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Polygonatum tessellatum F. T. Wang & Tang (Asparagaceae) was rediscovered in Manipur after a gap of 97 years. Description, image, and current population size are provided on the basis of recent botanical explorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peliosanthes meghalayensis, a new species from Wari Chora gorge in Meghalaya, NE India, described and illustrated. • Similar to P. pumila from Khasia, NE India, but differs chiefly by knobby rhizome, broader leaf blades, closer transversal veinlets, slightly larger cernuous flowers, and pistils with 6 distinct ridges. • P. subspicata, a rare plant is rediscovered in Assam, NE India, known only by old collections made in NE India and Bangladesh in the 19th century. • Supplemental description and illustration based on living collections provided. • P. bipiniana treated as conspecific with P. subspicata. Peliosanthes meghalayensis , a new species from Wari Chora gorge in Meghalaya, NE India, is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. pumila from Khasia, NE India, in its small habit and having flowers fewer than 10, but differs chiefly by the knobby rhizome, broader leaf blades with closer transversal veinlets, slightly larger cernuous flowers, and pistils with 6 distinct ridges. On the other hand, in Assam, NE India, we rediscovered P. subspicata , which had been known only by old collections made in NE India and Bangladesh in the 19th century. We supplementarily describe and illustrate it based on living collections. We treated P. bipiniana as conspecific with P. subspicata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Santhal tribe in Assam, India use the roots of Asparagus racemosus (Asparagaceae) as a deworming remedy. The study aimed to investigate the anthelmintic credentials of this plant, using two representative groups of helminth parasites. Methods: The in vitro testing was conducted against Hymenolepis diminuta (cestode) and Syphacia obvelata (nematode). Parasites were exposed to 10, 20 and 30 mg/ml concentrations of plant extract, and efficacy was adjudged on the basis of parasites paralysis and mortality. In vivo efficacy was examined using H. diminuta-rat and S. obvelata-mice models where animals were administered 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg doses of extract. Results: In vitro assay, against H. diminuta revealed that at 30 mg/ml concentration the extract showed almost a comparable efficacy with that of reference drug praziquantel (PZQ) (1 mg/ml). The in vitro efficacy of extract against S. obvelata was however lower than H. diminuta. In vivo studies against H. diminuta at 500 mg/kg revealed 53.88 and 24 % reduction in eggs per gram (EPG) and worm counts respectively. Against S. obvelata the extract showed 26.61 and 30.93 % reduction for the same. Conclusions: The findings of this study present suggest that the roots of A. racemosus are effective against intestinal helminthic infections and justifies its use as an anthelmintic in the traditional medicine of the Santhals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Peliosanthes (Asparagaceae: subfamily Nolinoideae) from northeastern India are described and illustrated here as P. ashihoana and P. bipiniana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuspistra tripartita Aver., N. Tanaka & K.S. Nguyen, a new species from central Lao P.D.R., is described and illustrated. It is closely related to T. khangii, T. patula and T. gracilis from northern Vietnam. The name Tupistra extrorsandra (N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy & Aver.) N. Tanaka & Aver. is proposed as a new combination based on Rohdea extrorsandra described from northeastern India, since it has several key traits unique to Tupistra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply data from palynology, meiotic studies and interspecific hybridization to the taxonomy of the genus Drimia Jacq. (Hyacinthaceae: Urgineoideae) in India. We recognize eight species, seven of which are endemic to the subcontinent. The species can be grouped according to floral phenology and palynology into night-blooming species with meta-reticulate pollen and day-blooming species with micro-reticulate pollen. We provided a fully illustrated account of the Indian species, with full descriptions and nomenclature, an identification key and distribution maps. The new sect. Indurgia is described to accommodate the SEAsian species of Drimia. The two species Urginea polyphylla Hook.f. and U. coromandeliana Wight are identified as species of Dipcadi and are excluded from Urgineoideae. • Eight species of Drimia are native to India. • Night-blooming species have meta-reticulate pollen. • Day-blooming species have micro-reticulate pollen. • Triploid D. indica is pollen-sterile. • Urginea polyphylla and U. coromandeliana are species of Dipcadi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several nomenclatural changes in Polygonatum (Asparagaceae) are made based on field, herbarium, and molecular studies. Polygonatum govanianum is recognized at specific rank, P. dolichocarpum is considered a synonym of the earlier P. gongshanense, and P. sinopubescens is treated as a synonym of P. filipes. Maps of distribution are included for P. campanulatum and P. gongshanense which are newly reported for Myanmar, and for P. tessellatum which is newly reported for India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep., a dragon tree species, is reported here for the first time from India. Its taxonomic relationships with other closely related species of genus Dracaena Vand. ex L. are examined and discussed. A detailed taxonomic description, along with color photographs is provided to facilitate its future identification. Recent surveys confirm that the habitat and regional population of the plant is under severe threat. Hence, following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, it is regionally categorized as Critically Endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tupistra leonidii D.K. Roy & A.A. Mao (Asparagaceae), a new species from north-eastern India, is described and illustrated. The plant is distinguished from its closely allied congener, T. nutans in habit with obliquely oblong-elliptic leaf blade, comparatively shorter peduncle (to 10 cm long) and spike (to 3 cm long) with 10-12-flowers, shorter perianth tube, 1.5-2 mm long and in hemispheric to hemioblate white stigma speckled with purple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipcadi krishnadevarayae B.R.P.Rao (Asparagaceae), a new species from the Sri Krishnadevaraya University campus, Anantapuramu of Andhra Pradesh, India, is described and illustrated. The novel species is distinct from all other species of Dipcadi in having distinctly 6-lobed stigma and shows close affinity to D. serotinum (L.) Medik. and D. montanum (Dalzell) Baker. It differs from both allies in having a combination of up to 50cm long linear leaves, 85cm long 16-24 flowered scapes, greenish-yellow flowers, dark green band outside the outer tepals, distinctly 6-lobed stigma and up to 10 seeds in each locule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ledebouriinae (Scilloideae, Asparagaceae) are a widespread group of bulbous geophytes found predominantly throughout seasonal climates in sub-Saharan Africa, with a handful of taxa in Madagascar, the Middle East, India, and Sri Lanka. Phylogenetic relationships within the group have been historically difficult to elucidate. Here, we provide the first phylogenomic perspective into the Ledebouriinae. Using the Angiosperms353 targeted enrichment probe set, we consistently recovered four major clades (i.e., two Ledebouria clades, Drimiopsis, and Resnova). The two Ledebouria clades closely align with geography, either consisting almost entirely of sub-Saharan African taxa (Ledebouria Clade A), or East African and non-African taxa (Ledebouria Clade B). Our results suggest that the Ledebouriinae likely underwent a rapid radiation leading to rampant incomplete lineage sorting. We additionally find evidence for potential historical hybridization between Drimiopsis and a subclade within Ledebouria Clade A., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

• Seed morphology in 19 species of Chlorophytum Ker Gawl. from India reveals diversity in shape, size, color, weight, surface architectural pattern, and hilum characters. • A key has been prepared using seed characters for identification of the investigated 19 species. • Seed morphology help to separate some Chlorophytum species, which have similar floral and other vegetative traits. • The affinity of the investigated species as revealed through multivariate analysis using UPGMA and PCA method supports some of the recent treatment based on other morphological and cytological characters. Seed morphology of 19 species of Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) collected from different regions of India were studied. The seeds are diverse in shape, size, color, weight, surface architectural pattern, and hilum characters. These characters are used for preparation of key for identification of the taxa. The study reveals that morphology of seed clearly distinguishes Chlorophytum kolhapurense from C. bharuchae, C. gothanense from C. borivilianum , and C. belgaumense from C. arundinaceum , all of them showing similar vegetative and floral traits. Morphometric analyses have also been carried out to find out the phenotypic similarities among the investigated species. Seed traits show phenetic affinities between Chlorophytum glaucoides and C. tuberosum, and between C. comosum and C. nilgheriensis which are quite dissimilar in floral morphology. The same observations are found in C. laxum, C. nepalense , and C. borivilianum. In contrast, seed characters show close affinities between C. glaucum and C. indicum, and between C. filipendulum subsp. amaniens and C. heynei , these traits are strongly correlated with other morphological and cytological characters. The results highlight the taxonomic significance of the seed morphological features in the investigated species of Chlorophytum , and their phenetic interrelationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]