Murdannia vaginata var. glabrisepala (Commelinaceae): a new report for India inferred from morphological and molecular data

Abstract

Murdannia vaginata (L.) G.Brückn. var. glabrisepala Faden was originally described from Sri Lanka. Its occurrence in India is indicated in the protologue, but not firmly established. During a recent field survey in Kerala, India, this variety was collected, compared with its morphologically allied congener M. vaginata var. vaginata (L.) G.Brückn., and reported here as a new record for India. A detailed description, photo plates, information on flowering and fruiting, habitat, distribution, SEM data on seeds and conservation status are provided. A combined morphology and molecular-based study using the rps16 intron, rbcL, and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences confirmed its distinctiveness from the type variety.