Rheedea
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Journal of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy
Vol. 29(2): 186–189 (2019)
ISSN: 0971-2313 (Print edition)
https://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2019.29.2.06
Rediscovery of Dicliptera leonotis (Acanthaceae)
from Maharashtra, India
Kumar Vinod Chhotupuri Gosavi1, Sanjay Gajanan Auti1, Karan Rana2 & S.S. Kambale3*
1
Department of Botany, HPT Arts & RYK Science College, Nashik – 422 005, Maharashtra, India.
2
School of Science, Navrachana University, Vadodara – 391 410, Gujarat.
3
Department of Botany, Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj’s Arts, Commerce & Science College,
Tryambakeshwar – 422 212, Maharashtra, India.
*E-mail: skambalesu@gmail.com
Abstract: Dicliptera leonotis Dalzell ex C.B.Clarke
is rediscovered after a gap of 144 years. A detailed
description, colour photographs and taxonomic notes
are provided.
Keywords: Anjaneri hills, Dicliptera leonotis, Endemic,
northern Western Ghats.
Introduction
The genus Dicliptera Juss. comprises 150 species
distributed in tropical and warm areas of the world
(Mabberley, 2017). The genus is known to have
21 species and nine varieties in India (Karthikeyan
et al., 2009), of which eight species occur in
Maharashtra (Moorthy, 2001). While surveying
Anjaneri hills, Nashik district, in Maharashtra, the
authors collected an interesting Dicliptera species.
After perusal of relevant literature (Clarke, 1885;
Moorthy, 2001) and the type specimen housed at
K, it has been identified as Dicliptera leonotis Dalzell
ex C.B.Clarke.
Dicliptera leonotis was described by Clarke (1885)
based on the specimen collected by Dalzell in
1874 from Anjaneri hills. In the Flora of Nashik
district (Lakshminarasimhan & Singh, 1987) and
Maharashtra state (Moorthy, 2001) it has been
included based on Dalzell’s collection. Balkwill et al.
(1996) mentioned its occurrences in tropical Africa
based on Clarke’s treatment (1900). Barker (1986)
discussed the status of D. leonotis and mentioned
that whatever has been identified as ‘D. leonotis’ in
the Flora of Queensland by Bailey (1901, 1913) is D.
ciliata Decne. However, D. ciliata is a species which
Received: 27.08.2018; Revised & Accepted: 20.06.2019
Published Online: 30.06.2019
shows the cleistogamous flowers (Barker 1986)
which are lacking in D. leonotis. Therefore, the
African material is treated as D. ciliata rather than
D. leonotis. Backer and Brink (1965) erroneously
applied the name D. leonotis to Javan material.
However, Barker (1986) and Nayar et al. (2014)
mentioned that D. leonotis occurs in Africa based
on the aforesaid literature and hence has not been
treated as an endemic taxon for India. Karthikeyan
et al. (2009) mentioned that it’s an endemic
species of peninsular India based on the personal
communication with Balkwill. Balkwill et al. (1996)
reported D. burmanni from India, China and Timor
which was treated under synonymy of D. leonotis
by Clarke (1885). Clarke (l.c.) had included the
African specimens within the circumscription of
D. leonotis, however, Darbyshire (2015) accepted it
as form ‘C’ of Dicliptera clinopodia Nees. However,
it differs from D. leonotis in having much smaller
bracts. According to Darbyshire (l.c.) D. leonotis
is an Indian species and does not occur in Africa
(Pers. Comm.: Darbyshire). Critical examination
of specimens of D. burmanni at K and P and the
illustration in the protologue (Nees, 1832), revealed
it as distinct and does not occur in India.
Dicliptera leonotis was reported from Gujarat by Bedi
(1968) and based on Bedi’s authority it was included
in Flora of Gujarat (Shah, 1978; Raghavan et al.,
1981; Jani, 2014). However, the authors could trace
the specimens of Bedi at BARO (Bedi 2472) and
critical examination revealed it to be D. micranthes
Nees. The whorled arrangements of the flowers as
in D. leonotis might be the reasons of the confusion.
Therefore, it is clear that D. leonotis is an endemic
species of northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra
Gosavi et al. 187
Fig. 1. Dicliptera leonotis Dalzell ex C.B. Clarke: a. Habit; b. Flowering twig; c. Inflorescence; d. Bracts; e. Calyx; f. Upper lip of corolla and stamens;
g. Pistil; h. Fruit; i. Seeds.
188 Rediscovery of Dicliptera leonotis from Maharashtra, India
and has not been collected since the type collection.
It has been recollected now from the type locality
after a gap of 144 years.
Dicliptera leonotis Dalzell ex C.B.Clarke in
Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4(12): 553. 1885.
Fig. 1
Perennial herbs. Stems 1–1.5 m tall, branched,
5–6-angular, hairy. Leaves decussate; petioles
0.5–1.5 cm long; lamina membranous, 3–12 ×
1–4.5 cm, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate, margins
undulate, obtuse to acuminate at apex, attenuate at
base, raphids irregularly arranged on both surfaces.
Cymes umbellate, axillary or terminal, sessile to
sub-sessile cluster. Flowers sessile, 1 to few in same
bract; bracts 2, unequal to sub-equal, 9–12 × 2–3
mm, lanceolate, acuminate, cuspidate, attenuate
at base, glandular pubescent, 3-nerved; bracteoles
1–2, 6.5–7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, linear, apex acute to
obtuse, glandular pubescent. Sepals 5, fused at base,
5–6 × 0.5–0.6 mm, linear elliptic to linear ovate,
obtuse at apex, glandular hairy. Corolla c. 1.5 cm
long, bilabiate, hairy outside, dark pink; lips 6–7
mm long, oval to elliptic; upper lip 3-lobed, lower
entire, orbicular. Stamens 2; filaments hairy, 6–8
mm long, pink; anthers two with unequal lobes,
c. 2 mm long, dehisce through upper slits. Ovary
c. 1.5 mm long; style slender, c. 12 mm long;
stigma bifid. Capsules ovoid, 5.5–6 × 3–3.5 mm,
mucronate at apex, glandular hairy, 4-seeded.
Seeds orbicular, compressed, 2–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm,
with black tubercles, glaucous.
Flowering & fruiting: November–February.
Habitat: Grows under forest shade at 1000m
elevation along with Achyranthes coynei Santapau,
Carissa carandas L., Elaeagnus conferta Roxb.,
Olea dioica Roxb., Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv.,
Solanum anguivi Lam. and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality.
Specimens examined: INDIA, Maharashtra, Nashik
district, Tryambakeshwar, Anjaneri, 30.12.2017,
S.S. Kambale & S.G. Auti 478 (BSI!, CAL!); ibid.,
14.01.2018, K.V.C. Gosavi, S.S. Kambale & S.G. Auti
479 (BSI!, CAL!).
Notes: Dicliptera leonotis resembles D. burmanni
in having whorled spikes but differs in having
acuminate, glandular bracts (vs mucronate,
glabrous bracts). While from D. ciliata it differs in
lacking cleistogamous flowers. D. leonotis differs
from D. clinopodia in having pink flowers (vs purple
flowers) and eglandular filaments (vs glandular
filaments). D. micranthes has small white flowers
and pubescent mucronate bracts (vs large pink
flowers and glandular hairy bracts in D. leonotis).
Acknowledgements
Authors thank Dr. I. Darbyshire (K) and Dr.
K. Balkwill (University of Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa) for the comments
on the occurrence of D. leonotis in Africa and
literature respectively; Principals of H.P.T. Arts
& R.Y.K. Science College, Nashik and Arts,
Commerce & Science College, Tryambakeshwar
for the necessary facilities. SGA is thankful to
Board of College and University Development,
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune for financial
assistance, authorities of Maharashtra Forest
Department for necessary help and permission to
work in the Anjaneri Protected Area.
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