Andrographis saxatilis (Acanthaceae), a new woody species from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Andrographis saxatilis (Acanthaceae), a new species, is described and illustrated from the rocky plateau of the Owk dam area, Andhra Pradesh. It is a perennial, woody‐root‐stocked undershrub. Unique characteristics of this species include hispid hairs, obovate, elliptic‐oblong and oblanceolate leaves, lanceolate glandular hairy sepals, and sterile bract and calyx towards base of rachis. Andrographis saxatilis is closely allied to A. glandulosa Nees by its perennial habit, woody rootstock in rocky crevices, glaucous green leaves, hairy stem, and glandular and attenuate hairy calyx and corolla. However, it is distinguished from the later by its hispid texture (versus densely pubescent in A. glandulosa), obovate, elliptic‐oblong, and oblanceolate leaves (versus ovate‐oblong), obtusely 4‐angled stem (versus acutely 4‐angled), hispid and glandular hairy sepals (versus villous), boat‐shaped upper lip of corolla (versus ligulate), and pubescent fruit (versus glabrous at base and glandular hairy towards the tip in A. glandulosa). The IUCN threat status of A. saxatilis is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered' (CR).