A New Species of Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae) from Peninsular India

Abstract

An interesting species of Dalechampia L., collected in the now submerged deciduous forests of Sukhalhatti, Lakkavali taluk, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka, on critical study proved to be new. This species differs from all other Indian species of Dalechampia in possessing linear-lanceolate leaflets, 6-9 x longer than broad, with the three lobes subsimilar in shape and size. Further, the calyx lobes in the female flowers are neither fimbriately lobed nor clothed with numerous bulbous-based long cilia, but possess only a few stipitate glands. The plant is somewhat near to the polymorphic D. scandens but is quite distinct from any of the forms included under it. The specimens are in late flowering and fruiting stages and in spite of intensive search no male flowers could be found. To facilitate further collections elsewhere, a key to the western and peninsular species of Dalechampia is given. As at present known, the present species is confined to Karnataka and is named after the distinctive nature of leaves which enables it to be readily recognized even in the vegetative state in the field.