Founded in 1991 and published by the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT), Rheedea is an international peer-reviewed journal with four online and two print issues per year. The online issues will be published in March, June, September and December while the printed issues will be published in June and December. The journal is indexed by BIOSIS PREVIEWS and Biological Abstracts of Web of Science, SCOPUS, Indian Science Abstract by NISCAIR, Kew Records of Taxonomy Literature, Current Advances in Plant Science, Indian Citation Index and the latest UGC-CARE list Rheedea is a peer-reviewed journal named after the renowned Dutch botanist Hendrik van Rheede, known for his seminal work Hortus Malabaricus. ISSN: 2582-2438 (Online edition) ISSN: 0971-2313 (Print edition)
Journal of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy
Authored by Natesh S. Illustrations by Sagar Bhowmick. Published by Roli Books, Delhi, India. Hardbound. ISBN: 9789392130342. Pages 256. Price: (INR) 1995.00
Copyright (c) 2026 Rheedea https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Physalis cordata (Solanaceae): a new record for India
Physalis cordata Houst. ex Mill. (Solanaceae), a native of North and South America has been collected from North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, India in 2024 is reported here as an addition to the Flora of India. Morphological description, location map and a photo plate are provided here for its proper recognition.
Physalis, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, Invasive species, Native of Americas
Neotypification of the name Diplomeris pulchella (Orchidaceae)
Diplomeris pulchella D.Don (Orchidaceae) was described with an obscure indication of the type, referring only to a Wallich collection from Nepal. Subsequent searches for Wallich specimens from Nepal failed to locate any relevant material. However, a specimen of D. pulchella collected by Wallich from Sylhet, Bangladesh, is preserved at BM. It remains uncertain whether Don mistakenly cited the locality as “Nepalia” instead of Sylhet, or whether the BM specimen does not represent original material. As the BM specimen cannot be confidently confirmed as original material, it is here designated as the neotype.
Diplomeris pulchella, Nomenclature, Typification, Wallich
Typification of Candollean names in the tribe Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae)
Revisionary studies on the tribe Gnaphalieae of Asteraceae (subfam. Asteroideae) in southern India could identify many names attached to different collections at various herbaria, without precise original materials designated as types. Candollean names of Anaphalis notoniana DC., Helichrysum buddleioides DC., and Pseudognaphalium hypoleucum (DC.) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, have been typified following the latest botanical code.
Anaphalis, Helichrysum, Lectotype, Pseudognaphalium
Taxonomic reassessment of Impatiens verecunda (Balsaminaceae) and its synonymization with I. cordata in the Western Ghats, India
Historical records, such as those by J.D. Hooker and subsequent studies, have noted taxonomic complexities in Impatiens verecunda Hook.f. and its relationship with I. cordata Wight and I. anaimudica C.E.C.Fisch. Field surveys in Devikulam, Kerala, discovered specimens resembling I. verecunda, prompting detailed morphological comparisons with I. cordata and I. anaimudica. The plants exhibited similarities to I. cordata, differing only in habitat-driven traits like short stature and short floral spurs, confirmed the synonymization of I. verecunda under I. cordata. Conversely, I. anaimudica remains distinct due to its lenticelled stems, crimson flowers, and unique spur morphology. Further studies on I. cordata populations revealed variations in life history, habit, flower color, spur length, and floral morphology, influenced by environmental conditions. A revised description of I. cordata is presented to account for these variations and clarify its distinction from closely related taxa like I. elegans Bedd.
Anamalai hills, Devikulam, Idukki, Impatiens anaimudica, Kerala
Note on taxonomy and typification of Vigna hainiana Babu, Gopinathan & Sharma ( =Phaseolus wightii W. & A.)
Vigna hainiana Babu, Gopinathan & Sharma, collected from north-western and eastern parts of India, has been studied. Characters for differentiating this species have been delineated. The type indicated previously for V. hainiana was incorrect; Wall. L. n. 5591 is the lectotype for this species.
Book Review: Know Your Grass Genera Through Hand Lens
The Genus Ludwigia (Onagraceae) in India
The genus Ludwigia L. consists of seven species and one infraspecific taxon in India, of which L. decurrens forms the first report for India. This revision provides a key to species, descriptions and illustrations along with data on phenology, distribution and notes on ecology.
Solanum cordatum (Solanaceae) – A new record to Southern India
While preparing an inventory of flowering plants of the Kolli hills, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, Southern India, some specimens of Solanum L. were collected and identified as S. cordatum Forssk. On scrutiny of literature, it is revealed that this species is known only from Gujarat in India and forms a new record to Southern India. Hence, a detailed description, phenology and illustration are provided to facilitate easy identification of the species.
Syzygium claviflorum (Myrtaceae) – A new record for South India
Syzygium claviflorum (Roxb.) Wall. ex A.M. Cowan et Cowan, a Myrtaceous tree species is reported for the first time for South India from Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve of the southern Western Ghats. A brief description and illustration of the species are provided herewith for easy identification.
Rediscovery of Pogostemon nilagiricus (Lamiaceae), a steno-endemic and critically endangered aromatic species
Pogostemon nilagiricus Gamble (Lamiaceae) is rediscovered from Nilgiri hills, the type locality, after a gap of 97 years. A detailed description, photograph and note on its taxonomy are provided. Current threat status has also been assessed based on the recent botanical explorations.
Lakshmia Veldk. (Poaceae), A New Genus from the Western India and Sri Lanka
Andropogon venustus (Gramineae) from the Western India and Sri Lanka represents an undescribed genus. It is described.
Obituary: Prof. E. Govindarajalu (1925-1997)
Peristylus tentaculatus (Orchidaceae): A new record for India from the Western Ghats of Kerala
Peristylus tentaculatus (Lindl.) J.J. Sm. (Orchidaceae), an orchid native to China, is reported here for the first time from India. Detailed description, notes on distribution and photographs are provided for accurate identification.
Identity of Ficus amplocarpa and F. guttata (Moraceae), the two closely allied south Indian endemic species and their conservation status
Identity of two closely allied endemic Ficus species namely F. amplocarpa Govind. & Masil. and F. guttata (Wight) King from southern India are discussed here along with key, updated nomenclature, conservation status, and photographs. In addition, the placement of F. guttata in subgenus Synoecia, non-existence of F. laevis Blume in peninsular India and author attribution of F. guttata are clarified.
Lectotypifications in Flemingia (Leguminosae)
Flemingia fluminalis C.B. Clarke ex Prain, F. nana Roxb. ex W.T. Aiton, F. procumbens Roxb. and F. semialata Roxb. ex W.T. Aiton are lectotypified here.
Lectotypification of Cyperus blatteri and notes on its new synonym C. pentabracteatus (Cyperaceae)
The name Cyperus blatteri (McCann) Wad.Khan (= Mariscus blatteri McCann) is lectotypified and C. pentabracteatus Govind. & Hemadri is reduced here as a heterotypic synonym of C. blatteri.
Teramnus hookerianus, a heterotypic synonym of T. labialis (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae)
Teramnus hookerianus A. Sen is relegated here to a heterotypic synonym of T. labialis (L.f.) Spreng.
Obituary: Madhavan Parameswaran Nayar (27 January 1932–9 December 2016)
A report on XXVI Annual Conference of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT) and International Seminar on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Biodiversity
Linaria canadensis (Plantaginaceae): A new record for India
Linaria canadensis (L.) Dum.Cours., a species native to North America, is reported here as a new distributional record for India from Tamil Nadu. Detailed description and photographs are provided to facilitate accurate identification.
Additions to the orchid flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (Sm.) Lindl. and Dendrobium spatella Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae), so far known from Eastern Himalaya and northeast India are reported here as additions to the flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the first time. Brief descriptions with illustration and photographs are provided for correct identification.
Aristida stocksii and Dimeria bialata (Poaceae): New records to Eastern Ghats
Two grass species, Aristida stocksii (Hook.f.) Domin and Dimeria bialata C.E.C. Fisch., endemic to western parts of peninsular India are collected for the first time from Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. Descriptions, illustrations and microscopic images have been provided for both species.
Ceropegia ravikumariana (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae), a new species from the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India
Ceropegia ravikumariana Kambale & Gnanasek., is described here as a new species from the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu along with illustrations and colour photographs. Besides the taxonomic affinity and conservation status of the species are discussed.
The taxonomic identity of Jasminum matthewii (Oleaceae)
Jasminum matthewii P.S. Green has been treated here as a heterotypic synonym of J. angustifolium (L.) Willd. var. hirsutum P.S. Green. Further a taxonomic key to distinguish three varieties of J. angustifolium has been provided.
Note on the occurrence of Dunbaria punctata (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae), a little-known legume from the Western Ghats, India
Dunbaria punctata (Wight & Arn.) Benth., a slender leguminous twiner has recently been collected from Kerala after a lapse of over 150 years. In India, the species is mainly distributed in the northeastern states and is known by only two collections from peninsular India made during the mid-19th century. Detailed description, illustration and a key to species of Dunbaria in India are provided to facilitate identification.
Galearis tschiliensis (Orchidaceae): A new distribution record for the flora of India from Arunachal Pradesh
Galearis tschiliensis (Orchidaceae), previously considered endemic to China, is newly reported from the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh close to its borders with China and Myanmar. The species is very distinct from other species of the genus by its subactinomorphic perianth.
Occurrence of Vernonia anamallica (Asteraceae) in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats, India
Vernonia anamallica Bedd. ex Gamble was described based on the collection from the Anamalai hills, southern Western Ghats. This species was remained unknown until it was rediscovered after 92 years from the Rajamala hills and subsequently known by two more collections from Pettimudi and Konalar. A detailed description along with photographs is provided here for the first time based on our recent collection from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR), which also forms an extended distribution of this species.
Two new species of Brachystelma (Apocynaceae: Ceropegieae) from peninsular India
Two new species of Brachystelma, viz., B. gondiwanense and B. shrirangii are described here from the Gadchiroli and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra and Belgaum district of Karnataka, respectively with illustrations and photographs. Both the new species are similar to B. kolarense but B. gondwanense differs in having twisted corolla lobes and B. shrirangii in having thin and short stem.
Barleria durairajii (Acanthaceae): A new species from Tamil Nadu, India
Barleria durairajii (Acanthaceae), a new species allied to B. hochstetteri Nees and B. parviflora R. Br. ex T. Anderson, is described here along with colour photographs including micrographs of pollen grains, illustrations, comparison with its allied species, and IUCN conservation status from Tamil Nadu, India.