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Why is it Essential to Critically Study Allied Taxa while Describing those New to Science? A Case Study Based on Lepidagathis keralensis (Acanthaceae)


Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Tambaram East, Chennai 600 059, India
2 Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, TNAU Campus, Lawley Road, Coimbatore 641 003, India
 

The effective conservation of a species is feasible only when its taxonomy and ecology are well understood. India is one of the top ten countries in the world, reporting several new species and is also recognized as a centre of plant extinction. The role of plant taxonomists in the country is considered crucial. This article discusses one of the most neglected taxonomic practices among Indian taxonomists while describing new taxa. It is done in the context of the field and detailed macro- and micro-morphological studies of a newly described Lepidagathis Willd. (Acanthaceae) species from the lateritic plateaus of the Western Ghats in Kerala as an example. The taxonomy of Lepidagathis keralensis Madhus. & N.P. Singh is also discussed with an updated description and colour photographs for precise identification.

Keywords

Allied and New Taxa, Diagnostic Characters, Lepidagathis keralensis, Plant Extinction, Taxonomic Practices.
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  • Why is it Essential to Critically Study Allied Taxa while Describing those New to Science? A Case Study Based on Lepidagathis keralensis (Acanthaceae)

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Authors

G. Gnanasekaran
Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Tambaram East, Chennai 600 059, India
A. F. J. King
Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Tambaram East, Chennai 600 059, India
W. Arisdason
Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, TNAU Campus, Lawley Road, Coimbatore 641 003, India

Abstract


The effective conservation of a species is feasible only when its taxonomy and ecology are well understood. India is one of the top ten countries in the world, reporting several new species and is also recognized as a centre of plant extinction. The role of plant taxonomists in the country is considered crucial. This article discusses one of the most neglected taxonomic practices among Indian taxonomists while describing new taxa. It is done in the context of the field and detailed macro- and micro-morphological studies of a newly described Lepidagathis Willd. (Acanthaceae) species from the lateritic plateaus of the Western Ghats in Kerala as an example. The taxonomy of Lepidagathis keralensis Madhus. & N.P. Singh is also discussed with an updated description and colour photographs for precise identification.

Keywords


Allied and New Taxa, Diagnostic Characters, Lepidagathis keralensis, Plant Extinction, Taxonomic Practices.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv125%2Fi3%2F247-252