Strobilanthes malabarica(Acanthaceae), a new species from South Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Strobilanthes malabarica a new species of Strobilanthes from the South Western Ghats is described and illustrated. It is similar to S. aurita with its elliptic to lanceolate leaves, its inflorescences with basal involucral bracts, its bracts and bracteoles bearing glandular hairs, the calyx divided close to the base, a tubular ventricose corolla and the ellipsoidal pollen. It differs in having sparsely hispid leaves with setaceous margins, smaller oblanceolate bracts, a calyx with equal lobes that bear glandular hairs, and in the elliptic to lanceolate capsules with glabrous, areolate seeds. Notes on ecology and conservation status are also provided.