Taxonomical studies of Thespesia populnea (L.) soland ex correa and T. populneoides (Roxb.) kostel (Malvaceae)

The identity of Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland ex Correa, and T. populneoides (Roxb.) Kostel are often ambiguous, and considered as one species by majority of the Botanists. Moreover, the botanical description of T. populnea given in many recent floras is contradictory as it contains the description of T. populneoides also. Therefore, to resolve the taxonomic problem of these two species, present study was undertaken. The results revealed that both the species differ in leaf shape and nerves, petiole length, bracts and bracteoles, colour of the flower, length of stigma, shape and type of fruit, and seed structure. An indented dichotomous key was prepared for their easy identification.