Phytotaxa 282 (3): 225–229 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)

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Article PHYTOTAXA
Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.282.3.6

A new species of Exacum (Gentianaceae) from Western Ghats, India

M. P. GEETHAKUMARY1, A. G. PANDURANGAN1*, P. RAVICHANDRAN2 & S. DEEPU1
1
Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Science Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India – 695 562
2
Department of Plant Science, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alwarkurichi - 627 412, Tamil Nadu, India
*Author for correspondence: agpandurangan@gmail.com

Abstract

Exacum idukkianum (Gentianaceae), a new species from Western Ghats of Kerala, India, is here described and illustrated.
This species is similar to E. wightianum, from which it can be distinguished by the perennial habit, with plants up to 2.5 m
tall, wingless stem, rectangular curved anthers with cordate base and broadly ovoid capsules. Morphological differences of
this species with its putative closest allies with relevant notes and colour plates of the new species are presented.

Keywords: Exacum idukkianum, Idukki, Kerala

Introduction

Exacum Linnaeus (1753: 112) is a paleotropic genus of the family Gentianaceae, with about 65 species distributed
from tropical regions of Asia, Philippines, New Guinea, Northern Australia, Madagascar and S. Africa (Klackenberg
1983, 1985, 2002, Thulin 2001). Klackenberg (1985) while revising the genus Exacum recognized 65 species under 2
sections, viz. Exacum and Africana. The Asiatic species of the genus are positioned in section Exacum and the species
from Madagascar, Mauritius Islands, Comoro islands, Socotra, Oman and Tropical Africa were included in section
Africana. The evolution history of Exacum apparently involved a combination of long-dispersal events and extensive
radiations. The phylogeny of the species shows a vicariance-like pattern resulted from long distance dispersals followed
by extensive range expansion and subsequent fragmentation with its origin from Madagascar (Yuan et al. 2005). In
Asia most of the species are found in mountains of Sri Lanka and India. In India, it is represented by 22 species of
which 16 are distributed between the Nilgiri Mountains of southern Western Ghats to Sri Lanka and 10 of them are
considered to be endemic to these areas (Klackenberg 1985, Garg 1987, Nayar et al. 2006, Biswal et al. 2011). Among
the 22 species, 13 are 4-merous and the rest are 5-merous.
During the revisionary studies of the family Gentianaceae in Western Ghats, the authors found an unusual population
of Exacum from Anamudi shola forests (wet montane temperate forests) of Idukki district, Kerala at an altitude of 1857
m. In general aspect the plants are similar to E. wightianum W. Arnott (1839: 176), seen in same locality, but differ by
its larger perennial habit, wingless stem, rectangular curved anthers with cordate base and broadly ovoid capsules. A
survey of the major Indian herbaria (CALI, MH, TBGT, RHT and UCT) resulted in the discovery of some previous
collections (K. M. Matthew 14812 in RHT) from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, adjacent to the present locality, which are
similar with the above mentioned population but had been variously misidentified as E. wightianum. Digital images
of K, BR, M, G-DC, HBG, GH, BR and MO virtual herbaria, and regional herbaria were consulted for having a good
understanding of variations in E. wightianum. On the basis of our observations of such significant herbarium material,
digital images available, and living material, we determined that the plants in question represent a species new to
science, which is described below.

Accepted by Piero Delprete: 12 Oct. 2016; published: 28 Oct. 2016 225

Taxonomy

Exacum idukkianum Geethakumary, Pandurangan, Ravichandran & Deepu, sp. nov. (Fig. 1)

Type:—INDIA. Kerala, Idukki Distr., Anamudi Shola, 10o11′25.8′′E, 77o 11′ 15.8′′N, 1857 m, 24 September 2012, M. P. Geethakumary
74301 (holotype TBGT 32124!; isotypes TBGT 32125!, MH!).

Perennial herbs, to 2.5 m tall; branched at the upper part of the stem. Stem terete at base, sharply 4-angular above.
Leaves subsessile, elliptic to ovate lanceolate, 3–9.5 × 1–2.5 cm, membraneous, glabrous, green, base cuneate to
attenuate, margin faintly undulate, apex long acute, (3–)5 veined, veins diverging from base of the lamina with (3–)5
secondary veins on each side of midrib, abaxially prominent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, dichasial cymes, 3.0–
4.5 × 4.5–5.5 cm; peduncles 2.5–4 cm long; pedicels 1–3 cm long, enlarging in fruit, often drooping. Calyx 5-lobed;
tube broadly campanulate, 3–5 × 8–10 mm; lobes narrow, 3–6 cm long, tapering to long point at the apex, truncate to
subcordate or in fruit cordate at the base, winged; wings ca. 3 mm broad, accrescent in fruit, with prominent veins.
Corolla tube ca. 6 mm long, green; lobes 5, elliptic to broadly elliptic, 2.5–3.5 × 1.2–1.5 cm, apex apiculate, long
persistent in fruit but eventually deciduous, deep blue to violet, base yellowish within (at throat) and give star shaped
appearance, 3-veined, veins prominent above. Stamens 5, 9–13 mm long; anthers narrowly rectangular, 6–10 mm long,
slightly wider at base, slightly curved with the convex back face, base cordate, opening by apical pores that later widen
to slits to the base, with a papilla near the apex on the dorsal side; filaments ca. 3 mm long, attached at the throat of the
corolla tube. Ovary ovoid, 5–7 mm long; style 1.4–1.8 cm long, curved, stigma capitate. Capsule broadly ovoid, 1–1.3
cm long, dehiscing septicidally, 2-valved; fruiting pedicel ca. 3.5 cm long, drooping; style persistent. Seeds irregularly
rhomboid, angular, with shallowly sunken sides.
Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting was observed from August to December.

TABLE 1. Morphological comparison of diagnostic characters of E. idukkianum and E. wightianum.

Characters Exacum wightianum Exacum idukkianum
Habit Erecto-patent Herbs, to 1 m tall, non-woody at Erect herbs, to 2.5 m tall, suffrutescent, woody at
base base
Stem Quadrangular, 4-winged Quadrangular, terete at the base, not winged
Leaves Cordate at base; with 1–2(–3) secondary veins Cuneate to attenuate at base, with (1–)2 secondary
on each side of midrib veins on each side of midrib
Calyx lobes 8–17 mm long, truncate to subcordate at base, 30–60 mm long, subcordate at base, abruptly long
gradually narrowing to the apex, fruiting calyx acuminate, fruiting calyx with prominent veins
without prominent veins
Corolla lobes Obtuse to usually acute at apex, veins not Apiculate at apex, veins prominent
prominent
Anther Linear to narrowly ovate, 3–7 mm long, straight, Narrowly rectangular, 7–10 mm long, slightly wider
truncate base, with broad distinct papilla at base, slightly curved with the convex back face,
cordate base, with distinct papilla
Capsule Ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid Broadly ovoid

Etymology:— The specific epithet “idukkianum” is derived from the name of the district, “Idukki” where the type
locality is situated. Literarily Idukki means, a very narrow gauge between two mountains where the Periyar River, the
second largest river in Kerala, passes through, and thus the area becomes a landmark in Western Ghats high ranges.
Distribution and ecology:— This species grows in Shola forest margin at an altitude of 1800–1900 m., in Kerala
Province, Western Ghats, India. The associated species include Pteridium aquilinum (Linnaeus 1753: 1075) Kuhn
(1879: 11), Gaultheria fragrantissima Wallich (1820: 397), Rhododendron nilagiricum Zenker (1836: 150), Chionachne
gigantea (J. Koenig 1788: 211) Veldkamp (2002: 559), Garnotia exaristata Gould (1972: 558), Adenostemma lavenia
(Linnaeus 1753: 902) Kuntze (1891: 304), Phlebophyllum kunthianum Nees (1832: 83), Rubus niveus Thunberg (1813:
3) etc.
226 • Phytotaxa 282 (3) © 2016 Magnolia Press GEETHAKUMARY ET AL.
FIGURE 1. Exacum idukkianum sp. nov. A. Habit (a. Terete stem, b. Flowering twig), B. Flower (a, b. star shaped, greenish-yellow
floral guides), C. Flower bud, D. Calyx split open, E. Corolla split open with stamens and pistil, F. Petal, G. Stamens (g. Papilla), H. Pistil,
I. Fruit (from M.P.Geethakumary 74301, photos by S. Deepu)

A new species of Exacum from India Phytotaxa 282 (3) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 227
 The type locality, Anamudi Shola, one of the largest shola forest (wet temperate montane forest) ecosystem in
the country, co-existing with grassland matrix, has a unique biodiversity and noted for the presence of tree ferns. The
area has a high conservation value in terms of biodiversity, geo-morphology, hydrology etc. and the area forms the
catchment of several streams, which finally enriches the east flowing river Pambar. By considering its ecological
significance, the area has been declared National Park by the State Forest Department and is well protected.
Taxonomic observations:—According to the dichotomous keys and descriptions provided by Klackenberg
(1983) the most similar species to Exacum idukkianum is E. wightianum. However, the former can be distinguished
from the later [as described and illustrated by Klackenberg (1985) and based on specimen studied] by plants up to
2.5 m tall (vs. up to 1 m tall in E. wightianum), perennial herbs with terete suffrutescent, woody at base (vs. annual
herbs with quadrangular non woody base), subsessile, leaves with 2 secondary veins on each side of midrib, younger
ones occasionally with 1 secondary vein on each side (vs. sessile to petiolate, 1–2(–3) secondary veins on each side of
midrib), calyx wings accrescent in fruit, with prominent veins (vs. calyx wings accrescent in fruit, without prominent
veins), floral guides at corolla throat star-shaped, yellowish-green (vs. floral guides round, yellow), corolla lobes
apiculate with prominent veins (vs. acute, without veins), narrowly rectangular, curved anthers, cordate at base (vs.
linear, straight anthers, truncate at base) and broadly ovoid capsules (vs. broadly elliptic). A comparative summary of
the characters that differentiate these two taxa is presented in Table 1.
Conservation status:—Three populations of this species have been located within the Anamudi Shola National
Park at a distance of 2 km from each other in Kerala. Apart from this, based on information from the specimen
erroneously identified as E. wightianum at Rapinat Herbarium, Trichy (RHT 14812!), another population is identified
at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu at a distance of 60 km from the present collection site. According to IUCN criteria (IUCN
2012a & b, 2013), the extent of occurrence (EOO) between these localities is more than 20 km2 but within 100 km2
and there are less than 25 individuals in each population. The area of occupancy (AOO) is less than 0.5 km2, which
indicates its narrow endemic nature. Even though, this species is not prone to disturbances by anthropogenic activities
inside the national park, it is prone to wild gracing and evidences are there where the individuals are destroyed by
gracing of wild animals and at times destroyed by trampling of elephants as it occurs in Shola margins close to montane
grasslands. Therefore, we recommend a preliminary conservation assessment as Critically Endangered [CR B1ac(ii) +
2ac(ii); D].
Discussion:—Exacum wightianum, morphologically similar to E. idukkianum, was also seen in Anamudi shola
forest, and our observations suggest that the variation in the magnitude and pattern of floral integration between
these two species is not related to the pollinator assemblage. Both species are mainly visited by large bees and floral
integration patterns are not likely influenced by the pollinators. Thus, this is not a case of directional selection on
individual characters, which may eventually lead to population divergence as suggested by earlier studies (Armbruster
1985, 1988, Robertson and Wyatt 1990, Galen 1996).
Additional specimens examined (Paratypes):—INDIA. Kerala, Idukki distr., Anamudi Shola, 1855 m, 24
September 2012, M. P. Geethakumary 74358 & 74433 (TBGT); ibid., 1857 m, 22 August 2013, Deepu Sivadas 73659
(TBGT); Tamil Nadu, Madurai distr., Kodaikanal, Pambar Shola, 2100 m, 16 August 1975, K. M. Matthew 14812
(RHT).

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Dr. P. G. Latha, Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute,
for facilities and constant encouragement. We acknowledge the support and guidance received from Manonmaniam
Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. The State Forest Authorities of Kerala are duly acknowledged for
giving permission to conduct field studies. We are grateful to authorities of K, BR, M, G-DC, HBG, GH, BR, MO,
CALI, MH, TBGT, RHT and UCT for providing access to Herbarium specimens. Thanks are also due to Fred R.
Barrie, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago for nomenclatural suggestions.

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