Notes on Pemphis acidula J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Myrtales: Lythraceae) from Andaman Islands, India

Abstract

Pemphis acidula Forst. (Lythraceae) has been reported herein with locality data after a lapse of 91 years from Andaman Islands. This re-discovery is significant as P. acidula has not been added to the mangrove flora of India in many important national and international status reports. This species is characterized by its narrowly elliptic to lanceolate leaves that are densely covered with silky hairs on both surfaces, crumpled white petals, capsule with circumscissile dehiscence and winged seeds. Further, new morphological discoveries viz., tetramerous and pentamerous flowers were reported in the present study in contrast to the perfect hexamerous flowers reported elsewhere. Since P. acidula is sparsely distributed, location-specific conservation strategies should be adapted in order to prevent its local extinction from the Islands. In addition, exploratory surveys are imperative particularly in calcareous rocky habitats for authenticating the wider distribution of such rare species.

Keywords

• Conservation
• Lythraceae
• Mangrove associate
• Rare
• Ritchie’s Archipelago