Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India

Abstract

The genus Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) is revised for India based on field observation, literature survey and extensive herbarium studies. Sixty one taxa are recognized under seven sections. Nomenclatural anomalies are resolved. Distribution status is given for each species. A lectotype is designated for C. schumanniana and second step lectotypes are designated for C. hookeri and C. lucida; C. karulensis is reduced here as a variety of C. sahyadrica; C. mizoramensis and C. murlensis are reduced to the synonymy of C. longifolia subsp. sinensis. Detailed descriptions, notes, colour photoplates and taxonomic keys for sections, species and infra-specific taxa are presented.

\(\textit{Ceropegia vietnamensis }\) (Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae), a new species from Vietnam

“…It is most possible that it belongs to the section Esculentae Bruyns with five species distributed from Africa to South Asia; in this section, it is most morphologically similar to Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. -the type of the section but the latter is easily distinguishable by its fibrous roots, short (0.4-1.0 cm long) petioles slightly hairy at apex, smaller (1.2-4.6 × 1.1-4.5 cm) and orbicular, elliptic-oblong or ovate-cordate leaf lamina and much smaller corolla (1.4-2.3 cm long) (Kambale & Yadav, 2019).…”

Molecular phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic reconsideration of Ceropegia hirsuta (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) reveal a novelty in Thailand, Ceropegia citrina sp. nov., with notes on its pollination ecology

“…Indopegia, which, as originally circumscribed, is endemic to the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Apart from C. hirsuta, about 21 other Indian species are assigned to this section (Huber 1957;Bruyns et al 2017;Kambale and Yadav 2019).…”

“…f. (glabrous branches and oblong corolla lobes) (Hooker 1883), is now treated as a distinct species, C. vincifolia Hook. (Kambale and Yadav 2019;Pullaiah et al 2019). The other four, C. hirsuta var.…”

“…stenophylla Hook. f. (narrowly linear leaves), are considered synonyms of C. hirsuta (Kambale and Yadav 2019;Pullaiah et al 2019).…”

Ceropegia sunhangiana, a new species of Apocynaceae from Southwest China

“…Traditionally, the genus Ceropegia L. contains about 240 species worldwide (Li et al 1995, Kambale and Yadav 2019), but recent studies have repeatedly concluded that the genus is not monophyletic (Bruyns et al 2015, 2017, Endress et al 2018). To comply with theprinciple of monophyly, for convenience of identification and name stability, Bruyns suggested a broadened definition of the genus, which includes the traditional Brachystelma R.Br.…”