Gardenia duerrii (Gardenieae : Rubiaceae), a new species from India and a note on Gardenia resinifera Roth

Gardenia duerrii sp. nov. is described and illustrated from regions of the Central Peninsular Plateau, India. The new species resembles Gardenia resinifera Roth in habit, flowers and stipules, but can be distinguished by its apical bud, leaf texture, venation, and the nature of the calyx and fruit. The new species is found under the canopy of dry deciduous forests in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The allied species Gardenia resinifera had long been misidentified; however, the designation of a neotype by Turner in 2021 clarified its identity, thereby facilitating an accurate identification. We provide illustrations and colour photographs of both species to aid in understanding.