Gleadovia konyakianorum N. Odyuo, D. K. Roy & Aver. 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Odyuo, N.
name: Roy, Dilip Kr.
name: Averyanov, Leonid V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Lamiales
Orobanchaceae
Gleadovia
Gleadovia konyakianorum

description: Gleadovia konyakianorum N.Odyuo, D.K.Roy & Aver., sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)
The new species differs from its presently known congeners in having strictly 1-flowered inflorescence borne at stem apex, urceolate calyx unequally 5-lobed at apical part, white corolla, narrowly ovoid to fusiform, ca. 1 cm long anther, moderately shorter style, 0.5–0.6 cm long and in narrowly subulate, comparatively longer stigma, to 2.5 cm long (Table 1).
Type:— INDIA, Nagaland, Mon district, Tobu town subdivision, Pessao village, 1500–1600 m, 26°12´45.7´´N 94°55´29.9´´E, N. Odyuo & D. K. Roy 139053, 20 April 2017 (holotype, ASSAM!, Isotype: CAL!).
Fleshy achlorophyllous herb, up to 10 cm high, bearing many yellowish scale leaves; parasitic on stilt and subterranean roots of Strobilanthes sp. Stem fleshy, 2–3 cm long, 0.4–0.6 cm in diam. Scale leaves spirally arranged, lanceolate, oblanceolate to ovate, smooth, glabrous, varying in size, 0.3–3 × 0.3–2 cm, shortly apiculate to obtuse or emarginate at apex. Inflorescence 1-flowered. Flower large, subsessile, ebracteate, fleshy, hermaphrodite, hypogynous, ebracteolate. Calyx urceolate, glabrous, split in nearly 1/3 of its length, more shorter than corolla tube, 4.0–5.5 × 1–1.5 cm, irregularly 5-lobed at apical part; lobes elliptic-lanceolate, 0.5–0.8 × 0.3–0.5 cm; veins parallel. Corolla white, tubular, thick, fleshy, 5.5–7.5 × 1.0– 1.2 cm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially densely hairy in distal part, strongly bilabiate; upper lip 2-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 1.5–1.7 × 0.4–0.5 cm, acute at apex; lower lip 3-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 1.0–1.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm, acute at apex; veins parallel. Stamens 4, epipetalous, equal in length; filaments stout, 2.3–2.5 cm long, ca. 2 mm wide, glabrous throughout; anthers narrowly ovoid to fusiform, glabrous, somewhat truncate at the base, ca. 1 × 0.3 cm, with 2 fertile cells. Pistil syncarpous; style stout, 0.5–0.6 × ca. 2 cm, glabrous; stigma narrowly subulate, 2.3–2.5 cm long, incurved, 2-lobed, lobes parallel, glabrous. Ovary superior, 0.8–1.0 × 1.0– 1.2 cm, glabrous, 1-celled with 4 dichotomously branched parietal placentas, ovuliferous throughout; ovules numerous, white. Fleshy nectariferous (?) annular disc at the base of ovary, bright orange, ca. 3 mm high. Fruit not seen.
Etymology:—The new species is named in honor of the Konyak tribe of Nagas predominantly inhabiting in the Eastern Nagaland, Northeastern India.
Ecology and phenology:—The species was found growing as a parasite on the stilt and subterranean roots of Strobilanthes sp. on the bank of streams. The habitat of the species is represented by mountain terrain (alt. 1500–1600 m.) with the semi-evergreen forest coverage. Flowering in the month of April.
Distribution:— India. Nagaland, Mon District (only known from type locality Pessao village under Tobu Subdivision). Endemic.
Conservation status:—The new species is currently known only from the type locality. About 15–20 individuals were found growing on a same host plant. Nearby areas of about 10 km 2 were thoroughly surveyed, but no additional plants were located. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 3.1 the species has been provisionally considered as Data Deficient or DD (IUCN 2016). Habitat destruction caused by illegal falling of trees is the major threat to this species.
description: Published as part of Odyuo, N., Roy, Dilip Kr. & Averyanov, Leonid V., 2017, Gleadovia konyakianorum (Orobanchaceae), a new species from Nagaland, India, pp. 274-278 in Phytotaxa 326 (4) on pages 274-277, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.326.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/13723622