<strong><em>Litsea manilaliana</em> (Lauraceae): a new species from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India</strong>

Abstract

A new species in the Lauraceae, Litsea manilaliana Robi &amp; Udayan, is described and illustrated from the Wagamon hills in India. The new species is similar to L. gorayana, from which it differs by its densely lenticellate branchlets, its elliptic leaves with cuneate base, obtuse apex and pale-glaucous undersurface, its adaxially flat midrib, its 5–7 pairs of lateral veins with abaxially prominent, scalariform-reticulate intercostae, its brachyblasts with 4–8 umbels, its umbels with 4 fragrant flowers, its ovate-oblong or oblong, gland-dotted, glabrous tepals, its slightly curved style, its globose ovary, its obovoid fruits with beaked apex and its glabrous fruiting pedicel.

Extended distribution of Litsea keralana Kosterm. (Lauraceae) – an endemic and threatened species of the Western Ghats

“…The Western Ghats, one of the biologically diverse and floristically rich eco‐regions, are home to many Litsea species. About 25 species are documented from south India, of which 22 species have been reported as endemic with restricted distribution to one or more states (Bhuniya et al, 2010; Robi and Udayan, 2021). Karnataka, one of the ecologically important regions in peninsular India, harbours rich endemic flora and many south Indian taxa with restricted distribution.…”

“…300 species in Lauraceae, which forms an important component in tropical forests with its pantropical distribution (Robi et al, 2015). So far, 49 species have been published from Indian forests, including three discoveries from the Western Ghats in the last five years (Robi et al, 2017; Robi and Udayan, 2021; Udayan and Robi, 2017). The Western Ghats, one of the biologically diverse and floristically rich eco‐regions, are home to many Litsea species.…”

Litsea Anamalayana (Lauraceae) a New Species From Nelliyampathy Hills, India.

“…While revising the Lauraceae of South India, a species of Litsea was collected from the evergreen forests of Nelliyampathy in the district of Palakkad, Kerala. A detailed literature search (Hooker, 1886;Ganesan, 2011;Robi et al, 2015Robi et al, , 2017Robi & Udayan, 2021) was carried out and specimens from CALI, KFRI, MH and RHT (herbarium codes follow Thiers et al, continuously updated) were examined using a binocular microscope and compared with specimens and literature of Litsea species recorded from South India. This confirmed that the specimen belongs to Litsea and showed that it morphologically resembles Litsea glabrata (Wall.…”