Arisaema attenuatum E.Barnes & C.E.C.Fisch. (1936:275)
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Conservation Status
Rediscovered (fide Kumar, 2015:68, but see below)
According to Kumar (2015:68), the species was considered possibly extinct by (Shetty & Vivekananthan, 1991), but it was treated as a synonym of A. leschenaultii by (Gusman & Gusman, 2006). It has recently been considered a valid species by (Manudev et al., 2019) who reject the synonymy of (Gusman & Gusman, 2006). Manudev et al. (2019) examined two collections from 26 June 1973 (Anamalai hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu) and 27 July 1982 (Devikulam, Idukki district, Kerala) before a temporal hiatus in dates of collection of material they examined until a collection dated 23 May 2011. Shelty & Vivekananthan (1991) may not have been aware of these two post-1936 collections from diferent localities, and with Kumar (2015:68) reporting the rediscovery of the species based upon botanical work done in the last c.15 years which probably relates to the material examined by Manudev et al. (2019) from the Idukki district between 2011-2016, he may not have been aware of them either. Although Manudev et al. (2019:125) state that there are multiple specimens in the Calcutta herbarium frrom Tamil Nadu without mentioning the collection date/s.
Whether the species really was rediscovered depends upon whether there was knowledge of the 1973 and 1982 collections (including whether the species was considered valid at the time), and if so, whether there was reason to suspect the species may have become extinct in the meantime (weakly supported by the temporal gap in material until 2011; viz. Manudev et al., 2019).
Distribution
Kerala & Tamil Nadu, India
Anatomy & Morphology
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Original scientific description:
Fischer, C. E. C. (1936). New or little known plants from South India: VII. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1936: 274-278.
Other references:
Gusman, G. and Gusman, L. (2006). The genus Arisaema – A monograph for botanists and nature lovers, Second revised and enlarged edition. Ruggell: A.R.G. Gantner Verlag.
Henry, A. N., Vivekananthan, K. and Nair, N. C. (1978). Rare and Threatened Flowering Plants of South India. The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75: 684-697 [696].
Kumar, K. Kishore. (2015). A checklist to the vascular flora of Anamudi Shola National Park, Munnar, Idukki district, Kerala. Scientia 11(1): 51-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2019.29.2.01
Manudev, K. M., Arunkumar, P.G. and Nampy, Santhosh. (2019). Taxonomic revision of Arisaema (Araceae) sect. Sinarisaema in India. Rheedea 29(2): 119-173.
Manudev, K. M. and Nampy, S. (2014). Arisaema madhuanum, a new species of Araceae from India. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 71(2): 269-273. [automatic download]
Nair, K. K. N and Basha, S. C. (1995). Centres in Kerala rich in endemic angiosperms as potential sites for biodiversity preservation. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 19(3): 719-733.
Rao, C. Kameswara, Geetha, B. L. and Suresh, Geetha. (2003). Red List of Threatened Vascular Plant Species in India: Compiled from the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. ENVIS Centre on Floral Diversity, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. xxiv + 144 pp. [automatic download]
Shetty, B. V. and Vivekananthan, K. (1991). The endemic and endangered plants of the High Range, Idukki district, Kerala, pp. 135-154. In: Karunakaran, C. K. et al. (ed.). Proc. Symp. Rare Endangered and Endemic plants of Western Ghats. Kerala Forest Dept., Thiruvananthapuram.