Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 November 2025 | 17(11): 27997–28000

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9884.17.11.27997-28000

#9884 | Received 28 April 2025 | Final received 01 November 2025 | Finally accepted 13 November 2025

 

 

Bonnaya gracilis a novel find for the flora of Uttarakhand, India

 

Monal R. Jadhav 1 , Revan Y. Chaudhari 2   & Tanveer A. Khan 3         

 

1,2 Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, India.

3 Department of Botany, H.J. Thim College of Arts and Science, Mehrun, Jalgaon, Maharashtra 425003, India.

1 monaljadhav2017@gmail.com, 2 revanchaudhari2220@gmail.com (corresponding author) 3 tanveerkhan04@gmail.com

 

 

Editor: Afroz Alam, Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan, India.          Date of publication: 26 November 2025 (online & print)

 

Citation: Jadhav, M.R., R.Y. Chaudhari & T.A. Khan (2025). Bonnaya gracilis a novel find for the flora of Uttarakhand, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(11): 27997–28000. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9884.17.11.27997-28000

  

Copyright: © Jadhav et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: Self-funded.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Aaratrik Pal, Taxonomy of Angiosperms and Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, West Bengal for their help with identification of the species. Thanks, are also due to the principal, H.J. Thim College, Jalgaon, for providing laboratory and library facilities.

 

 

Abstract: Bonnaya gracilis was transferred from the genus Torenia to the genus Bonnaya in 2021. The species resembles B. antipoda but can be distinguished by the presence of dense yellow hairy staminodes and long vertical fruiting pedicels. This species only occurs in Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India. In India distribution of this species is not very clear hence this paper reports Bonnaya gracilis from Uttarakhand along with their description, images and location map.

 

Keywords: Doon valley, forest ecosystems, Linderniaceae, new record, semi-aquatic, shallow water, staminodes, swamps, torenia.

 

 

The word valley refers to low-laying area between two mountain ranges formed by the movement of tectonic plates. Valleys harbour high biological diversity and act as drainage systems for all water sources originated in hills. Doon valley, Uttarakhand is a longitudinal expansion of 75 km in length (east to west) and 22–25 km wide (north to south). Geographically Doon Valley lies at 30.362° N, 77.991° E and covers an area of more than 2000 km2. Valley harbours two main perennial rivers of India, i.e., Yamuna in the west & Ganga in the east (including their tributaries and subtributaries) forming a watershed, creating moist habitat all along the valley. Wetlands of Doon Valley are extensively studied since 1901, recognizing their unique ecosystems, species structure, composition, lifeform diversity, and fragile nature (Kanjilal 1901; Dakshini (1960a,b); Deva & Aswal 1974; Sharma & Joshi 2008; Mir et al. 2018).

The taxonomic complexities within family Linderniaceae Borsch, Kai Müll. & Eb. Fisch. had garnered global attention. However, recent advancements have solidified its taxonomy, defining diagnostic features for every genus. One such complexity has recently been solved where Pal et al. (2021) had transferred Torenia gracilis Benth. to the genus Bonnaya Link & Otto as Bonnaya gracilis as a new species. B. gracilis shows prominent characteristic features of genus Bonnaya, i.e., deeply-lobed calyx, two clavate staminodes, linear cylindrical capsules twice as long as calyx, hence, this transfer was very justified. Genus Bonnaya Link & Otto is among the four largest genera within the family, which was previously suggested to be circumscribed under the genus Lindernia sensu lato, currently consisting of 17 species globally and in India represented by nine species (POWO 2024; Garg et al. 2020). The genus is divided into two sections, i.e., section Bonnaya noted by Lax racemes and section Aculeata noted by capitate inflorescences (Liang & Wang 2014).

In India, three similar looking species—Bonnaya antipoda (L.) Druce, Bonnaya gracilis A.Pal, Sardesai & M.Chowdhury, and Bonnaya sanpabloensis Y.S.Liang & J.C.Wang are found. All these three species can be identified on field by observing staminodes which are either subglabrous or densely hairy with yellow/ red/purple hairs or with densely white pilose hairs respectively. B. antipoda has wide distribution in country (present in most of the states), B. gracilis is reported from parts of southern, central, northern, and northeastern India and B. sanpabloensis is so far only reported from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra by Sardesai et al. (2019).

 

Materials & Methods

During a local field around the fringe areas of Ashkrodi Range Forest Dehradun, Uttarakhand authors spotted an interesting plant belonging to family Linderniaceae, growing in shallow water pools formed during monsoon season. For further identification some specimens were collected, and after consultation of literature (Hooker 1884; Gaur 1999; Pennell 1943; Liang & Wang 2014; Pal et al. 2021) the specimen was identified as Bonnaya gracilis, a species described in 2021. This paper marks the first distributional record of this species from northern India (Uttarakhand). A few specimens were dried following the standard methods of herbarium preparations (Rao & Sharma 1990) and been deposited in the Herbarium of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun.  

 

Taxonomic Description

Bonnaya gracilis A.Pal, Sardesai & M.Chowdhury in Nordic Journal of Botany 39(8) 1–7. 2021.

(Image I)

Erect annual herbs, 25–30 cm long. Stem four angled, with lax branches, ascending or diffused, glabrous occasionally, rooting at lower nodes. Leaves simple, opposite decussate, sessile, oblong obovate to elliptical, acute, glabrous on both surfaces, margins serrate with 6–15 pairs of teeth, pinnately veined; secondary veins 9–12 pairs. Inflorescence terminal or axillary lax racemes. Flower about 8–10 in racemes, each with a subtending linear bract about 3–5mm long, pedicels ascending in flowers 5–14 mm and almost vertical in fruits 12–22 mm. Calyx is five-lobed, persistent,5–8 mm long with apex acuminate-acute. Corolla, bilipped, 10–12mm long, ventral lip of the corolla has three rounded lobes (3–3.8 x 3.1–3.9 mm) while the dorsal lip has an obtuse apex or is bilobed (4.1–5.1 x 2–3 mm); pale blue to pale purple coloured, white specks at the base of the central lobe. Stamens 2, epipetalous, pale blue to pale purple, 1.3–2.1 mm long, anthers 1.3–1.7 mm long; Staminodes 2, filaments 1.5–2 mm long light blue to pale purple, anther 1.1–1.7 mm long, Staminodes 2 about 6 mm long clavate with upper half brightly yellow coloured, lower half white coloured covered with dense pilose hairs. Ovary cylindrical about 2.3 X 0.5, with 5.1–5.5 mm long style. Yellow disc is adherent to ovary on ventral side. Fruit capsule about 2 mm long slightly shorter than pedicels and 2–3 times longer than the calyx. Seeds numerous tiny angular, brownish scrobiculate, with stellate projections and scattered mesh about 0.2–0.5 X 0.2–0.3 mm.

Flowering and Fruiting: June to December.

Habitat and Ecology: Semi-aquatic plant in shallow water pools formed during the monsoon season found with Acorus calamus L., Bonnaya ciliata (Colsm.) Spreng., Bonnaya antipoda (L.) Druce, Lobelia alsinoides Lam., Paspalum scrobiculatum L., Torenia anagallis (Burm.f.) Wannan, W.R.Barker & Y.S.Liang, Torenia crustacea (L.) Cham. & Schltdl.

Distribution: Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India (Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Puducherry, West Bengal; Pal et al. 2021, and Assam; Roy et al. 2024) now from Uttarakhand.

Specimens examined:  India: Uttarakhand, Dehradun, Elevation 610m, 13.vii.2024, 30.275o N & 77.972o E, Revan Yogesh Chaudhari 14967. India: Uttarakhand, Dehradun, Elevation 610m, 13.vii.2024, 30.275o N & 77.972o E, Monal Rajendra Jadhav.

 

Discussion

Uttarakhand has been extensively explored for its botanical diversity. During our field visits in the Doon Valley, we frequently observed B. antipoda and B. gracilis growing together. This close association may explain why earlier researchers found it difficult to distinguish between the two species in the field. Without careful and detailed observation, it is challenging to recognize them, indicating a sympatric relationship between the two. Swampy habitats of valley  are also home to this species, but these landscapes are under continuous threat of habitat degradation and encroachment posing potential threat to this species. Family Linderniaceae Borsch, Kai Müll. & Eb.Fisch in the state is represented by six genera and 17 species [Bonnaya Link & Otto (03 spp.), Craterostigma Hochst. (02 spp.), Lindernia All. (03 spp.), Torenia L. (07 spp.), Vandellia L. (01 spp.), and Yamazakia W.R.Barker, Y.S.Liang & Wannan (01 sp.)] (Uniyal et al. 2007), with an addition of one species to the list.

 

Table 1. A comparative analysis of Bonnaya gracilis A.Pal, Sardesai & M.Chowdhury with other closely related species Bonnaya antipoda (L.) Druce.

Diagnostic characters

Bonnaya gracilis

Bonnaya antipoda

Leaves

Margin serrate with 6–15 pairs of teeth.

Margin serrate with 5–12 pairs of teeth

Inflorescence

Always axillary or terminal lax racemes with 4–12 flowers.

Solitary axillary and terminal racemes with 5–10 flowers

Staminodes

Staminodes covered with dense yellow, red hairs

Staminodes, glabrous

Pedicel

 

12–20 mm in fruiting, almost vertical.  

5–12 mm almost half the size of B. gracilis in fruiting, ascending.

 

Distribution

 Found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India only.

Found across Asia and Africa to the New World including Venezuela, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mauritius.

 

For figure & image - - click here for full PDF

 

References

 

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