Liparis sanamalbarica (Malaxideae: Epidendroideae): Extended distribution to Karnataka, India

Introduction:

Orchidaceae Juss. consist of 691 Accepted genera with 26500 species across worldwide (POWO, 2026). Liparis Rich. has 446 accepted species across globe. India is home for 1256 species of orchids [8, 12].Flowering Plants of Western Ghatsreported 14 Liparis species from different states of India [7]. Karnataka consist of 197 species of wild orchids under 67 genera [11]. Genus Liparis in Karnataka consist of eight species (Liparis atropurpurea Lindl., Liparis biloba Wight,  Liparis deflexa Hook.f., Liparis elliptica Wight, Liparis nervosa (Thunb.) Lindl., Liparis platyphylla Ridl., Liparis viridiflora (Blume) Lindl., Liparis wightiana Thwaites) [10, 11].

During exploration near Devarmane hillock, Mudigere, Chikmagluru, Karnataka, we collected a Liparis species which was diagnosed with characters such as epiphytic habitat, presence of pseudo bulb, labellum bilobed with central notch and crenate front lobe, two calli, 2 pairs of pollinia. The above characters are not matching with species existing in Karnataka, India. Thus above species is identified as new record for Karnataka as Liparis sanamalabarica P. M. Salim.

Material & methods:

Study area:

Chikkamagaluru is a district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Chikkamagaluru is where coffee was first cultivated in India. The mountains here which are a part of the WesternGhats, are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Chikkamagaluru district also contains Mullayanagiri; which is the highest peak in Karnataka. It is also a tourist’s paradise containing hill stations like Kemmanagundi and Kudremukh and waterfalls like Manikyadhara, Hebbe, and Kallathigiri. Chikkamagaluru district has a rich history as is seen in the Hoysala temple at Amrithapura. Wildlife enthusiasts would be interested in the Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary present in this district. Devaremane and Kalbairava temple is one of the scenic beauties in Mudigere taluk, with chain of hillocks including shola patches just adjacent to Charmdi Ghat [1; 2].

Collection, identification and herbarium preparation:

Field collections were made following standard ethical and herbarium protocols [9], ensuring minimal disturbance to natural populations. Vegetative material was carefully collected in zip-lock bags for safe transport to the laboratory. The herbarium specimen is pressed out after dissection and identification with the floras and monographs [6, 11, 12] and submitted in Herbarium of Karnatak Science College, Dharwad (HKSCD).

Results

Taxonomic treatment:

Liparis sanamalabarica P.M.Salim in Taiwania 62: 345 (2017). Figure 01.

Epiphytic or occasionally terrestrial herb, up to 13-15 cm tall, stem purple. Pseudobulb ovoid, with ridges, covered by membranous sheathing leaves at base. Roots slender, to 1 cm long. Leaves usually 1, rarely 2, blade ovate-elliptic, equal at base, 8 × 4 cm, plicate, acute, glossy, glabrous, green, margin entire, wavy, number of veins 7; petiole to 1 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, 6 to 9 cm long, bearing ten to fifteen green-marron reddish flowers, axis glabrous, ridged. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, leafy, 4 mm long, apex acute, green, glabrous, 1-nerved. Dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, strongly reflexed, 8 mm long, acute, reddish-marron, 3-veined. Lateral sepals lanceolate, spreading forwards below the apex of the labellum, 8 mm, acute, 3-veined, reddish-marron. Petals linear, strongly revolute, spreading and deflexed, 8 mm long, reddish-marron, 1- veined, acute. Labellum rhomboid, sides  not recurved, 5-6 mm long, 4 mm wide, margins serrate and wavy at apex, creamy yellow; disc with 2 calli at base. Column strongly incurved, 7 to 8 mm long, winged at apex. Pollinia four in two pairs and tinged at midlobe. Ovary pedicellate, 8 mm long, clavate, twisted at base. Fruit a capsule, 1 mm long and 5 mm wide, dark grey with ridges.

Flowering season: August-September.

Species Examined India, Karnataka, Chikmagulur, Mudigere, Devaramane hill station, Kaushik M. P. & Dr. Shreyas Betageri, 0412, 23-08-2026, HKSCD21601

Distribution in India: Kerala, Karnataka (Present new record) 

Note: Liparis sanamalabarica P.M.Salim is misidentified as Liparis barbata Lindl. in flowersofindia website photographed from Mudigere, Karnataka (https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Bearded%20Liparis.html).  Liparis wrayi Hook.f. as Liparis barbata Lindl. in Flora of Peninsular India portal (https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/FloraPeninsular/herbsheet.php?id=6763&cat=7). Liparis barbata Lindl. from Devarmane hills, Mudigere, Chikkmagluru, Karnataka on August 15 2015 (https://efloraofindia.com/efi/liparis-barbata/).  Liparis sanamalabarica P.M. Salim, (Orchidaceae) which has been recorded as new species in 2017 from Wayanad District, Kattimattom Hills, N 11°29′30.2′′ E 76° 06′ 11.7′′, altitude 1392 m, Sept 2011, P.M. Salim 0416 (holo: MSSRF!; iso: MSSRF!).

Acknowledgment: We also thank Mr. Shankar, Forest Watcher, Chikmagluru division, Karnataka Forest Department. 

References:

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