Sonerila konkanensis (Melastomataceae), a new species from South Goa, India

Abstract

A new tuberous species of Sonerila Roxb. (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae) from Chandreshwar hills, South Goa is described in the course of a taxonomic revision of the genus in India. Sonerila konkanensis Resmi & Nampy is similar to Sonerila talbotii G.S. Giri & M.P. Nayar and Sonerila sreenarayaniana Sunil et al. but differs in several characters that are detailed in the morphological discussion presented herein. The status of the new taxon is assessed as "Vulnerable" according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. We also provide explanatory images of living plants as well as SEM images of pollen grains and seeds and information concerning the habitat.

Sonerila konkanensis Resmi & Nampy (Melastomataceae) – an addition to the flora of Karnataka, India

“…Globally, the genus Sonerila comprises about 180 taxa of caulescent and acaulescent herbs. This genus is chiefly concentrated in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Taiwan, southeastern Asia, and the Malaya Archipelago (Cellinese 1997; Resmi et al 2021). In India, Sonerila is represented by 49 species and one variety of which six species and one variety (about 86%) are endemic to the Western Ghats (Resmi et al 2022).…”

“…In Karnataka, 13 Sonerila species have been recorded till now, the Sonerila talbotii and Sonerila raghaviana both are endemic to the state (Saldanha 1984;Sanjappa & Sringeswara 2019;Ravikumar & Tangavelau 2021). Sonerila species collected in the field survey from the place Thirthahalli taluk, Shivamogga district, Karnataka, India were identified with the help of type specimens and taxonomic key evidence to conclude it is Sonerila konkanensis (Resmi et al 2021;Resmi & Nampy 2022). The characters were tallied with reference articles and given comprehensive descriptions with photographs.…”