A new tuberous species of Sonerila Roxb. (Melastomataceae) from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India

AbstractA new tuberous caulescent species, Sonerila malabarica is described from the dripping rocky habitats in Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. It is closely similar to Sonerila kanniyakumariana but differs in having a quadrangular, rarely branched, delicate stem with a subterranean tuber, setose nodes, four-angular peduncle and ribbed hypanthium.