Cochlospermum palakondense (Bixaceae), a New Species from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

Cochlospermum palakondense A.M. Reddy, C. Nagendra & K. Prasad sp. nova (Bixaceae) is described from the dry deciduous forests of the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is morphologically similar to C. religiosum, but differs from it by several characters, such as hairy vs. glabrous adaxial surface of mature leaves, rounded vs. acuminate to acute bract apices, elliptic vs. deltate or oblong staminal pore, densely white woolly vs. glabrous ovary, and white-tomentose vs. glabrous capsules. Based on direct threats to the species, its conservation status is assessed to be Critically Endangered.