Abstract

 A new species of Lepidagathis from the lateritic plateau  of Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, is described and illustrated as Lepidagathis ananthapuramensis sp. nov. The new species resembles L.keralensis but differs in having erect habit, hairy stem, roots borne only on the basal root stock , hairy veins of leaves, early blooming period, one-sided purplish brown long inflorescence,14–30 flowers per spike, four ovules in the ovary and 1–4 seeded capsule.