Portulaca badamica, and P. lakshminarasimhaniana, from Bagalkot district, (Karnataka State, India), are described as new species for Science. P. badamica is an annual, slender and sparsely branched herb usually with cleistogamous flowers, while P. lakshminarasimhaniana is woody, perennial, subshrub with pinkish red coloured flowers, capsules with elongated hemispherical operculum and seeds with peculiar metallic shine. P. badamica is morphologically similar to P. pilosa from which differs in having annual, slender, sparsely branched, erect habit, usually cleistogamous yellow flowers,3–4 fid style, 8–12 stamens, bluish seeds with stellulate flat cells without central elevations. P. lakshminarasimhaniana is similar to P. suffrutescens but differs from it by its non-tuberous root, stem scabrous with scaly bark, dark pink to red flowers, 8–15 stamens, strictly 4 fid style and oblong capsules.

Objectives Barleria, a large genus of the Acanthaceae family, comprises more than 300 species with diverse taxonomy, cytogenetics, phytochemistry and pharmacological potential. Therefore, the aim of this review is to critically assess the research on Barleria and provide guidance for future investigations. Methods The data were obtained from different sources, such as books, theses, journals and some of the websites and internet-based searches, published from 1901 to 2020. Data obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, online electronic journals, SpringerLink, Wiley, etc. have also been used. Key findings The species of this genus exhibit considerable medicinal properties. Cytogenetical data are scantily available with chromosome counts available for only 24 species. The most common chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 40. So far, 187 compounds are reported from Barleria species. The active principles, their uses, toxicity and pharmacological effects are discussed. Essential oils, flavones, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes and terpenoids form the major compounds. Summary It is highly recommended that the pharmacological and economic potential of Barleria species should be exploited and more detailed studies and attention be geared towards its utilization and conservation. In addition, to ensure maximum pharmacological benefits and sustainable use, it is necessary to have empirical information explaining its ethnobotanical values as well as commercial potential.

The endemic Indian genus Haplanthodes (Acanthaceae) is revised. Four species, viz. H. neilgherryensis, H. plumosa, H. tentaculata and H. verticillata and a new variety, H. neilgherryensis var. toranganensis are recognized. Lectotype is designated for Haplanthodes, Haplanthus plumosus and H. verticillaris. The nomenclature of the Linnaean name Ruellia tentaculata is also discussed. Micromorphology of seed using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) is observed for the first time, and two types, reticulate and micro papillate, have been recognized based on surface sculpturing pattern. The genus differs from the related genera Andrographis and Haplanthus by distinctly two grooved seeds with hygroscopic hairs. Pollen grains of the genus are oblate or prolate spheroidal, distinctly triangular, trizonocolporate with reticulate exine ornamentation.

Bentinckia is a genus of flowering plants which is an unplaced member of the tribe Areceae (Arecaceae). Two species are recognized in the genus, viz. B. condapanna Berry ex Roxb. from the Western Ghats, India, and B. nicobarica (Kurz) Becc. from the Nicobar Islands. This work constitutes taxonomic revision, cytogenetics, molecular phylogeny, and biogeography of the Indian endemic palm genus Bentinckia. The present study discusses the ecology, morphology, taxonomic history, distribution, conservation status, and uses of Bentinckia. A neotype was designated for the name B. condapanna. Cytogenetical studies revealed a new cytotype of B. condapanna representing 2n = 30 chromosomes. Although many phylogenetic reports of the tribe Areceae are available, the relationship within the tribe is still ambiguous. To resolve this, we carried out Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis using an appropriate combination of chloroplast and nuclear DNA regions. The same phylogeny was used to study the evolutionary history of Areceae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Bentinckia forms a clade with other unplaced members, Clinostigma and Cyrostachys, and together they show a sister relationship with the subtribe Arecinae. Biogeographic analysis shows Bentinckia might have originated in Eurasia and India.

Nomenclatural investigation was carried out on eight binomials published in the genus Barleria L. (Acanthaceae). All the binomials were typified. Six of these names (B. cuspidata Heyne ex Nees, B. grandiflora Dalzell, B. lawii T.Anderson, B. nitida Nees, B. pilosa Heyne ex Nees and B. strigosa Willd. are currently accepted names. Of the remaining two, B. hirsuta Nees is a later homonym of B. hirsuta Jacq. and B. polytricha Wall., a synonym of B. strigosa Willd.