C. N. Sunil

A new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from Western Ghats, India

A new species of Eriocaulon from Western Ghats, India, Eriocaulon manoharanii Sunil & Naveen Kumar is described.

A new species of Fimbristylis (Cyperaceae) from India

Abstract Fimbristylis pokkudaniana, a new species of Cyperaceae from the laterite hillocks of Kannur District, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It closely resembles Fimbristylis bispicula, but differs in having larger spikelets with 13–17 flowers, three yellow coloured stamens, larger style and stigma, and regularly tuberculate white nuts with epidermal cells in 18–26 rows on each face.

Justicia sivadasanii (Acanthaceae): a striking new species from the Western Ghats, India

SummaryA new species of Justicia L. (Acanthaceae), J. sivadasanii Sunil, K. M. P. Kumar & Naveen Kum., from the Western Ghats of India is described and illustrated. Its IUCN status, distribution and phenology are provided along with colour photographs, and its affinities are discussed.

A new species of Arundinella (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Arundinelleae) from Kerala, India

Arundinella pradeepiana Sunil et Naveen Kumar, a new species from the Poaceae, collected from rocky grassland in the Variyam forest of Ernakulam district, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Arundinella metzii Hochst. ex Miq., but differs in having tubercle-based soft hairy nodes, profusely branched primary inflorescence branches and 1.4–2 mm long, deep brown upper lemmas that are granulate or muricate at their distal half.

Arundinella muthikulamensis (Poaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Abstract Arundinella muthikulamensis (Poaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats in Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. It closely resembles Arundinella laxiflora Hook. f., but differs in having a densely pilose leaf sheath, broad, ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, densely pilose blades with an acute and pungent apex, cartilaginous and prominently tubercle-based hairy margins, large spikelets with a long caudate-acuminate smooth upper glume, long lower lemma and large anthers.

Isachne manilaliana (Poaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Abstract A new species of Isachne from Western Ghats is described and illustrated. Isachne manilaliana is similar to I. fischeri Bor but differs in its long culm, large leaves with cartilaginous thickened margins, unequal glumes, long and 7-nerved lower glume, upper palea with a tuft of hairs at apex and long anthers.

A new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Abstract Eriocaulon periyarense, a new species from southern Western Ghats is described here. A detailed description, illustration, taxonomic note, phenology, ecology and distribution of the species are discussed.

Eriocaulon govindiana sp. nov. (Eriocaulaceae), from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

A new species, Eriocaulon govindiana Sunil & Ratheesh, from marshy areas in the Wayanad wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to E. nepalense but differs mainly in having well developed root stock, rounded and involute leaf apex, lobed limb of sheath, and usually a single hoary male petal. Information on habitat, distribution, phenology, and conservation status are provided.

Rediscovery of Arisaema translucens (Araceae) and notes on A. tuberculatum, two strict endemics of Nilgiris, India

Genus Arisaema Martius (1831: 449) is represented by 215 taxa worldwide (Govaerts et al. 2017), of which 61 taxa are reported so far from India including two recent discoveries from Kerala and Tamil Nadu states of Western Ghats, viz. A. peerumedense J. Mathew in Mathew & George (2017: 29), A. madhuanum Nampy & Manudev in Manudev & Nampy (2014: 269) and A. gracilentum Bruggeman (2016: 87) from Arunachal Pradesh of North-East India. During extensive surveys in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu, the authors came across two fascinating Arisaema species, one from Thia Shola and the second from Pennant’s Valley forest areas. The first species is attractive by means of its translucent spathe and the latter by its long caudate limb with a filiform thread. Detailed study of relevant literature (Fischer 1933, Fischer 1934, Gusman & Gusman 2002) confirmed their identity as A. translucens Fischer (1933: 344) and A. tuberculatum Fischer (1934: 167), respectively. Arisaema translucens is described by Fischer (1933) based on the collection from Thia Shola forests by E. Barnes at an elevation of 6000 ft made in 1932. From a thorough literature survey and herbarium consultations, it became apparent that this taxon had not been collected since 1932. Hence our discovery is a recollection of this species after a lapse of 84 years from its type locality. Detailed description, colour photographs and distribution information are provided based on the recent collections.

A new species of Ischaemum L. (Poaceae) from Kerala, India

Ischaemum sreenarayanii , a new species of Ischaemum L. is described and illustrated with detailed notes on distribution, conservation status and phenology. The new species is similar to I. santapaui and I. nairii but differs in number of attributes having up to 1.3 cm long filiform tip of the leaf apex, villous pseudopetiole of upper leaves and 4-6 conspicuous annular transverse ridges and winged margins of the sessile spikelet. Keywords: Ischaemum ; New species; Poaceae; Kerala; India. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24 (1): 33–38, 2017 (June)