Asystasia gangetica var. krishnae (Acanthaceae): A new variety from Kerala, India

Revising the taxonomic status of Asystasia gangetica var. Krishnae Tandyekk., Pandur. & N. Mohanan (Acanthaceae)

“…The authors of the present paper, during extensive field explorations, noticed the taxon mentioned by Tandyekkal et al. (2019) in several districts of the state of Kerala, growing as a weed along roadsides and forest outskirts (Table 1). While referring to the paper authored by Westaway et al.…”

“…It can be inferred that Tandyekkal et al. (2019), in their description of novel variety Asystasia gangetica var. krishnae have inappropriately compared the collected specimen with A. gangetica var.…”

“…micrantha in the literature (Hsu et al., 2005; Westaway et al., 2016) is the occurrence of vertical violet black bands on either sides of anthers which was mentioned as the key trait of A. gangetica var. krishnae , on which the etymology of the taxon is based (Tandyekkal et al., 2019). However, in the Flora of Botswana (Hyde et al., 2023c), this trait has been clearly indicated as a character of A. gangetica subsp.…”

“…Henceforth, either this trait might have been left unmentioned by the previous researchers or it can be considered as an evolved trait for the taxon described by Tandyekkal et al. (2019). However, since all other traits ideally fits for both taxa ( A. gangetica var.…”

“…Tandyekkal et al. (2019) reported a novel variety, viz., Asystasia gangetica var. krishnae from Kerala, after delineating the new taxon from A. gangetica var.…”