Jasminum angustifolium

Jasminum angustifolium (L.) Wild. var. angustifolium (Oleaceae), is reported here as an addition to the flora of West Bengal from natural habitats. Detailed morphology with field photographs are provided here to facilitate the correct taxon identification.

Jasminum angustifolium var. angustifolium can be easily distinguished from J. angustifolium var. hirsutum P.S.Green by the absence of domatia on abaxial surface of leaf; indistinct leaf venation on both surface; presence of linear, puberulent (on inner side) to sparsely ciliate calyx with filiform, thin, and comparatively larger (4-10 mm) sepals; minutely puberulent (not tomentose) young branches and glabrous matured stem (Table 1).
J.a. var. angustifolium and J.a. var. sessiliflorum (Vahl) P.S.Green are slightly close to each other, and both are devoid of domatia on vein axils and hairs on the matured stem. J.a. var. angustifolium is distinct from J.a. var. sessiliflorum by the presence of comparatively larger leaf size; minute puberulence on adaxial midvein and petiole; calyx lobes sparsely ciliate, calyx non-ribbed, fruiting sepals shorter than fruit; flower bud with pinkish tinge at apex; pedunculate inflorescence and ellipsoidal fruit (Table 1).

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There have been no reports of the natural distribution of these three varieties in West Bengal. During the literature survey and herbarium consultation, we found one herbarium specimen (CAL0000031068) of J. sessiliflorum (now accepted as J.a. var. sessiliflorum) at CAL, which was a cultivated specimen from HBC (now AJC Bose Botanical Garden, West Bengal). The species is distributed mainly in the Eastern and Western Ghats of India. The natural distribution of J.a. var. hirsutum is recorded in India (Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka. J.a. var. sessiliflorum is reported from India (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka.
Phenology: Flowering starts in November and continues till December. Fruit development begins in January and can be found up to July. Natural distribution: India (Andaman, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and now from West Bengal), Sri Lanka; growing on the floor of the sub-tropical and tropical forest. Figure 1 shows the distribution of the taxon in India.
Notes: At each location, two─four individuals of J. angustifolium (L.) Willd. var. angustifolium were found growing in association with Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Mikania micrantha Kunth in the marginal part of partially shaded Sal and Teak forest of Lataguri, Chapramari to Gorumara, West Bengal. According to our sample characteristics, observation of different herbarium sheets and relevant literature, a taxonomic key was prepared for the three closely related varieties of J. angustifolium. These key characters will be helpful for the identification of the plant up to varietal rank: www.threatenedtaxa.org The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservation globally by publishing peer-reviewed articles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All articles published in JoTT are registered under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License unless otherwise mentioned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of articles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.