Leea compactiflora Kurz

Athalappil, Amrutha, Pradeep, Ayilliath Kuttiyeri, Wen, Jun & Krishna, Nikhil, 2025, Resolving the taxonomy of Leea trifoliata (Leeaceae, Vitales): Reinstatement and typification, PhytoKeys 266, pp. 281-295 : 281-295

Leea compactiflora Kurz , J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Nat. Hist. 42 (2): 65. 1873

Figs 4 , 5

Leea compactiflora Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Nat. Hist. 42 (2): 65. 1873, Forest Fl. Burma 1: 279. 1877; C. B. Clarke in Trimen’s J. Bot. 19: 163. 1881; Ridsdale, Blumea 22: 88. 1974; J. Joseph, Fl. Nongpoh and vicinity 72. 1982; Harid. & R. R. Rao, Forest Fl. Meghalaya 248. 1985; A. S. Chauhan, Contr. Fl. Namdapha 140. 1996; Hajra et al., Mat. Fl. Arunachal Pradesh 1: 318. 1996; B. D. Naithani in N. P. Singh et al. (Ed), Fl. India 2000; R. Shanpru in N. P. Singh et al. (Eds), Fl. Manipur 1: 240. 2000; N. P. Singh et al., Fl. Bihar, Analysis 114. 2001; T. K. Sarma & A. K. Sarkar, Fl. Palamau Dist. 156. 2002; K. P. Singh in N. P. Singh et al. (Eds), Fl. Mizoram 1: 388. 2002; G. D. Pal, Fl. Lower Subansiri Dist. 1: 215. 2103, excl. syn. L. trifoliata; B. K. Shukla in K. P. Singh et al. (Eds), Fl. Uttar Pradesh 1. 351. 2016, excl. syn. L. trifoliata; S. S. Dash & P. Singh, Fl. Kurung Kumey Dist. 384. 2017, excl. syn. L. trifoliata; Pusalkar & S. K. Srivast., Fl. Uttarakhand 1: 989. 2018. Type: INDIA. Nagaland: Naga hills, 3 Nov 1836, Griffith Herb. Propr. N. 1297 ( neotype, K K 004252754, here designated).

Leea bracteata C. B. Clarke, Trimen’s J. Bot. 19: 164. 1881; Kanjilal & Das, Fl. Assam 1 (2): 308. 1936; Deb, Fl. Tripura 1: 419. 1981; A. K. Mukh., Pachmarhi & Bori Reserves 68. 1984. Type: INDIA. Sikkim, s. d., Hook. f. & Thomson 169 ( lectotype, designated by Ridsdale 1974, pg. 88: K [ K 001615004]).

Description.

Erect subshrub or shrub, 1–2 m high; roots non-tuberous. Stems erect or straggling, stout, jointed, with branches, young stem hispid or pubescent; internodes furrowed or round, green; nodes not swollen; pearl glands globose, more on inflorescences, white. Leaves alternate, pinnate to bipinnate, imparipinnate; petioles 7–21 mm long, base bulged, sheathing the stem, glabrous, green. Petiolar stipules narrowly winged, 4–8 cm long, extending to half of petioles; stipular scars triangular; rachises 5–31 cm long, channeled on upper surface, hispid, green. Leaflets opposite, ovate widely ovate or obovate, distal leaflets: lamina 14–32 × 6.5–13.5 cm, lateral leaflets: lamina 7.5–30 × 4–13 cm, glabrous, young leaves green or brown, mature leaves green on upper surface and pale green on lower, base cuneate to rounded, margins serrate, apex long acuminate or caudate; petiolules: central 3–8 cm long, green, lateral 0.4–2.5 cm long; secondary veins 7–16 pairs, 3 - nerved at base, vein raised on abaxial side. Inflorescences terminal, a leaf-opposed compound cyme, 8–22 cm long, many flowered, condensed, hispid; peduncles 1–4 cm long, furrowed, pubescent, green, hispid. Flowers 4–6.2 mm, actinomorphic, greenish with brown tinges. Pedicels slender, 1.5–2 mm long, hispid. Bracts 3.6–8.3 × 1.9–5 mm, broadly ovate, conspicuous, persistent, green, hispid. Calyx campanulate, 3.5–5.6 × 3–3.3 mm, 5 lobed, lobes 0.9–1.1 × 0.75–1.9 mm, ovate or widely ovate, apex acute, green, hispid; corolla lobes 5, ovate-oblong, 2.7–3.5 × 1.9–2.4 mm, apex acute, hooded, margin entire, glabrous, green; corolla tube with floral disc 3.1–3.3 × 3–3.2 mm. Floral disc 1.6–2.4 mm long, orange-red; upper free part 1.1–1.8 mm long, notched; sinuses shallow, 0.25–0.4 mm long; lower free part 0.8–1 mm long. Stamens 5, syngenecious; filaments 1.25–1.3 mm long, glabrous, white; anthers 1.2–1.3 mm long, dehiscing longitudinally, purple on backside, creamish on margin. Ovary globose, 0.95–1.1 mm long, superior, 4–6 - loculed, one ovule in each locule, placentation axile; style slender, 1.1–2.2 mm long, glabrous, creamy; stigma round. Fruits a berry, yellow when young, turning purple black at maturity, 6 - seeded. Seeds wedge-shaped, 4.72–4.91 × 3.72–3.85 mm, light brown when mature.

Flowering and fruiting.

May – November.

Habitat.

This species is usually found growing near roadsides and forest margins. The common associates are Elatostemma sp. , Boehmeria glomerulifera Miq. (both Urticaceae ), Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. ( Asteraceae ) and some ferns and grasses.

Distribution.

India ( Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal), Bhutan, China, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam. Fig. 6 .

Specimens examined.

China. Yunnan province: southern Yunnan between Keng Hung [Jinghong] and Muang Hing [Meng Hai] , 02-25-1922 - 01-03-1922, J. F. Rock 2642 ( US 1213169 !) . India. • Arunachal Pradesh: Anjaw district, Hayuliang-Borpu , 25 Nov 1957, R. S. Rao 10819 ( CAL) ; • Changlang district, Namdapha National Park , 05 Aug 2018, Amrutha 159829 ( CALI) ; • East Siang district, Rengging , 24 Feb 1912, I. H. Burkill 36711 ( CAL) ; • Rotung , 31 Dec 1911, I. H. Burkill 37599 ( CAL) ; • Lohit district, Way to Tidding from Tezu , 10 Aug 2018, Amrutha 159836 ( CALI) ; • Lower Subansiri district, Innerline beyond Kimin River up to 1 mile along the road to Ziro , 23 Nov 1957, G. Panigrahi 11469 ( CAL) ; • Way to Raga , 16 Aug 2018, Amrutha 159850 ( CALI) ; • Papum Pare district, 5 km from Chimpu , 03 Aug 1994, G. D. Pal 6709 ( ARUN) ; • Itanagar-Hydel , 25 Sept 1978, G. D. Pal 76051 ( ARUN) ; • Senki view, Itanagar , 27°06'13.7"N, 93°36'38.2"E, 300 m, 30 May 2022, Amrutha 164710 ( CALI) ; • Tirap district, Lai Longsong , 19 June 1961, D. B. Deb 25781 ( CAL) ; • Rusa-Bimalpur , 07 Sept 1958, G. Panigrahi 17025 ( CAL) ; • Upper Siang district, Way to Hawa Camp, Yingkiong , 02 Aug 2018, Amrutha 159865 ( CALI) ; • West Kameng district, Sessa Village , 01 June 2022, Amrutha 164722 ( CALI) ; • West Siang district, Kane WLS , 13 Sept 2008, S. S. Dash 32228 ( ARUN) ; • Assam: Darrang district, Darrang , 22 Apr 1914, Upendranath Kanjilal s. n. ( ASSAM) ; • Meghalaya: East Khasi Hill district, Khasi hills , 30 Oct 1872, Clarke, C. B. 17726 F ( K 004252751 ) ; • Ibid., 0-4000 ft, s. d., J. D. Hooker & J. J. Thomson s. n. (K K 004252741 , K 004252745 , K 004252749 ) ; • Ri-Bhoi district, Balaiba Tilla, Nongpoh , 12 May 1965, J. Joseph 42328 ( ASSAM) ; Nongpoh , 2000 ft, 02-15, May 1945, Thakur Rup Chand 1504 ( MICH 1506767 ; L 0532034 ) ; • Ibid., 2000 ft, 16 Jun 1949, Thakur Rup Chand 22982 ( MICH 1006084 A & B; L 0532033 ) ; Ibid., 13 May 1914, Upendranath Kanjilal 3977 ( ASSAM) ; • Sohra , 4000 ft, 24 May 1952, Walter N. Koelz 30039 ( MICH 1506768 ) ; • West Garo Hills district, 1 Km after entry gate, foothills of Tura Peak , 25°29'41.7"N, 90°12'02.4"E, 03 June 2022, Amrutha 164735 ( CALI) ; • Rongsingiri, Nokrek Biosphere Reserve , 17 Oct 2007, V. N. Singh & Bikarma Singh 115870 ( ASSAM) ; • Mizoram: Aizawl district, Seling, Aizawl Seling-Champhai Road , 800 m, 07 June 2022, Amrutha 164748 ( CALI) ; • Nagaland: Naga hills , 17 Oct 1885, Clarke, C. B. 40845 A ( K K 004252750 ) ; Jabocka, Naga Hills , Apr 1899, Dr. Prains Collector 907 ( CAL) ; • Sikkim: s. d., Kurz s. n. ( CAL) ; • Ibid., 11 Jan 1874, G. King 839 ( CAL) ; • Ibid., 24 Aug 1875, King, G 2324 ( L 0744659 ) ; • Ibid., Regio trop. , 1-6000 feet, J. D. Hooker s. n. ( K 004252736 ) ; • Ibid., 1-5000 feet, J. D. Hooker s. n. ( K 004252729 , K 004252730 , K 004252731 , K 004252732 , K 004252735 , K 004252758 ; P 02342891 ) ; • Sikkim Himalaya , 1881, G. King s. n. ( US 01151425 !) ; Gangtok district, Singtam , 18 May 1967, N. C. Mazumder & R. M. Dutta 269 ( CAL) ; • West Bengal: Darjeeling district, Rishop , 5 June 1870, Clarke, C. B. 11824 a, (K K 004252737 ) ; Jalpaiguri district, Dayamara, Jaldapara National Park , 09 May 2014, K. Karthigeyan 61470 ( CAL barcode CAL 0000209976 ) ; • Rungbee , 8 Oct 1908, W. W. Smith 282 ( CAL) . Laos. Sekong province, shrub in forest, 28 Apr 2013, fl, H. Sun et al. 14995 ( KUN) .

Conservation status.

In India, this species is found in Northeast India, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. The Extent of Occurrence ( EOO) is calculated to be 1417, 687 Km 2, and the Area of Occupancy ( AOO) is 164.00 Km 2. They are mostly seen in forest margins and on the roadside. Because of its number of populations and localities, this species can be considered as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2022).

Notes.

Leea compactiflora was first described by Kurz (1873) with a very short diagnosis, and he noted that the specimen was collected from Martaban, Myanmar. After an exhaustive search in various herbaria, we could not locate the sheet of Kurz from Martaban. Ridsdale (1974) also indicated that he did not trace the material. Therefore, a neotypification is required as per Art. ICN 9.8. Here, we select a specimen from the Naga hills, India, collected by Griffith, housed at the Kew herbarium ( K 004252754 ) as the neotype following the Madrid Code ( Turland et al. 2025), as it matches the protologue and was cited by Clarke (1881) in his revision of Indian species of Leea .

Figures

Figure 4. Leea compactiflora Kurz: A. Habit; B. Fruiting twig; C. Petiolar stipule; D 1, D 2. Leaflets; E. Inflorescence; F. Infructescence; G. Bract; H. Flower bud; I. Flower; J. Calyx; K. Corolla lobe; L. Corolla tube with floral disc; M. Corolla tube with floral disc split open; N. Stamens; O. Pistil; P. Seeds.

Figure 5. Leea compactiflora Kurz: A. Fruiting twig; B. Inflorescence; C. Petiolar stipule; D. Flower; E. Bract; F. Calyx; G. Corolla lobe; H, I. Corolla tube with floral disc; J. Pistil; K. Stamens (Drawn by Amrutha A. from Amrutha 159829).

Figure 6. Distribution of Leea compactiflora Kurz (drawn using QGIS version 3.24. 3).