RE IN W A R D T I A Published by Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor, Indonesia Volume 7, Part 1, pp. 1-3 (1965) A NEW SPECIES OF HYPOESTES FROM THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS by K. THOTHATHRI *) Hypoestes andamanensis Thoth., spec. nov. — Fig. Affinis H. purpureae (L.) Soland. ex Roem. & Schult. a qua tamen differt inflorescentia, forma bractearum involucri atque magnitudine capsu- larum. Suffrutex herbaceus ca. 60 cm. altus, ramis quadrangularibus, longi- tudinaliter sulcatis ad latera opposite, glabris, sed ad nodos pubescentibus. Folia exstipulata, petiolata, opposita, simplicia, subaequalia, ex ovatis ovato- oblonga, 5.4—13.2 X 2.0—4.5 cm., late crenata, acuta, angusta et ad basin decurrentia, puberula in utraque pagina; nervorum lateralium juga 7—-20, ascendentium et prope margines unitorum; petiolis 7—17 mm. longis. In- florescentia axillaris et terminalis, 1.3—3.0 cm. longa; flores aggregati in fasciculos spicularum 3—10; bracteae 4, binae et binae, exteriores quidem connatae infra, et simul cum interioribus efformantes involucrum; involuc- rum 8—10 mm. longum, sparse vuberulum extus, suffultum structura subulata bracteoidi; involucri bracteae lanceolatae, 1—3 nervae, acutae vel acuminatae, interiores quidem. exterioribus breviores; singula involucra includunt unum fertilem et 1—2 flores rudimentarios, raro 2 fertiles et 1 rudimentarium florem; bracteolae hyalinae, marginibus ciliatis, 3—3.5 mm. longae. Calycis sepala 5, unita in tubum, hyalina, puberula, 3—4.5 mm. longa. Corolla rosea, extus puberula, 1.5—2.0 cm. longa, tubo infra angusto, bilabiato supra; labium. superius loratum, integrum, acutum, ner- vis parallelis; labium inferius latius; 3-nervum, 3-lobum, lohis rotundatis, m,edio vero lateralibus maiore. Stamina 2, epipetala, 8 mm. longa, filamentis complanatis, distincte nervosis, sparse pilosis infra, antheris unilocularihus muticis. Ovarium superius, oblongum,, glabrum, biloculare, ovulis binis in singulis loculis, stylo gracili, stigmate bifido. Capsula ellipsoidea, 7—9 x 2— 2.5 mm., stipitata, ad apicem acuta et mucronata, valvulis longitudinaliter sulcatis in latere dorsali, seminibus binis; semina ovoidea vel oblonga, 2—3 x 1—2 mm., glabra, compressa, verrucosa; retinacula ex oblongis conica, alba, bene evoluta. *) Central National Herbarium, P.O. Botanic Garden, Howrah, India. R E I N W A R D T I A [VOL. 7 Typus, Thoth. 9157 A, lectus in silva in insula Austin II in Archi- pelago Andamans boreali ad altit. 30 m. die I februarii anni 1959 et isotypi, Thoth. 9157 B—H, positi in herbario calcuttensi (CAL). A herbaceous undershrub about 60 cm. high; branches quadrangular, longitudinally furrowed on opposite sides, glabrous but puberulous at nodes. Leaves exstipulate, petiolate, opposite, simple, subequal, ovate to ovate- oblong, 5.4—13.2 x 2.0—4.5 cm., broadly crenate, acute, narrow and de- current at base, puberulous on both sides; lateral nerves 7—10 pairs, ascending and united near the margin; petiole 7—17 mm. long. Inflorescen- ce axillary and terminal, 1.3—3.0 cm.~long; flowers in clusters of 3—10 spikelets; bracts 4, in 2 whorls of 2 each, outer whorl connate below and together with inner whorl form an involucre; involucre 8—10 mm. long, sparsely puberulous outside, subtended by a subulate bract-like structure; involucral bracts lanceolate, 1—3 nerved, acute to acuminate, inner whorl slightly shorter than the outer; each involucre encloses inside 1 fertile and 1—2 rudimentary flowers, rarely 2 fertile and 1 rudimentary flower; bracteoles hyaline, margin ciliate, 3—3.5 mm. long. Calyx 5 sepals, united to form a tube, hyaline, puberulous, 3—4.5 mm. long. Corolla pink, pube- rulous outside, 1.5—2.0 cm. long, tube narrow below, bilabiate above; upper lip strap-shaped, entire, acute, parallel-nerved; lower lip wider, 3- nerved, 3-lobed; each lobe rounded, middle lobe larger than laterals. Stamens 2, epipetalous, 8 mm. long, filaments flat, distinctly veined, sparsely hairy below, anthers 1-celled, muticous. Ovary superior, oblong, glabrous, 2-celled, ovules 2 in each cell; style slender; stigma bifid. Capsules ellipsoid, 7—9 x 2—2.5 mm., stalked, acute at apex with a mucro, valves longitudinally furrowed on the dorsal side, 2 seeded; seeds ovoid to oblong, 2—3 x 1—2 mm., glabrous, compressed, verrucose, retinacula oblong to conical, white, well developed. The type, collected from the forests of Austin II, North Andaman, at an altitude of 30 meters on 1st February, 1959 by Thothathri (Thothathri 9157A) and isotypes (Thothathri 9157 B—H) have been deposited in the Central National Herbarium, Calcutta (CAL). NOTES.—It is interesting to point out that this plant was found growing in association with other Acanthaceous plants such as Lepidagathis incurva D. Don, Eranthemum palatiferum Nees, and Daedalacanthus suffruticosus T. Anders. All these plants together form a part of the forest undergrowth in Austin II forests, North Andaman. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author expresses his gratitude to Dr. C.E.B. Bremekamp, Botanical Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands for critically examining this plant and there by giving his valuable opinion on the same. 1965] K. THOTHATHRI: A new species of Hypoestes Fig. 1. A branch with flowers; Fig. 2. Involucre; Fig. 3. Involucral bract (outer); Fig. 4. Involucral bract (inner) ; Fig. 5. Two flowers within an involucre (corolla and other parts removed) ; Fig. 6. Calyx tube with bracteoles; Fig. 7. Corolla with stamens; Fig. 8. Pistil; Fig. 9. Capsule; Fig. 10. Seed (in two views). Rein.Vol.7,Part 1,pp.1-90_Page_06 Rein.Vol.7,Part 1,pp.1-90_Page_07