Ceropegia andrahica (Apocynaceae), a new species from Andhra Pradesh, India

Ceropegia andrahica (Apocynaceae), a new species from Andhra Pradesh, India | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Nordic Journal of Botany This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 18 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Ceropegia andrahica (Apocynaceae), a new species from Andhra Pradesh, India Authors : Pabbathi Chiranjeevi , Prasad Kothareddy 0000-0002-6105-1923 [email protected] , Vallepu Nagaraju 0000-0002-8800-8829 , Sujanapal P , Marapareddy Sowghandika , and Madiga Bheemalingappa Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175283289.91629056/v1 584 views 153 downloads Contents Abstract Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract A new hysteranthous species of Ceropegia, C. andrahica P. Chiranjeevi, V. Nagaraju & K. Prasad sp. nov. (Apocynaceae), is described from the Paderu forest division, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It morphologically resembles Ceropegia vemanae and C. ciliatior in features such as the shape and size of tuber, pendulous flowers, reflexed corolla lobes and exposed gynostegium with corona, but differs in several characters which are discussed below. A detailed descrip¬tion, photographs and the conservation status of the new species are provided. Introduction Ceropegia (Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) is one of the largest genera in the family Apocynaceae and includes 461 species distributed from Africa to Northeast Australia (POWO 2025). The genus Ceropegia currently displays enormous diversity both in vegetative and floral characters, and according to the synopsis by Bruyns et al. (2017), it comprises 717 species and 30 sections, including the highly succulent Stapeliads and species of Brachystelma . Later, Endress et al. (2018) recognize the inclusion of Brachystelma in Ceropegia , but not the inclusion of the succulent stapeliads. The merging of Brachystelma into Ceropegia is also controversial and it is retained as a separate entity from Ceropegia , as both genera exhibit distinctive floral morphologies (Prasad & Venu 202, Pullaiah et al. 2019, Surveswaran et al. 2021). However, most online databases currently follow the view of Bruyns et al. (2017) and in the present we also adopted above view. During a recent floristic and ethnobotanical survey of the Paderu forest division, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh, the first author (PC) encountered a small population of plants characterized by short erect stems and nodding flowers, which were initially identified as Brachystelma (s.str.), now Ceropegia (s.l.). After examination of the specimens, it was revealed that the habit, tuber, stem characters and distribution information confirm its position in the section Tiloris of Ceropegia (s.l.). The sect. Tiloris, represented by 38 species, is distributed in India and Southeast Asia, Malesia (New Guinea, Philippines) to northern Australia (Bruyns et al. 2017); all Indian species belong to sect. Tiloris . Perusal of relevant literature related to the genus Brachystelma s.str. (Meve 2002, Bruyns et al. 2017, Kambale & Yadav 2019, Pullaiah et al. 2019, Prasad & Venu 2020) revealed that the specimens were not comparable to any of the known species in the section Tiloris . Therefore, it is recognized as a new species that is more similar to Ceropegia vemanae and to a lesser extend to C. ciliatior but differs in a number of features, which are tabulated below (Table 1). Taxonomic treatment Ceropegia andrahica P. Chiranjeevi, K. Prasad & V. Nagaraju sp. nova (Figs. 1 and 2) Diagnosis The new species showing similarities with Ceropegia vemanae , and to a lesser extent with C. ciliatior but it differs from these two species in having branched or rarely unbranched stem, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate leaves, 4-6 flowers at each node, 4–10 mm long pedicels, subulate or narrow deltoid sepals, dark purple, 3.4–5.6 mm long corolla lobes ovate-triangular at base then gradually tapering above covered with dense hairy, bilobed interstaminal corona lobes with triangular lobules and staminal corona lobes narrowly oblong and apex 3-lobed. Type: India, Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Paderu forest division, Cheedikudda, 18°01’38.1”N 82°41’24.0”E, 1010 m a.s.l., 8 July 2019, P. Chiranjeevi 028 (holotype: CAL; isotype: BSID, KFRI). Description Dwarf, perennial erect and hysteranthous tuberous herbs, 4–16 cm tall, appear after first rains. Tubers globose to subglobose or discoid, 3–5 cm in diameter, similar to small potato; roots few, fibrous. Stem erect, solitary, slender, cylindrical, generally branched or rarely unbranched, 1–2 mm diameter, sparsely pubescent or glabrous, pale greenish or purplish-green. Leaves appear after the flowers, opposite, sessile to subsessile, fleshy, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 2–6 × 0.2–0.5 cm, apex acute, margins entire and ciliate, pubescent. Inflorescence on leafless scape, subsessile or shortly peduncled; peduncle c. 1 mm long, pubescent; young buds facing upwards and mature buds pendent. Flowers 4–6 at each node and 2–3 in axil of each bract, drooping; pedicels 4–10 mm long, hairy, purplish-green or pale green; bract and bracteoles subulate, 0.5–1 mm long, acute, glabrous, green, caducous. Calyx only very basally fused; sepals 5, subulate or narrow deltoid, 1.2–1.6 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm broad at base, acute, hairy, pale green. Corolla completely reflexed with more or less flat tube; tube much shorter than the lobes, c. 1 mm long, hairy, white with purple patches; lobes becoming broader and ovate-triangular at base, gradually tapering above, 3.4–6 mm long, base 1–1.5 mm broad, acute to subobtuse, margins slightly revolute at basal regions and fully revolute towards upper region to gain near tubular appearance, densely ciliate, adaxially dark purple and densely covered with hairs throughout, abaxially glabrous; trichomes white, c. 1 mm long. Corona 2.2 – 2.6 mm across, bi-seriate, staminal and interstaminal parts fused to a cup shaped structure, higher than gynostegium; interstaminal corona cupular, 5-angled, 1.2 – 1.6 mm high, pale at basal region and deep purple at above, outer surface glabrous but inner surface with hairy patches, lobes shortly bi-lobed; lobules small, triangular, 0.6 mm long; staminal corona lobes incumbent and adpressed on the anther lobes, narrowly oblong, 0.8 – 1.2 mm long, apex 3-lobed, glabrous. Pollinium yellow, subglobose or subglobose-oblong, c. 325 × 300 μm, inner pellucid margined, basally attached to corpusculum by short, hyaline, tubular caudicles. Follicles paired or solitary, erect, cylindrical, tapering towards apex, 4.5–7 cm long, yellowish-green or purplish. Seeds narrowly elliptic, 7–9 × 1.5–2 mm, brown at centre, margin winged and light brown, comose; coma c. 2.5 cm long, white. Flowering and fruiting: May to June. Flowering and fruiting: June–August Distribution and habitat Ceropegia andrahica grows mostly in open, relatively dry habitats along the forest edges, which have sandy-gravelly to loamy soils above 1000 m (Fig 3). Presently, it is known only from the type locality at Cheedikudda in Paderu forest division, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh, and is endemic to type locality. * [email protected] 1 Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN UK. 2 Department of Biotechnology, Hezekiah University Umudi, Imo State, Nigeria. Etymology The new species is named after the Andhra Pradesh state of India. Additional specimens examined (paratypes) India, Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Paderu forest division, Cheedikudda, 23 June 2024, V. Nagaraju and P. Chiranjeevi 3834 (BSID, KFRI). Conservation status Ceropegia andrahica is so far known only from the type locality and has restricted distribution with about 200 individuals in the Paderu forest division, Alluri Sitharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh. Further explorations in the adjacent hills are needed to ascertain its status. Presently, its known habitat is under great pressure due to grazing, forest fires and habitat degradation. Based on ‘Extent of Occurrence’ (Criterion B1: EOO < 100 km2) and ‘Area of Occupancy (Criterion B2: AOO < 10 km2), together with the number of locations – 1 (subcriterion ‘a’) and the projected decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat (subcriterion ‘b(iii)’), the new species is tentatively assessed here as ‘Critically Endangered [CR B1 B2 a, b(iii)]’ (IUCN 2024). Notes Indian Ceropegia species typically have tubular or spreading or connate at the tips to forma a cage-like corolla except for those of the C. ciliatior complex which have corolla lobes reflexed backwards in mature flowers exposing the corona completely. This complex includes, Ceropegia ciliatior Bruyns (Endemic to South India), Ceropegia swarupa (Kishore & Goyder) Bruyns (endemic to Kerala) and Ceropegia vemanae (A.M.Reddy, M.V.S.Babu & K.Prasad) Kottaim. (endemic to Andhra Pradesh). The new species could be comparable with above species in having similar flower structure like corolla lobes reflexed backwards in mature flowers. However, all these species were found to have their own diagnostic features and are clearly distinct from Ceropegia andrahica : C. swarupa has 10 or more flowered cymes, c orolla lobes 2.5 mm long, glabrous and tube ciliated near the rim only. The proposed new species, Ceropegia andrahica morphologi­cally more resembles with C. ciliatior and C. vemanae but differs from them by several characters (Table 1 and Fig 3). Table 1. Comparison of morphological characters between Ceropegia andrahica, C. vemanae and C. ciliatior . Stem Generally branched or rarely unbranched Unbranched Unbranched or sparsely branched Leaves Lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate Linear-lanceolate to oblong Acicular to subulate or linear or linear-lanceolate Flowers 4–6 at each node Solitary 2–4 at each node Pedicels 4–10 mm long 9–12 mm long 15–38 mm long Sepals Subulate or narrow deltoid Narrowly triangular, ovate-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate Ovate or ovate-lanceolate Corolla lobes Dark purple, broader and ovate-triangular at base, gradually tapering above, 3.4–6 mm long, densely covered with hairs Basal portion light brown or creamish with dark rose ornamentation, later becoming uniformly brownish-pink, lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, 7–10 mm long, completely pilose Greenish-yellow or pale yellow and violet at apex and with violet streak at middle, narrowly ovate-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 1.5–5 mm long, glabrous but apex ciliate Interstaminal corona Outer surface glabrous but inner surface with hairy patches; lobes bilobed, lobules triangular Sparsely pilose; lobes deeply divided, lobules triangular at base then narrower towards apex Glabrous; lobes bifid, lobules orbicular Staminal corona lobes Not reaching to gynostegium, narrowly oblong, apex 3-lobed, glabrous Incurved and connivent at apex over gynostegium, linear or linear-oblong, apex obtuse, sparsely pilose Not reaching to gynostegium, ovate, apex obtuse, glabrous Key to the completely reflexed backwards corolla lobes complex in India: 1a. Cymes 10 or more flowered; corolla lobes glabrous ………………….…………. C. swarupa 1b. Cymes 6-2 or solitary flowered; corolla lobes pilose or hairy or if glabrous at least ciliated at apex……………………………………………………………………………………….…2 2a. Corolla lobes only ciliated at apex, greenish-yellow or pale yellow and violet at apex; pedicels more than 1.5 cm long, filiform……………………………………………. B. ciliatum 2b. Corolla lobes pilose or hairy, not as above; pedicels less than 1.5 cm long…………………3 3a. Flower solitary; corolla brown or creamish with dark pink ornamentation at base, then uniformly brownish-pink, densely pilose; interstaminal coronal lobes deeply divided and pilose; staminal corona lobes not lobed…………. …………………………………………… B. vemanae 3b. Flowers 4–6 at each node; corolla dark purple, densely hairy; interstaminal coronal lobes shallowly bilobed and glabrous; staminal corona lobes 3-lobes……….…. C. andrahica sp. nov. References Bruyns, P.V., Klak, C. and Hanáček, P. 2017. A revised, phylogenetically-based concept of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae). South African Journal of Botany 112: 399–436. Endress, M.E., Meve, U., Middleton, D.J. and Liede-Schumann S. 2018. Apocynaceae. In: Klaus Kubitzki (Eds.) and J.W. Kadereit and V. Bittrich (volume eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. XV: Flowering plants eudicots Apiales, Gentianales (except Rubiaceae) . Springer Nature, Switzerland. IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2024. Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria , Version 16. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Available from: http://jr.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf. Kambale, S.S. and Yadav, S.R. 2019. Taxonomic revision of Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) in India. Rheedea 29(1): 1–115. Meve, U. 2002. Brachystelma . In: Albers F. and Meve U. (eds.), Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae . Spinger-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York. Prasad, K. and Venu, P. 2020. A taxonomic revision of the genus Brachystelma R.Br. in India . Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun. POWO, 2025. Plants of the World Online . Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available at: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org (Accessed on 01.07.2025). Pullaiah, T., Karuppuswamy, S. and Murthy, K.S.R. 2019. Monograph on Brachystelma and Ceropegia in India . CRC Press. Surveswaran, S., Kambale, S.S., Srivastav, M., Punekar, S.A., Yadav, S.R. and Karanth, K.P. 2021. Origin and diversification of Indian Ceropegieae (Apocynaceae) and its possible relation to the Indian monsoon. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 59(1): 93–112. * [email protected] 1 Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN UK. 2 Department of Biotechnology, Hezekiah University Umudi, Imo State, Nigeria. Fig. 1. Ceropegia andrahica sp. nov. A : Habit with leaves; B : Habit with leaves and follicles; C : Tuber; D : Buds; E : Flowers; F : Follicles; G : Open follicle with seeds. Fig. 2. Ceropegia andrahica sp. nov. A–A2 : Habit with flowers, follicles, leaves; B : Bud; C : Flowers; D : Pedicels; E : Corona side view; F : Corona top view; G : Gynostegium with pollinia; H : Pollinia; I : Solitary follicle; J : Paired follicles; K : Seed. Fig 3. Habitat and flower comparison. A : Habitat of Ceropegia andrahica ; B : Flower of C. andrahica ; C : Flower of Ceropegia vemanae ; D : Flower of Ceropegia ciliatior . Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 18 July 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Nordic Journal of Botany Keywords asclepiadoideae ceropegieae hysteranthous paderu forest division Authors Affiliations Pabbathi Chiranjeevi Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, India View all articles by this author Prasad Kothareddy 0000-0002-6105-1923 [email protected] Botanical Survey of India View all articles by this author Vallepu Nagaraju 0000-0002-8800-8829 National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, CCRAS, Gaddiannaram, Hyderabad View all articles by this author Sujanapal P Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, India View all articles by this author Marapareddy Sowghandika K.S.N. Government Degree College (Womens), Bhairav Nagar 3rd Cross, Behind RTO Office, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India View all articles by this author Madiga Bheemalingappa Kerala Forest Research Institute View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 584 views 153 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Pabbathi Chiranjeevi, Prasad Kothareddy, Vallepu Nagaraju, et al. Ceropegia andrahica (Apocynaceae), a new species from Andhra Pradesh, India. Authorea . 18 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175283289.91629056/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.175283289.91629056/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9fe6d34eef7b41e2',t:'MTc3OTIzMjc1NQ=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();