R E I N W A R D T I A Published by Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor, Indonesia Vol. 8, Part 2, pp. 329 — 331 (1972) STUDIES IN LEGUMINOSAE 15. NEW TAXA OF DALBERGIA LINN. F. FROM INDIA AND BURMA K. THOTHATHRI Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta INTRODUCTION During a study of the Indo-Burmese species of the genus Dalbergia Linn. f. the author came across an interesting specimen from Travancors, wrongly identified as D. congesta Grah. ex Wt. & Arn. This specimen differs markedly from the. latter in the conspicuous, persistent bracteoles which remain even after fruiting. It is described here as D. travancorica Thoth. A collection of G. Rogers from Yamethin, Burma again is closely allied to D. obtusifolia Prain but differs in the obovate leaflets with retuse apex. It is described here as D. obtusifolia Prain var. rogersii Thoth. Dalbergia travancorica Thoth, spec. nov. D. travancorica Thoth. D. rubiginosae affinis, sed ab ea foliolis elliptico-orbiculis bracteisque conspicuis etiam fructiferis permanentibus differt. Frutex volubilis; ramuli puberuli, partes iuveniles ferrugineo- pubescentes. Folia alterna, stipulata, 8 —11 cm longa, saepius 5-, rarius 7-foliolata; rachis puberula; petioluli sericeo-pubescentes, 2 — 4 mm longi; stipulae prominentes, oblongae, 7 — 9 mm longae, breviter acuminatae, brunneo-pubescentes; foliola elliptica, 4 — 6 x 2 — 3.5 cm, inferiora vero superioribus semper minora, integra, coriacea, basi rotundata, apice obtusa retusave, rarius acuta, supra glabra, infra brunneo-puberula pubescentiave, nervi laterales indistincti. Inflorescentiae breves, axillares, paniculatae, 2.5 — 5 cm longae, 2 — 3 cm latae; rachis atque ramuli pubescentes. Flores 7 — 8 mm longi, pedicellati; bracteae valde conspicuae, gibbosae, ovato-triangulares, 2 — 3 mm longae, extus pubescentes; bracteolae 2, ovato-oblongae, calycis tubum ex altera parte contegentes, extus pubes- centes ; pedicelli breves, 4 — 5 mm longi, pubescentes. Calyx campanulatus, 4 — 5 mm longus, extus pubescens, 5-dentatus; dentes tres anteriores triangulari-ovati, parvi, posteriores duo vero ovato-rotundati, maiores. Vexillum ovato-orbiculare ovato-oblongumve, 6 — 7 mm longum, deflexum, apice retusum, lamina basi auriculata, distincte unguiculata; alae ovato- oblongae, unguiculatae; carinae naviculatae, unguiculatae, apice coherentes; — 329 — 3 3 0 R E I N W A R D T I A [VOL. 8 petalae omnes glabrae. Stamina 9, monadelpha; vagina 6 — 7 mm longa, postice fissa; filamenta superius per circa quartam longitudinis partem libera. Ovarium oblongum, 5 — 6.5 mm longum, distincte stipitatum, glabrum praeter suturam dorsalem vero pubescentem, 3-ovulatum; stylo tenue, stigmate minuto. Legumina oblonga, 3 x 0.7 cm, compressa, glabra, laevia, 1-seminata. TYPUS: Collibus Travancorensibus (sine loco definito) -Lector? s.n sub numero 17025 (MH). D. travancorica Thoth. is allied to D. rubiginosa Benth. but differs in the elliptic, rounded leaflets and conspicuous, presistent bracts which remain even after fruiting. Scandent shrub; branchlets puberulous, younger parts rusty pubescent. Leaf imparipinnate, alternate, stipulate, 8 —11 cm long, rachis puberu- lous ; leaflets mostly 5, rarely 7, elliptic, 4 — 6 x 2 — 3.5 cm, lower ones always smaller than upper larger ones, entire, coriaceous, rounded at base, mostly obtuse to retuse at apex, rarely acute, glabrous above, brown puberulous to pubescent below, lateral veins not distinct, petiolule silky pubescent, 2 — 4 mm long, stipule prominent, oblong, 7 — 9 mm long, shortly acuminate, brown pubescent. Inflorescence short, axillary panicle, 2.5 — 5 cm long, 2 — 3 cm wide, rachis and branchlets pubescent. Flowers 7 — 8 mm long, pedicellate; bract very conspicuous, gibbous ovate- triangular, 2 — 3 mm long, pubescent without, bracteoles 2, ovato-oblong, on either side of the calyxtube and embracing the same, pubescent without; pedicels short, 4 — 5 mm long, pubescent. Calyx campanulate, 4 — 5 mm long, pubescent without, 5-toothed, anterior 3 triangular-ovate, smaller, posterior 2 ovate-rounded, larger than the, anterior ones. Corolla vexillum ovate-orbicular to ovate-oblong, 6 — 7 mm long, deflexed, retuse at apex, blade auricled below, distinctly clawed; wings ovato-oblong, clawed, keels boat-shaped, clawed, connate above, at their apex, all petals glabrous. Stamens 9, monadelphous, sheath 6 — 7 mm long, split open dorsally, filaments free on their upper one fourth. Ovary oblong, 5 — 6.5 mm long, distinctly stipitate, glabrous except the pubescent, dorsal suture, 3-ovuled, style slender, stigma minute. Pod oblong, 3 x 0.7 cm, flat, glabrous, smooth, long stalked, 1-seeded. TYPE: Travancore hills (without definite locality), Collector? s.n., accession number 17025 (Holotype MH). DISTRIBUTION: South India. Dalbergia obtusifolia Prain var. rogersii Thoth., var. nov. D. obtusifolia Prain var. rogersii Thoth. a planta typica foliis brevioribus cum foliolis obovatis comparative minoribus apice revera obtusis inferiusque differt. D. obtusifolia Prain var. rogersii Thoth. differs from the typical plant in having shorter leaves with comparatively smaller, obovate leaflets which are decidedly obtuse at apex and minutely puberulous below. 1972] THOTHATHRI: New Dalbcrgia 331 Branchlets glabrous. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate, 8 —15 cm long, leaflets 5 — 7, obovate, 2.G x 2.2 — 3.2 cm., entire, retuse at apex, cuneate at base, coriaceous, glabrous above, finely and minutely puberulous on the ventral surface, lateral veins 6 — 8 pairs, rachis glabrous, petiolule 4 — 5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence a profusely branched, axillary panicle, 15 — 25 cm long, rachis puberulous. Flowers yellow. Calyx, corolla, stamens and ovary as in typical plant. Pod not known. TYPE: Mynbyin reserve, comperatment 47, 100 m, Yamethin district, February 1915, Gilbert Rogers 583 (Holotype, DD). DISTRIBUTION: Burma, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author thanks Father Cramer, St. Aloysius College, Ceylon for the latin translations of the new taxa and Dr. S. K. Mukherji, Director, Botanical Survey of India, for facilities and encouragement. hal 329-333_Page_1 hal 329-333_Page_2 hal 329-333_Page_3