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Issue: Vol. 404 No. 2: 17 May 2019
Type: Article
Published: 2019-05-17
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.404.2.4
Page range: 85–90
Abstract views: 25
PDF downloaded: 1

Elatostema rigidiusculum (Urticaceae), a new species endemic to Sri Lanka

Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
National Herbarium, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Range Forest Office, Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Forest Department, Rajamalwatta Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Prof. Papov Str., 2, RU-197376 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Plant diversity plant taxonomy endemism Flora of tropical Asia Eudicots

Abstract

Elatostema monandrum var. rigidiusculum, confined to the Bambarabotuwa Forest Reserve in Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka, is reclassified to the rank of species as E. rigidiusculum. We compare it to the morphologically most similar, E. monandrum. The main diagnostic features of E. rigidiusculum are obovate leaves 0.3–1.5 cm long whose laminae are apically crenate, and the presence of sessile receptaculate involucrate inflorescences in both sexes. The proposed IUCN conservation status of E. rigidiusculum is Critically Endangered (CR).