Date of publication : 31st December, 2009 © Botanical Survey of India, 2009 NOTES ON MEDINILLA GAUDICH. (MELASTOMATACEAE) FROM GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND, INDIA J. JAYANTHI, K. KARTHIGEYAN, R. SUMATHI AND P. G. DIWAKAR 1 Botanical Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair 744 102 1 Botanical Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune 411 001 ABSTRACT A new species viz. Medinilla balakrishnanii, allied to M. coriacea Merr., is described. Medinilla speciosa (Reinw. ex Blume) Blume is reported for the first time as an addition to the Flora of India. Detailed descriptions, ecological notes with illustration are provided. Keywords : New species, New record, Great Nicobar Island, India. INTRODUCTION The genus Medinilla Gaudich. comprises epiphytic and terrestrial shrubs and climbers and includes about 400 species. It is found throughout tropical Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, South China, Islands of South-East Asia, New Guinea, Northern Australia, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji with its maximum diversity in the Malaysian region (Regalado 1990, 1995). In India, this genus is represented by 7 species namely Medinilla erythrophylla Lindl., M. beddomei C.B.Clarke, M. himalayana Hook. f., M. pauciflora Hook.f., M. malabarica Bedd., M. sahyadrica Sasidh. & Sujanapal and M. anamalaiana Sasidh. & Sujanapal distributed in the Himalayan and Peninsular regions (Sasidharan & Sujanapal, 2005). During the floristic survey of Mt. Thullier, Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a beautiful epiphytic shrub was collected from the dense evergreen forests. On studying the specimens it is found to be different and distinct from the alliance of M. coriacea Merr., of Philippines and hence described as new species. Medinilla speciosa (Reinw. ex Blume) Blume is reported as an addition to the Flora of India. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for easy identification of these species. 1. Medinilla balakrishnanii Jayanthi, Karthigeyan, Sumathi & Diwakar sp. nov. (Fig. 1). Medinillae coriaceae proxima, petiolis et inflorescentiss hypanthiisque furfuraceis, laminis elliptico- oblongis apice acuminato nervis supra impressis venis transversalibus prominentibus, petiolis floribusque majoribus differt. Type : India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands : Great Nicobar, Mt. Thullier, Evergreen forest, + 600 m, 2 June 2002, J. Jayanthi, K. Karthigeyan & R. Sumathi 19354 (Holo. : CAL, Iso. : PBL). Closely allied to M. coriacea Merr., differing in the furfuraceous petioles, inflorescences and hypanthium, longer elliptic-oblong leaves, acuminate at apex, nerves impressed above, transverse veins prominent, larger petioles and larger flowers. Epiphytic, scandent shrub, 3-5 m high; bark whitish; branches terete, glabrous, lenticellate, c. 1 cm in diam.; young branchlets slightly quadrangular, setose. Leaves opposite or ternate, elliptic-oblong, 10-18 × 5-9 cm, exstipulate, coriaceous, drying greyish-blackish green above, chocolate brown below, acuminate at apex, entire along margins, cuneate at base, 5-7-nerved, nerves impressed above, raised below; transverse veins prominent on both surfaces; petioles ridged, 1.8-5 cm long, slightly furfuraceous. Inflorescence axillary, fascicled, few-flowered cymes, arising on leafless nodes; peduncles ridged, reddish-brown furfuraeous, 1-2.3 cm long. Flowers creamy white, c. 3× 2.5 cm, 5-merous. Pedicels ridged, pink, 3-5 mm long, reddish- brown furfuraceous. Hypanthium campanulate, green with pinkish tinge, reddish-brown furfuraceous, 1-1.3 × 0.8-1 cm, 5-denticulate. Petals 5, creamy white with pink tinge along margins, membranous, imbricate, obliquely broadly elliptic-obovate, 2.5-2.8 × 1-1.5 cm. Stamens 10, unequal, isomorphic; short stamens 5; filaments N E L U M B O 51 : 1- 4. 2009