ASSAM). On critical examination of the types and protologue, it is concluded that this specimen does not match with subsp. sinensis . Kumar et al. (2018) recently described two new species viz. C. mizoramensis Ram.Kumar & S. Sharma and C. murlensis Ram.Kumar & S. Sharma from north east India. The characters used by the authors to erect these taxa are found to intergrade with the circumscription of C. longifolia Wall. subsp. sinensis , hence both are reduced to the synonymy of C. longifolia var. sinensis .

Ceropegia lucida Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 33, t. 139. 1831; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 73. 1883; P.C. Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 3: 309. 1939; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 54. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 22. 1984; M.P. Nayar & Sastry, Red Data Book Indian Pl. 2: 44. 1988; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 229. 1999; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 162. 2009; Khandal et al., Curr. Sci. 113(11): 2077. 2017. Lectotype (Step I designated by Huber, 1957; Step II designated here): BANGLADESH, Sylhet, (Sillet), s.d., N. Wallich Asclep. 2 (K000857816 image!). Fig. 10 (C)

Perennial twining herbs. Stem sparsely hairy to glabrous. Lamina 7–9 cm long, elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, narrowed at base, slightly fleshy, glabrous, ciliolate along margins, dark green above, pale below; petioles 0.8–1 cm long, slender, pilose. Cymes umbellate, 5–6-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles c. 2 cm long, fleshy, puberulous. Flowers yellowish-green with purple spots; pedicels 1–1.8 cm long, terete, glabrous. Sepals linear-subulate, glabrous. Corolla 1.8–2.7 cm long; tube 1.2–2.5 cm long, cylindrical throughout, hardly dilated at base, cylindrical, funnel-shaped at throat, with a ring of hairs at the throat of dilated part; lobes 0.7– 2.5 cm long, broadly or elliptic-oblong, spathulate, connate at the tip, hairy within at upper-half, greenish yellow blotched with purple. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 shortly bifid-deltoid lobes, ciliate along margins; inner of 5 erecto-divergent, linear-clavate, lobes. Fruits not observed.

Flowering: September–November.

Habitat: Found growing along streams in forests on rocky substratum.

Distribution: India (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim), Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand ( SIAM).

Specimen examined: INDIA, Sikkim, Sikkim Himalaya, 1874, G. King s.n. (CAL!).

Conservation status: Nayar and Sastry (1987) assessed C. lucida as Endangered or possibly Extinct. However, Khandal et al. (2018) reported it from Arunachal Pradesh, which is a clear indication of its existence in the wild. However, the surviving population comprises less than 10 mature individuals and is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered [CR: B1 a, b (iii, iv, v)].

Notes: Wallich (1831) described C. lucida from Sylhet in Bangladesh. Without mentioning any specimen in the protologue. Huber (1957) cited “Typus: Wallich (Sillet) in Herb. K (Holotypus), P ”. As there are two sheets at K ( K000857816 & K001129042 ), Huber’s selection can be considered as the first step of lectotypification. To narrow down the choice, K000857816 is designated here as the second step lectotype following Art. 9.17 of Shenzhen Code (Turland et al., 2018) .

Ceropegia macrantha Wight, Contr. Bot. India 31. 1834; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 74. 1883; Collett, Fl. Siml. 320. 1902; Prain, Bengal Pl. 2: 701. 1903; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 45. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 23. 1984; H.J. Chowdhery in H.J. Chowdhery & Wadhwa, Fl. Himachal Pradesh 462. 1984; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 230. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 88. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 162. 2009. Lectotype (Step I designated by Huber, 1957; Step II designated by Singh, 2015): INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Kumaon, Khurie Pass, s.d., J.F. Royle s.n. (K000857826 image!).

Ceropegia raizadiana Babu, Herbac. Fl. Dehra Dun 305. 1977. Type: INDIA, Uttarakhand, Dehradun, Bindal, s.d., C.R. Babu 32215 (holo CAL, apparently none preserved; iso BSD!). Fig. 11

Perennial twining herbs. Stem climbing, glabrous, hairy at nodes. Lamina 4.5–14 × 2–7 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, rounded at base, sparsely hairy above, ciliolate along margins, glabrous beneath; petioles 1.2–2.4 cm long, slender, channeled above, puberulous. Cymes sub-umbellate, 4–5-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 1.2–2.7 cm long, hairy in 1 or 2 rows. Flowers yellowish blotched with pink throughout; pedicels c. 8 mm long, terete, glabrous. Sepals 6–7 mm long, linear-subulate, glabrous. Corolla 2.5–7.6 cm long; tube 1.8–3.2 cm long, abruptly dilated at base, cylindrical at middle, funnel-shaped at throat, ciliolate throughout, with a ring of hairs at the mouth within, glabrous otherwise, deep pink within, dilated part blotched pink inside; lobes 2.4– 2.8 cm long, linear to elliptic-lanceolate, connate at the tip forming ovoid cage, glabrous outside, hairy within at upper-half of linear part, yellow at lower and dull green at upper-half. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 deeply bifid lobes, densely hairy, pink; inner of 5 erect lobes, linear. Follicles 10.5–12 cm long.

Flowering & fruiting: April–August.

Habitat: Usually found growing along slopes in the forest, in well drained soil.

Distribution: India (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng, Aka hills, 04.1937, N. L. Bor 15756 (ASSAM!) . Assam, Nowgong district, Kholahat reserve forest, 01.09.1964, N. P. Balakrishnan 39589 (ASSAM!) . Nagaland, Naga Hills , 06.1936, N. L. Bor 20763 (ASSAM!) .

Conservation status: During the present study the plant could not be collected. Due to insufficient information the status is attributed as Data Deficient (DD) for want of more study.

Notes: Ceropegia macrantha apparently looks like C. vincifolia but differs in lacking horizontal light window. It is also allied to C. elegans in having ring of hairs at the dilated part of the corolla tube within but can be distinguished by its shorter and densely hairy outer corona.

Ceropegia pubescens Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 81, t. 187. 1831; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 73. 1883; P.C. Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 3: 308. 1939; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 47. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 28. 1984; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 236. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 95. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 163. 2009. Lectotype (designated by Singh, 2015): NEPAL, Chandaghiry, 1821, N. Wallich Asclep. n. 10. ( K000014465 image!; isolectotype K000014463 image!). Fig. 12

Perennial twining herbs. Stem glabrous. Lamina 6.5–10.5 × 2.8–6.0 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acute at apex, rounded at base (rarely cordate), sparsely hairy above, glabrous beneath; petioles 2–2.8 cm long, terete to channeled, pilose. Cymes umbellate, many-flowered, extra-axillary; peduncles 3.4–5.8 cm long, terete, hairy in row; pedicels c. 1.5–1.8 cm long, terete, glabrous. Sepals 3–4 mm long, acute, glabrous. Corolla 5.4–6.5 cm long; tube 1.5–3.3 cm long, gradually dilated towards base, cylindrical otherwise, hairy within with purple striations, grey to purple outside; lobes 1.8–3 cm long, ovate-lanceolate at lower half, linear at upper-half, connate at tips, twisted at maturity, glabrous, purple outside, yellow within at lower half, dull green to pale purple at upper-half. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5 lobes, glabrous or hairy; inner linear, erect. Fruits not observed.

Flowering & fruiting: June–October.

Habitat: Grows along ghat roadsides adjoining moist forests.

Distribution: India (Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal), Bhutan, China (Yunnan) Nepal and Tibet.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Assam, Darjeeling district, Darjeeling , 17.09.2013, P . R . Kshirsagar & N . B . Gaikwad SSK 88 ( SUK!); Pankhabai, 08.1880, J . S . Gamble 8319 ( CAL!) . Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, Berch Hill, 05.07.1956, D. Chatterjee 42 ( CAL!); Sikkim Himalaya , 11.09.1869, C . B . Clarke 9037; Ibid. , 30.08.1877, G . King 4047; Ibid. , 22.09.1877, G . King 4910 ( CAL!) .

Notes: Ceropegia pubescens is closer to C. candelabrum var. biflora (L.) Ansari but differs in its pubescent leaves (vs. glabrous leaves) and glabrous corolla lobes (vs. hirsute lobes).

Ceropegia wallichii Wight, Contr. Bot. India 32. 1834; Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. t. 66. 1839; Decne. in DC., Prodr. 8: 644. 1844; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 67. 1883; H. Huber, Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 39. 1957; Ansari, Fasc. Fl. India 16: 32. 1984; A.P. Jagtap & N.P. Singh, Fasc. Fl. India 24: 241. 1999; F. Albers & Meve, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl. Asclepiadaceae 106. 2002; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India 1: 164. 2009. Lectotype (Step I designated by Huber, 1957; Step II designated by Singh, 2015): INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Kumaon, Lahoolghat, s.d., A.K. Lindsay s.n. (E00179561 image!; isolectotype K000975598 image!). Fig. 13

Perennial erect herbs. Rootstock with a fascicle of tuberous roots, 9–10 × 0.5 cm. Stem 13–40 cm long, robust, hairy above, glabrous otherwise. Leaves sub-sessile to shortly-petiolate; lamina 1.5–8.5 × 0.5–3 cm, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, acute-acuminate at apex, narrow at base, fulvous throughout; petioles c. 1 cm long. Flowers solitary, extra-axillary; pedicels 5–6 mm long. Sepals 7–8 mm long, pubescent. Corolla 4–5.4 cm long; tube 2.8–4 cm long, gradually dilated towards base, funnel-shaped at throat, hairy within; lobes 1.2–1.5 cm long, oblong, connate at the tip forming ovoid-cage, densely hairy. Corona bi-seriate; outer of 5-bifid lobes, ciliate along margins; inner of 5 erect, linear lobes. Follicles 17–20.5 cm long, glabrous. Seeds 8–9 × c. 4 mm, ovate, marginate, brown, comose; coma silky white.

Flowering & fruiting: May–August.

Distribution: India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand) and Nepal.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Uttarakhand, Nainital district, Kumaon, towards Kaladungi , 08.06.1985, J. F . Duthie 4196; North West Himalaya ; s.d., P. W . Mackinon s.n. ( CNH!); s.loc., 04.07.1990, S . Rotra s.n. ( CAL!) .

Conservation status: It is represented by few sheets at Indian herbaria , moreover it has not been collected during this study. It is assessed here as Data Deficient (DD).

Notes: In the protologue Wight (1834) cited ‘Wight in Bot. Mag. tab 3267’ which in turn is C. wightii Graham , a glabrous twiner, which is now treated as C. africana R.Br.

Figures

Fig. 10. Ceropegia longifolia Wall.: a. Habit; b. Flowers (Photos Dr.Umeshkumar Tiwari). c. Ceropegia lucida Wall.(Photos Mr. Dharmendra Khandal).

Fig. 11. Ceropegia macrantha Wight a. Habit with inflorescence; b. Flower L.S.; c. Flower L.S.-close-up; d. Corona–lateral view (Photos Navendu Page).

Fig. 12. Ceropegia pubescens Wall.: a. Habit; b. Inflorescence; c. Flower L.S. (Photos Dr. Nikhil Gaikwad).

Fig. 13. Ceropegia wallichii Wight: a. Habit; b. Rootstock; c. Flower; d. Flower L.S. (Photos Mr. Sushant More).