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Issue: Vol. 768 No. 3: 4 Aug. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-08-04
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.768.3.4
Page range: 164-178
Abstract views: 99
PDF downloaded: 7

Five new species of Polycarpaea (Caryophyllaceae) from Kerala (South-West India)

Department of Botany; St Berchmans College (Autonomous); Changanassery; Kerala; India 686101
Department of Botany; St Berchmans College (Autonomous); Changanassery; Kerala; India 686101
Karimpanackel; Neeloor PO.; Kottayam; Kerala; India 686651
Department of Botany; CMS College Kottayam (Autonomous); Kerala; India 686001
Eudicots Caryophyllales Marayoor new taxon pollen

Abstract

Five new species of Polycarpaea (Caryophyllaceae) from Kerala, India viz. P. sureshii, P. marayoorensis, P. kanthalloorensis, P. kurialacherryana and P. johnii are described and illustrated. P. sureshii is morphologically similar to P. ebracteata and P. palakkadensis but differs in terms of absence of stipules, shape of bracteole, petal and sepal. P. kanthalloorensis is morphologically similar to P. aurea from which it differs by the shape of bract, bracteole, sepals, stipules and capsule. P. kurialacherryana is similar to P. apetala from which it differs by presence of petals, shape and size of bract and bracteoles. P. marayoorensis is similar to P. barbellata but differs with respect to irregular lax cyme, shape of bract, petal, capsule and seed. P. johnii is similar to P. barbellata and P. psammophila from which it differs by the shape of capsule, shape and size of sepal and bracts. Detailed description of all the five species along with colour photographs and distribution maps are provided.

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How to Cite

Arya, S., Salvy, T., Manuel, T. & Rogimon, T.P. (2026) Five new species of Polycarpaea (Caryophyllaceae) from Kerala (South-West India). Phytotaxa 768 (3): 164–178. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.768.3.4