Murdannia satheeshiana-a new species of Commelinaceae from the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Murdannia satheeshiana (Commelinaceae) from Mathikettanshola National Park, Idukki District, Kerala, (Western Ghats, India) is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from the similar species M. pauciflora by differences in the sizes of several parts of the plants and seed morphology. A key to the southern Indian species of Murdannia with axillary cymose inflorescences and orange-yellow flowers is also included.