Petrocosmea arunachalense: a new species of Gesneriaceae from Northeast India

Abstract

Petrocosmea arunachalense, a new species of Gesneriaceae, is described and illustrated from West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species is similar to P. nanchuanensis, and P. parryorum, but differs from the former in having much bigger, lanceolate ovate to lanceolate elliptic leaves, uniformly entire margins, more numerous lateral veins, inflorescence with long peduncles, short pedicels, and more numerous flowers, striated corolla, hairy filaments and number of staminodes, and from the later by more numerous leaves per plant, texture of leaves, uniformly entire margins, more numerous lateral veins, green calyx, corolla colour and striation, and colour of the hairs on the filaments. The new species is assessed as Data Deficient according to the IUCN Red List criteria.