2026, Issue-3, Volume 18

HUMBOLDTIA NAIRIANA (FABACEAE-DETARIOIDEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM KERALA, INDIA

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Santhosh Kumar E.S.*, Sabu T. and Shareef S.M.

Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Palode, Karimancode P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695562, Kerala, INDIA

Email: santhoshkumares@gmail.com

Received-25.02.2026, Revised-14.03.2026, Accepted-28.03.2026

Abstract: A new species of the genus Humboldtia (Fabaceae-Detarioideae), from Kerala (SW India), is described here with photographs.  It is closely allied to Humboldtia ponmudiana, but differs in possessing warty bark; a creamy-white blaze; angled, glabrous branchlets; distinctly shorter, sparsely hairy, isometric stipules and appendages; relatively long petiolules; entire leaf margins; fewer lateral nerves, obscurely looped near the margins; flowers borne on long, axillary or lateral, erect racemes; larger flowers with comparatively long pedicels; glandular bracts and bracteoles; hairy styles; and elliptic-oblong fruits with a shorter beak.A detailed description, ecology and a key to the species for the identification of the genus is also provided.

Keywords: Humboldtia, Fabales, Kerala, Eudicots, South West India, Taxonomy

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