M. Sivadasan

A New Species of Dimeria (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Andropogoneae) from Goa, India

ABSTRACT Dimeria veldkampii Kiran Raj & Sivadasan, from north Goa of the northern Western Ghats, is illustrated and described as a new species of Poaceae belonging to the subtribe Dimeriinae of the tribe Andropogoneae. The species resembles D. woodrowii Stapf, but differs mainly by its inflorescence rachises being singly or doubly circinately recurved and by the immediate shedding of the spikelets as diaspores. Comparative morphological features of the new species and D. woodrowii are described, and a dichotomous key to the constituent species of Dimeria sect. Annulares Bor is provided.

New generic and species records for the flora of Saudi Arabia.

Recent field works in the central and southern regions of Saudi Arabia including agricultural centers have managed to collect four vascular plants new to terrestrial and wetland flora of the country. These new additions include one new genus Malvastrum A. Gray (M. coromandelianum) subsp. capitato-spicatum (O. Kuntze) S.R. Hill, Potamogeton perfoliatus L. (Potamogetonaceae), Euphorbia tirucalli L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. (Aizoaceae). Detailed morphological description, distribution and habitat of each of these species are provided along with illustrations and photographs. The report of new additions to the flora of Saudi Arabia indicated that the country needs thorough botanical explorations.

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.

Lagenandra keralensis (Araceae), a remarkable new species from India

A new species, Lagenandra keralensis Sivadasan et Jaleel, is described, illustrated and relationships discussed. The discovery of the new species enhances the number of Indian species of the genus to six.