Four in One: Phylogeny Unravels the Cryptic Lineages in <i>Jatropha heynei</i> , an Endemic Tuberous Geophyte From India

ABSTRACT Jatropha heynei has exhibited with morphological complexity due to overlapping macro‐morphological traits and widespread distribution across peninsular India. In this study, micro‐morphological analyses show a few prominent and consistent variations in the size and features of the calyx, corolla of the flowers, the shape, size, and exine ornamentation of pollens and surface architecture of the seeds despite their cryptic nature. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences strongly support the designation of the three new species, i.e., Jatropha livingstonii , J . narasimhanii , and J . umashaankerii . Jatropha narasimhanii forms a lineage, which is at the bottom of the entire Indian geophytes, comprising J . benghalensis , J . heynei , J . livingstonii , J. nana , J . maheshwarii , J . umashaankerii , and J . villosa. Jatropha livingstonii is nested between J . villosa and J . heynei . Jatropha umashaankerii forms a sister lineage with J. nana , which is found at the top of the tree. Recognition of the above species adds other endemic geophytes to the flora of Southern India. The geophytes of Jatropha are a great system to understand the underpinned evolutionary process with respect to biogeography, disjunct distribution, and the invasion of arid regions in the Deccan plateau.