Senecio anjanericus A.S.Jeswani, S.R.Yadav & Lekhak sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2)
Type: India, Maharashtra, Nashik district, Anjaneri hills (19o55’.139” N 73o34’.381” E), 1264 m, 8 Oct 2022, A.S.Jeswani, M.M.Lekhak and S.R.Yadav (holotype: CAL, isotypes: BSI, SUK).
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from Anjaneri Hills, the type locality of the species.
Diagnosis: The new species is related to S. bombayensisbut differs in the presence of dense woolly tomentose indumentum observed specifically on the peduncles (vs puberulous to pubescent peduncles in S. bombayensis ); presence of distinct foliose supplementary bracts with white tomentum beneath and arachnoid hairs on the vein (vs absence of such bracts in S. bombayensis ); small size of ligules ca. 3.5 × 1.5 mm (vs large ligule size ca. 11 × 3.5 mm). Other differences between the two species are provided in Table 1.
Description :Annual herbs up to 35 cm tall. Stems erect, striate with dense indumentum of arachnoid hairs, much branched apically. Leavesalternate, gradually smaller and sessile apically otherwise petiolate, ovate to rhomboid, 1.2–4.5 × 0.5–3.5 cm, apex acute, base decurrent, margin irregularly dentate with acute teeth adaxial surface scaberulous, abaxial surface densely white tomentose between the veins, arachnoid hair on the veins, reticulately veined; petioles 1–4 cm long, often auriculate at the base. Capitulescence terminal, paniculiform, axes densely woolly white-tomentose. Capitula radiate, pedunculate; peduncles 1–5 cm long, densely white arachnoid-tomentose, ebracteolate. Foliose supplementary bracts ca. 5–10, lanceolate, 0.5–1.7 × 0.2–0.5 cm, puberulous above, woolly tomentose beneath, central vein with a row of hairs. Involucre campanulate, 0.5–1.2 cm in diameter; phyllaries ca. 20–22, linear-lanceolate, 0.5–0.7 cm × 0.2–0.4 mm with narrow scarious margins, apex caudate-acuminate, abaxial surface with a row of hairs on central vein; receptacles alveolate and glabrous. Ray florets 10–13, usually sterile; corolla yellow, limb somewhat oblong, 3.5–4 × 1.5 mm, 3–4 veined, 2–3 denticulate, tube ca. 1 mm long, hairy at mouth. Disc florets70–100 in number, ca. 5 mm long, hermaphrodite, corolla yellow, tubular, 5-lobed, glabrous, tube ca. 1.2 mm long, limb campanulate, only slightly broader than tube, throat ca. 1.3 mm long, lobes broadly triangular, bulging outside at tip, 0.5–1 mm long, base ca. 0.2 mm wide; anther 1 mm × 0.2 mm, ecaudate, connective appendage oblong; style ca. 3 mm long, stylopodium slightly swollen, glabrous, style branches 0.5 mm long, truncate, fringed with short papillae. Cypselae ca. 3.5 mm long, 10-costate, setose; setae emerging from costae; pappus ca. 4 mm long, bristles many, unequal, scabrid, paleaceous, copious in disc florets, absent in ray florets.
Phenology: Flowering season is from August to September; fruiting October.
Distribution: To date, S. anjanericus is only known from the type locality; Anjaneri Hills, Nashik district in northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
Habitat: It grows on the slopes and tops of hills. Common associates are Pinda concanensis (Dalzell) P.K.Mukh. & Constance, Pogostemon deccanensis (Panigrahi) Press andSmithia purpurea Hook.
Conservation status: S. anjanericus was found in Anjaneri hills, Maharashtra, India. The Anjaneri Hill is designated as a Reserved Forest (RF), and a conservation committee has been established to protect endemic plants on the plateau (Auti et al. 2020). The presence of this conservation committee has prevented any disruption from human activities and currently appears to be growing well. The precise count and dimensions of the populations are not adequately determined. However, according to our observation, the population is within very small geographical range. We currently classify this new species as DD (Data Deficient) based on the IUCN Red List classifications (IUCN 2012).