<i>Sabdariffa pudukkottaiensis</i> S. Soosairaj (Malvaceae), a New Species From the Scrub Forest of Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT A new species of Sabdariffa from the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India, is described here. The proposed new species is morphologically allied to S. mastersianus (Hiern) Mwachala &amp; R.L. Barrett; however, it differs in having prickles on the stem, petiole, and peduncle. It is also allied to S. radiata (Cav.) R.L. Barrett &amp; M.N. Hanes in the presence of prickles, bifurcate epicalyx, and ovate calyx. But the new species differs in having a peduncle up to 40 mm and articulating just below the epicalyx (vs. up to 13 mm, articulating at base), staminal column &lt; 18 mm and pubescent (vs. staminal column &gt; 20 mm and glabrous), stipule &gt; 10 mm long and ciliate along the margin (vs. stipule &lt; 10 mm and entire margin). Sabdariffa pudukkottaiensis differs from H. furcata (Willd.) M.M. Hanes &amp; R.L. Barrett have a longer peduncle at fruiting stage (vs. peduncle &lt; 20 mm long in capsule), hispid below the articulation (vs. glabrous below the articulation), and calyx lobes tomentose towards the apex on both the surface (vs. calyx lobes with simple bristles without). An identification key to Sabdariffa of India is provided.