Amomum meghalayense V. P. Thomas, M. Sabu & Sanoj 2016, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Thomas, V. P.
name: Sabu, M.
name: Sanoj, E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Zingiberales
Zingiberaceae
Amomum
Amomum meghalayense

description: Amomum meghalayense V.P.Thomas, M.Sabu & Sanoj, sp. nov. (Figs 1, 2)
Amomo hypoleuco similis in floribus majoribus centro macula lutea et rubra instructa, sed differt rhizomis non-stoloniferis, foliis lanceolatis infra dilute viridis, apice tenuiter circinali, inflorescentia solitaria a rhizoma sub caule orienti, bracteis 2 vel 3 floribus gaudentibus, et antherae basi appendice alato.
A species similar to A. hypoleucum in having large, white coloured flowers, but differs from this species in having non-stoloniferous rhizomes, linear lanceolate leaves with finely coiled apices, flowers in cincinii of two or three and the anther having basal wings.
Type:— INDIA. Meghalaya: West Garo Hills District, Tura Peak, 6 August 2007, E. Sanoj & T. Rajesh Kumar 95123 (holotype CALI!, isotype ASSAM!).
Rhizomes non-stoloniferous, 1.0– 1.2 cm thick, length/width ratio c. 2:1, creamy-white inside. Leafy shoots 50–100 cm, slanting, clump-forming; sheath c. 1 cm wide at base, green, margin membranous, puberulous externally. Leaves 5–9 per shoot, slender, clumping; laminae linear-lanceolate, 16–30 × 2.0– 3.2 cm, aromatic when crushed, dark green above, pale beneath, bases cuneate, margins glabrous, apices acuminate to 5 cm long, coiled, glabrous on both surfaces; midribs glabrous; veins slightly raised above; petioles absent or to 1.7 cm, green, glabrous. Ligules 0.3–0.4 cm, coriaceous, margins ciliate, apices truncate to emarginate, glabrous. Inflorescences c. 3 cm, arising from the rhizome just below the aerial stem, 3–5 flowered; peduncle 1–2 cm. Outer bracts linear lanceolate, c. 3.7 × 0.7 cm, coriaceous, not deciduous, green, margins ciliate, apices acute, pubescent externally, rarely puberulous internally; inner bracts oblong or linear, 4.5–4.7 × 1.0– 1.1 cm, chartaceous, red, margins glabrous, apices rounded, pubescent externally, each bract subtending 2–3 flowers. Bracteoles non-tubular, size reduced towards inner flower, c. 0.6 × 0.1 cm, white, membranous, margins ciliate, cuspidate at apex, pubescent externally, glabrous internally. Flowers 5.2–6.0 cm, white, in cincinii of 2 or 3. Calyx bilobed, 1.8–1.9 × 0.35–0.40 cm, pale pink, split or less equally, cleft c. 0.4 cm deep, two curled pubescent horns present behind apex back, pubescent externally, glabrous internally. Corolla tubes 1.8–1.9 × c. 0.5 cm at mouth, white, pubescent towards mouth and puberulous towards base externally, villous towards mouth, glabrous towards base within; dorsal corolla lobe oblanceolate, 2.3–2.4 × 0.9–1.0 cm, white, margin ciliate, apex hooded with a 0.1–0.2 cm pubescent cusp, glabrous on both surfaces; lateral corolla lobes lanceolate, c. 2.1 × 0.8 cm, margins ciliate, one side slightly folded at apex, glabrous on both surfaces. Labellum obovate, entire, 3.4–3.5 × 2.4–2.5 cm, white towards periphery, red and yellow patch at centre, margins crumbled, slightly crenulate, pubescent towards base internally. Lateral staminodes usually absent. Stamen 1.8–1.9 cm; filament 0.8–0.9 × 0.25–0.30 cm, white, a channel present that holds the filament in position, glabrous; connective winged at base of thecae, puberulous; crest trilobed, 0.60–0.65 × c. 0.3 cm, white, apex slightly lobed; anther thecae oblong, 0.6–0.7 cm, creamy-white, base rounded, apex rounded, glabrous; dehiscing throughout their length. Epigynous glands 2, oblong, 0.30–0.35 cm long, creamy-white, apex minutely lobed, rarely puberulous externally. Ovary barrel shaped, 0.4–0.5 × 0.3–0.4 cm, slightly angled, pubescent externally; locules 3; ovules many on axile placentae; style c. 3.6 cm long, glabrous; stigma cup-shaped, c. 0.1 cm, red spotted, mouth ciliate, opening terminal. Infructescence c. 3 cm long, 1–2 capsules per spike; peduncle c. 1.5 cm long. Capsule globose, 8–9 ribbed, 1.5–20 × 1.5 cm, dark maroon, pubescent externally, calyx not persistent. Seeds many, angular, c. 0.3–0.4 cm, black, aromatic, arillate; aril white. Flowering and fruiting from May to August.
Etymology:—Named for the Indian state of Meghalaya where the species occurs.
Ecology:—Growing in evergreen forests at high elevation.
Additional Specimen examined (paratype):— INDIA. Meghalaya: Rongal Ading Forest (Baiza), 4 May 1997, S. Tripathi 20819 (CDRI).
description: Published as part of Thomas, V. P., Sabu, M. & Sanoj, E., 2016, Amomum meghalayense (Zingiberaceae): a new species from northeast India, pp. 178-182 in Phytotaxa 245 (2) on pages 178-181, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.245.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/13680630