Crinum andhricum Rasingam, Susmitha, J. Ranjana, P. Ranjithkumar & Parthiban, A. 2024, sp. nov.

Crinum andhricum Rasingam, Susmitha, J. Ranjana, P. Ranjithkumar & Parthiban, A. sp. nov. (Figs. 1 & 2). Diagnosis:— Crinum andhricum is closely related to C. amoenum and C. stracheyi but differs from the former species by its pedicelled flowers (vs. sessile or subsessile flowers in C. amoenum), 12–38 flowers per umbel (vs. 6–12 flowers per umbel in C. amoenum), oblanceolate perianth lobes (vs. linear-lanceolate in C. amoenum) and the latter species by its entire leaf margin (vs. denticulate in C. stracheyi), 12–38 flowers per umbel (vs. 12–15 flowers per umbel in C. stracheyi), filaments little above half the length of the perianth segments (vs. filaments as long as the perianth segments in C. stracheyi) and oblanceolate perianth lobes (vs. lanceolate in C. stracheyi). Type:— INDIA. Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Seetharamaraju district, Sapparla hills, near view point, 17.95137N 82.14564E, 1141 m of elevation, 15 April 2023, L. Rasingam et al. 013027 (holotype CAL!, Isotypes BSID!). Perennial, tall herbs, bulbous; bulb globose, 10–15 cm in diameter, outer tunics brownish-white, membranous. Leaves appear before flowering, 8–9 per bulb, broadly elliptic, gradually narrow to the apex, sheathing at the base of bulb, 30–42 × 6–6.5 cm, dark green, smooth, becoming pale brownish-yellow colour, glaucous on both sides, waxy, acute at apex, margins entire, smooth, old leaf sheaths forming a pseudo neck up to 2–4 cm long. Scape solitary, 70– 100 cm long, axillary, arising from the bulb near the base of leaves, stout, compressed, pale purple at the base, greenish at apex, glabrous, waxy, shiny. Flowers 12–38 per umbel, spathe 2, opposite, deltoid-lanceolate, 6.8–7.5 × 2.5–4.5 cm, pale green, acute at apex, papery, glabrous; pedicels green, thick, 1.5–3 × 0.3 cm, glabrous; bracts 10–15, linear, 4.5–7 × 0.3 cm, pale green, hyaline, glabrous. Perianth tube longer than the lobes, 9–13 × 0.4 cm, straight to slightly curved, green tinged, obtusely triangular; perianth 6-lobed, white, hypocrateriform, spreading, oblanceolate, 7.5–9.5 × 1–1.7 cm, narrowly acute at apex with a mucro, green tinged. Stamens 6, filaments adnate to the base of the perianth lobes, spreading, more than half the length of the perianth segments, 4.5–5 cm long, purple, glabrous, anthers dorsifixed, c. 1.3 cm long, versatile, crescent, grey when dry. Ovary oblong, thick, 1–1.5 × 0.5 cm, green, glabrous; style filiform, up to 15–20 cm long, overtopping the stamens, white in lower half, purple in upper half, glabrous without, stigma minute, papillate. Mature fruits and seeds not seen. Flowering & Fruiting:—April–June. Habitat:—Rare on open dry rocky crevices of dry deciduous forests. Etymology:—The species is named after the state of Andhra Pradesh, from where the species was collected and described. Additional specimens examined:— INDIA. Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Seetharamaraju district, Sapparla hills, near view point, 1141 m of elevation, 25 April 2024, P. Ranjithkumar & Parthiban, A 013452 (paratypes BSID!). Note:—The species is also related to Crinum woodrowii, a species endemic to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra by its oblanceolate perianth segments, but differs by its long perianth tube and short perianth lobes, whereas in C. woodrowii, the perianth tube is equal to the perianth lobes and neck is absent. Status assessment:— Crinum andhricum is known only from the type location, namely the Sapparla hills viewpoint, and is distributed throughout the entire hilltop with more than a thousand mature individuals. The location is an important tourist spot for its good view and is liable to anthropogenic pressure. Apart from human disturbances, the area is prone to forest fires and intense grazing. At present the species is assessed as Data Deficient (IUCN 2012). Further explorations are needed in nearby locations and similar habitats to determine the exact status of the species for an accurate evaluation.