Rediscovery of Pedicularis denudata (Orobanchaceae), a little known, rare herb after 135 years from India

Abstract

The hemi-parasitic genus Pedicularis Linnaeus (1753: 607) contains about 671 species, distributed mainly in temperate to tropical mountains and subarctic area of the world, and is the largest genus of the family Orobanchaceae (POWO 2020, Borah et al. 2020, Garg et al. 2020). Presently, 86 species, 13 subspecies and 9 varieties are known from India, of which 20 species, 5 subspecies and 5 varieties are endemic (Husain et al. 2010, Garg & Singh 2015, Singh et al. 2016, Borah et al. 2020, Garg & Singh 2020, Garg et al. 2020). The Himalayan region hosts 83 species, 13 subspecies and 9 varieties, while 2 species Pedicularis perrottetii Bentham (1846: 565) and P. zeylanica Bentham (1835: 54) are confined to the southern Western Ghats.

Full text

Phytotaxa 461 (2): 136–138
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Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press Correspondence PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
136 Accepted by Gianniantonio Domina: 8 Sept. 2020; published: 2 Oct. 2020
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.461.2.6
Rediscovery of Pedicularis denudata (Orobanchaceae), a little known, rare herb
after 135 years from India
DIPANKAR BORAH1,4, RAJEEV KUMAR SINGH2,5,* & ARTI GARG3,6
1Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh 791109, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
2Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, TNAU Campus, Lawley Road, Coimbatore 641003, Tamil Nadu, India.
3Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, 10-Chatham Lines, Allahabad 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
4
�
dipankar.borah@rgu.ac.in; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3016-1070
5
�
rksbsiadsingh@gmail.com; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0136-9243
6
�
artibsi.garg@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9529-2373
*Corresponding Author
The hemi-parasitic genus Pedicularis Linnaeus (1753: 607) contains about 671 species, distributed mainly in temperate
to tropical mountains and subarctic area of the world, and is the largest genus of the family Orobanchaceae (POWO 2020,
Borah et al. 2020, Garg et al. 2020). Presently, 86 species, 13 subspecies and 9 varieties are known from India, of which 20
species, 5 subspecies and 5 varieties are endemic (Husain et al. 2010, Garg & Singh 2015, Singh et al. 2016, Borah et al.
2020, Garg & Singh 2020, Garg et al. 2020). The Himalayan region hosts 83 species, 13 subspecies and 9 varieties, while
2 species Pedicularis perrottetii Bentham (1846: 565) and P. zeylanica Bentham (1835: 54) are confined to the southern
Western Ghats.
During floristic explorations in Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh state, India in 2017, an unidentifiable species of
Pedicularis was collected from Taktsang, Tawang district at 3680 m of elevation. After detailed study of Pedicularis species
in India, including protologues, type specimens, other herbarium specimens and relevant literature (Hooker 1884, Prain
1889 & 1890, Yamazaki 1988, Husain et al. 2010, Mill 2001, Garg & Singh 2020), it is identified as Pedicularis denudata
Hooker (1884: 309), a little known and rare herb. This species is known to India and Nepal and is represented only by a few
herbarium specimens. In India only two old collections are known, both from Sikkim state, the one by J.D. Hooker’s type
collection in the year 1849 from Lachen, North Sikkim district held at K and the other by King’s Collector in the year 1882
from Zemu valley, Lachen, North Sikkim district, housed at CAL (Prain 1890, Mill 2001, Husain et al. 2010, Maity et al.
2018). In Nepal, it was reported from two districts of central Nepal, from Rasuwa collected by J.D.A. Stainton in 1954 held
at BM and Solukhumbu by H. Ohba in 1985 housed at TI (Yamazaki 1988). The present collection from Arunachal Pradesh
is a rediscovery of this species from India after a lapse of about 135 years confirming the second locality for this Country.
Extended taxonomical description, habitat, phenology and color plates with the first available live photographs (Fig. 1) are
provided here.
Pedicularis denudata Hooker f. (1884: 309).
Lectotype (designated by Garg & Singh 2020):—INDIA. Sikkim: North Sikkim district, Lachen, 12,000–13,000 ft., 17 July 1849,
(Pedicularis n. 11) J.D. Hooker s.n. (K000739091!).
Syntype:—INDIA. Sikkim: North Sikkim district, Lachen, 13,000 ft., 15 July 1849, (Pedicularis n. 11) J.D. Hooker s.n.(K000739092!).
Annual, erect herbs, 15–50 cm high (including inflorescence), not becoming black after drying. Stem solitary or 2–8 from the
root, glabrous or sparsely pubescent below, densely above. Leaves both radical and cauline, pinnatifid; radical evanescent,
5–9 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, pinnatifid, pubescent on both surface; segments 3–4 pairs, crenate; petioles 4–9 mm long,
pubescent; cauline in whorls of 2 or 4, 10–25 × 5–15 mm, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, pubescent; segments 5–8 pairs,
crenate; petioles 2–4 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescence an interrupted spike of 3–7, 4-flowered whorls; bracts foliaceous,
sessile. Flowers 12–14 mm long, sessile. Calyx broadly campanulate, 6–7 mm long, glabrous inside, densely pubescent
outside, membranous, light yellowish-green or sometimes with purplish tinge, 5-lobed; lobes 1–1.5 mm long, ovate-oblong
or triangular, reflexed, posterior one smaller, margins minutely crenate-serrate or entire. Corolla pink, glabrous; tube 8–9
mm long; galea 5.5–6 mm long, arched over midlobe of labium, shortly beaked; beak 1–1.5 mm long; labium 6–7 × 8–9
mm, 3-lobed, with distinct sinus between lobes; lateral lobes reniform; midlobe suborbicular, tip subacute-rounded. Stamens

REDISCOVERY OF PEDICULARIS DENUDATA Phytotaxa 461 (2) © 2020 Magnolia Press • 137
inserted at the middle of corolla tube; filaments all pilose. Style included. Capsules 7.5–8.5 mm long, subglobose-broadly
ellipsoid. Seeds many, 1.5–2 mm across, ellipsoid, reticulate.
Flowering and fruiting:—July–August.
Habitat:—The species grows in alpine meadows along open peaty slopes among boulders at 3600–4600 m a.s.l.
Distribution:—Previously, this species was known from three localities, two in Nepal and one in India. In Nepal, it
was collected from Rasuwa district in 1954 and Solukhumbu district in 1985 (Yamazaki 1988). In India, it has been collected
twice from Lachen, North Sikkim district, Sikkim state. One is the type collection of 1849 by J.D. Hooker and the other by
King’s Collector in 1882. After the year 1882 the species was not collected again (Prain 1890, Mill 2001, Husain et al. 2010,
Maity et al. 2018). Now after a lapse of 135 years, this specie is known also from Taktsang, Tawang district, Arunachal
Pradesh.
Specimen examined:—INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang district, Taktsang, 3680 m, 12 August 2017, D. Borah
1238 (Herbarium of Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh).
FIGURE 1. Pedicularis denudata. A. Habitat; B. Close-up of leaves and capsule; C. Inflorescence; D. Close-up of flowers.

BORAH ET AL.
138 • Phytotaxa 461 (2) © 2020 Magnolia Press
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Botany department, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, India for providing facilities and also to
Arunachal Pradesh State Forest Department for providing logistic supports during field explorations. The second and third
authors are thankful to Dr. A.A. Mao, Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for facilities.
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