''Brachystelma tumakurense'' is a species of

tuberous Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the dogbane family

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...

. It is found in

Tumakuru district Tumakuru District is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. It is the third largest district in Karnataka by land area with an area of 10,598 km2, and fourth largest by Population. It is a one-and-a-half-hour drive fro ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, for which it is named.

Description

''Brachystelma tumakurense'' is a perennial

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

. It has an unbranched, erect and delicate stem that grows up to a height of . The long and narrow leaves, which are curled such that they appear cylindrical, are about long and are separated by internodular spaces of . The stem is weak and sometimes bends under the weight of the leaves and flowers. The plant bears 3–6 drooping

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s. The flowers'

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

s are thread-like and measure about in length. Flower

bud In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be spec ...

s are about 5 mm long when mature. The flowers have five

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s, which measure in length, are green on the underside and

maroon Maroon ( US/ UK , Australia ) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word ''marron'', or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown". According to multiple dictionaries, there are var ...

above. Five hairy-looking

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s, each measuring long, are borne. The petals' lobes are light green; the bases are greenish, with maroon spots.

Phenology

The plant itself grows from May to August, after which it withers. The oblong underground tuber, which is edible, persists for up to a year. Flowers are borne from June to July, and fruits from August to September.

Taxonomy

''Brachystelma tumakurense'' was identified from a moist mixed forest in Tumakuru district, Karnataka, in 2017, when deficient rainfall caused grasses surrounding the plant to grow shorter than usual. The plant is named for Tumakuru district. ''Brachystelma tumakurense'' is closely related to ''B. bourneae'', ''B. maculatum'' and ''B. rangacharii''; the plants all have oblong tubers, erect stems, long and narrow leaves, and bear 3–6 flowers. ''B. tumakurense'' is differentiated from the other three species by having green petals spotted with

—the other plants have differently-coloured flowers.

Distribution and habitat

''Brachystelma tumakurense'' is known only from the locality from where it was first described—

Devarayanadurga Devarayanadurga is a temple town and hill station located in the district of Tumakuru in the state of Karnataka in India. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and t ...

in Karnataka's Tumakuru district. It is found growing among

grasses Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns and ...

in moist mixed forests.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q108150065 tumakurense Endemic flora of India (region) Plants described in 2021