A new Lagenandra species with two varieties from the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Field based taxonomic revisions play an important part in unfolding new species. During such a revision of Sri Lankan members of the genus Lagenandra, we encountered a new Lagenandra species; Lagenandra peradeniyae with two infraspecific taxa; L. peradeniyae var. peradeniyae and L. peradeniyae var. speciosa. The new species with its infraspecific taxa were studied in detail and compared with the morphology of the other species described in the genus and based on field collected data conservation assessments were performed. A detailed description for the new species and the infraspecific taxa is presented and, a key for the identification of the two varieties of Lagenandra peradeniyae is given for easy identification. With the newly described species, the number of endemic members of Sri Lankan species of Lagenandra rises to twelve and global to twenty. The two recognized infraspecific taxa would be the first below species level taxa described under the genus. According to the IUCN red data category guidelines, Lagenandra peradeniyae qualifies for Critically Endangered category under Criterion B1ab (iii, v) + B2ab (iii, v) and C2 (a) (i).