Strobilanthes spicata T. Anderson 1867

Strobilanthes spicata T. Anderson (1867: 484). Lectotype (designated here): INDIA. Meghalaya, above

Nunklow, Khasia Hills, Sept. 18 [C.J.] Simons 429 (CAL0000019669!). Figure 6A.

Strobilanthes phyllocaulos C.B. Clarke (1884: 464). synon. nov. Lectotype (designated here): INDIA Meghalaya, Mofling, J. D. Hooker & T. Thomson 1987 (K!)

Pteracanthus phyllocaulos (C.B. Clarke) Bremekamp (1944: 200).

Clarke (1884) described this species under the name Strobilanthes phyllocaulos as he had not seen the material of Strobilanthes spicata at CAL. He cited two syntypes for S. phyllocaulos, collections by himself and Hooker and Thomson, of which we have selected Hooker and Thompson 1987 as lectotype as it is the most complete material Clarke had available when preparing the protogue. There are two syntypes of the earlier species, S. spicata at CAL and the one labelled Simons 429 is here selected as the lectotype.

Strobilanthes spicata is apparently endemic to the Khasi hills of Meghalaya but is not easily separated from S. forrestii Diels from China. Both have a bent corolla, pubescent on the exterior and a calyx in which one lobe in fruit is noticeably longer than the others. However, they are probably best maintained as distinct species as they are geographically separated and the leaves of Indian S. spicata are very shortly petiolate, more or less tomentose and serrate whereas those of S. forrestii are sessile, merely pilose and often subentire or weakly dentate. These differences, however, are not very substantial. A photograph is provided to facilitate comparison between these two species (Figure 6B).