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Morindopsis ashihoi (Octotropideae; Rubiaceae), a new species from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

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Summary

During the most recent floristic surveys in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an interesting species of Rubiaceae was collected with features allied to representatives of the tribe Octotropideae. Initial identification showed that our material is characterised by having an inflorescence that is subtended by large boat-shaped floral bracts, a character that is unique to the genus Morindopsis. Interestingly, the genus is currently represented only by M. capillaris and after meticulous observation of our material and careful comparison with available herbarium sheets and the protologue, we found that our taxon showed a great disparity in various vegetative and reproductive features with M. capillaris. Thus we describe and illustrate a new species here — Morindopsis ashihoi, the second known species for the genus and a new record for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Dr A. A. Mao, Director and Dr Paramjit Singh, Former Director, Botanical Survey of India for constant support and facilities. The authors are grateful to the Department of Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB-N-PDF), Govt. of India, New Delhi for providing financial assistance. We are also thankful to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for facilities and the Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, for necessary permission and logistic support in conducting field studies. The authors are thankful to scientists and staff of BSI who have always shown readiness to help. Lastly, special thanks to the staff and scientist of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for their assistance in access to and digitisation of herbarium sheets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Botanical Survey of India, Port Blair, 744102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

    Mudavath Chennakesavulu Naik & Lal Ji Singh

  2. The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK

    Sally Dawson

  3. Department of Natural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the East, 2219 C.M. Recto Ave, Manila, Philippines

    Axel Arriola

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  1. Mudavath Chennakesavulu Naik
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Correspondence to Axel Arriola.

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Naik, M.C., Singh, L.J., Dawson, S. et al. Morindopsis ashihoi (Octotropideae; Rubiaceae), a new species from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Kew Bull 78, 375–380 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-023-10097-w

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