<i>Lepidagathis kurnoolensis</i> (Acanthaceae: Acanthoideae: Barlerieae): a new species from the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Lepidagathis kurnoolensis sp. nov. is a decumbent, woody undershrub found in scrub forests among quartzite rocks near the Orvakal Mandal of the Kurnool District. This new species resembles Lepidagathis diffusa C.B.Clarke with respect to habit, leaf shape, spike appearance, sterile bracts shape, corolla, calyx lobes, and fruits shape, but can be distinguished by differences in stem, leaf texture, leaf apex, spike size, morphology and number of sterile bracts, size and shape of bracts, nature of seed, and anatomy of stem. It also resembles Lepidagathis spinosa Wight ex Nees in spike appearance, sterile bract shape, corolla, and fruit shape but differs in its wood nature, leaf shape and size, bracts and bracteoles surface nature, seed morphology and anatomy of stem. A detailed description, illustrations, and field images are provided for easy identification along with a comparative table highlighting differences in morphological characters of allied species. The IUCN conservation assessment for this species is discussed.