Aeschynanthus basarensis: A new species from Arunachal Pradesh state, India

Aeschynanthus basarensis, from Arunachal Pradesh, India, is described and illustrated as a new species. It morphologically resembles Aeschynanthus micranthus in having sessile inflorescences, but differs due to the elliptic-lanceolate leaves, 3–4 cm long vs. narrowly ovate to elliptic, 5–10 cm long; calyx lobes linear-lanceolate vs. narrowly triangular to elliptic; corolla 2–2.2 vs. 2.5–3.5 cm long; style 4–4.2 vs. 0.5–1 cm long. It also appears to be morphologically similar to Aeschynanthus buxifolius, but differs in having leaves 3–4 vs. 0.7–2 cm long; bracts 1.5–2 vs. 3–4.5 mm; corolla lobes round, 2–2.5 mm vs. ovate to oblong, 3.2–3.5 mm; staminodes absent vs. present; style 4–4.2 vs. 0.65–1.5 cm long. This species is narrowly confined to the Lepa-Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh, in a small population comprising about 20–25 mature individuals in two localities Lep area of Soi Village. The threat status of this new species is provisionally assessed here as “Critically Endangered CRB2ab (III); D)” following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 16 (2024).