Anaphalis sahyadrica (Asteraceae), a New Species from Southern Western Ghats, Keralam, India

S. Remya; K. M. Prabhukumar; G. Kanakambika; C. N. Maya

doi:10.3417/20261045

S. Remya Government Victoria College https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2402-6382
K. M. Prabhukumar CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3341-2717
G. Kanakambika Government Victoria College https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-5375
C. N. Maya Government Victoria College and Government Arts and Science College https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1667-817X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/20261045

Keywords: Anamudi, Anaphalis, Asteroideae, Gnaphalieae

Abstract

Anaphalis sahyadrica Remya, K. M. P. Kumar & Maya (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), a new species from the montane grasslands and shola margins of the southern Western Ghats in Keralam, India, is described and illustrated. The new species exhibits morphological affinities with A. marcescens (Wight) C. B. Clarke in its habit, leaf shape, heterogamous and disciform capitula, and uniseriate, free, barbellate pappus bristles, but differs in habitat preference, number of capitula per inflorescence, shape of the leaf base and margin, nature of phyllary, indument in phyllaries, receptacle surface and indument, number of florets, and cypsela indument. The new species is described here with detailed information on its distribution and ecology, color photographs, a comparative assessment with allied species, and SEM images of the cypsela.