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An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The steno-endemic species of genus Decalepis are highly threatened by destructive wild harvesting. The medicinally important fleshy tuberous roots of Decalepis hamiltonii are traded as substitute, to meet the international market demand of Hemidesmus indicus. In addition, the tuberous roots of all three species of Decalepis possess similar exudates and texture, which challenges the ability of conventional techniques alone to perform accurate species authentication. This study was undertaken to generate DNA barcodes that could be utilized in monitoring and curtailing the illegal trade of these endangered species. The DNA barcode reference library was developed in BOLD database platform for candidate barcodes rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, ITS and ITS2. The average intra-specific variations (0–0.27%) were less than the distance to nearest neighbour (0.4–11.67%) with matK and ITS. Anchoring the coding region rbcL in multigene tiered approach, the combination rbcL + matK + ITS yielded 100% species resolution, using the least number of loci combinations either with PAUP or BLOG methods to support a character-based approach. Species-specific SNP position (230 bp) in the matK region that is characteristic of D. hamiltonii could be used to design specific assays, enhancing its applicability for direct use in CITES enforcement for distinguishing it from H. indicus.

Bauhinia bassacensis var. nicobarica Tiwari U.L., K. Ravikumar & N. Balachandran, var. nov. (Figs. 1 & 2) Differs from the typical variety in having exstipulate leaves, lobes of leaves obtuse at apex, bract rusty tomentose and ovate, bracteoles 2, lanceolate, rusty tomentose; fertile stamens always 2; filaments hairy, anther lobes brown. Type:��� INDIA. Great Nicobar Island: Near Army land, Campbell Bay, 20 February 2013, N- 71 o 2��� 2.9������, E 93 o 55��� 2.9������, 16 m ASL, K . Ravikumar, N. Balachandran and Umeshkumar Tiwari 115533 (holotype FRLH!; isotypes FRLH!, PBL!). Large, woody, climbers; tendrils coiled stout, glabrous; young branches rusty tomentose, mature grooved and lenticellate. Leaves exstipulate; petioles glabrescent, 2 7 cm long; lamina ovate-cordate, ca. 19 �� 13 cm, 9 13-nerved, bifid, down to 3.5 4.8 cm length with narrow sinus, apex of lobes obtuse, base cordate, upper surface glabrous, lower brownish tomentose to glabrescent, base of the lamina with two distinct glands expanding up to pulvinous base. Inflorescences lateral or terminal, many-flowered, racemes or panicles; peduncles rusty tomentose; pedicels ca. 3.5 cm long in flower and ca. 7 cm long in fruit; bracts ovate, rusty tomentose, ca. 0.5 mm long; bracteoles 2, lanceolate, inserted near the middle of the pedicels, rusty tomentose, 1���1.5 mm long. Buds ovoid, rusty tomentose, 4���6 mm long. Hypanthium c. 1 mm long. Calyx during anthesis splitting into 2 segments forming right angles with the pedicels, 5���7 mm long, sometime persistent with fruit. Petals 2 above and three below, pubescent, creamish with purplish-red veins prominent on both sides, blade deltoid, crumpled, subequal, narrowly ovate to suborbicular with undulate margin, ca. 6 �� 5 mm; claw 1.5���2 cm long, soft hairy. Stamens 9 (2 + 7); fertile stamens 2, staminodes absent sometime 1; filaments 1.2���1.6cm long, hairy; anthers 1���2 mm long, lobes brown; reduced stamens 7 in number, unequal, 3���9 mm long, filiform, white. Carpels densely brownish pilose, distinctly stalked, styles 6-8 mm, hairy with a small capitate stigma. Pods rusty tomentose, 8���13 �� 3���4 cm with persistent style, stalks c. 3 mm long; styles persistent in fruit. Seeds, 2���5, dark brown, flattened, oblong-orbicular, c. 1.5 �� 2 cm, smooth, glabrous. Flowering & Fruiting:��� From February to March. Distribution:��� India: Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Habitat:��� Liana in mixed semi-evergreen forests. Ecological status:��� About three individuals confined to an area of 1 km 2 were observed during field survey. Though it qualifies to be kept under Critically Endangered (CR) category, further studies and explorations in adjacent areas are required to ascertain its actual status. Etymology:��� The varietal epithet refers to the place of its collection. This new variety is allied to typical var. bassacensis and var. backeri, but differs from both markedly in having exstipulate leaves, lobes of leaves obtuse at apex, bract rusty tomentose and ovate, bracteoles 2, lanceolate, rusty tomentose; fertile stamens always 2; filaments hairy, anther lobes brown (see table 1)., Published as part of Tiwari, Umeshkumar, Ravikumar, Kaliamoorthy & Balachandran, Natesan, 2013, A new variety of Bauhinia bassacensis (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) from Great Nicobar Island, India, pp. 12-18 in Phytotaxa 149 (1) on pages 13-16, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.149.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5100421