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\begin{document}

\title{A new Senecio (Asteraceae) from the Anjaneri Hills of Nashik, India}



\author[1]{Akanksha Jeswani}%
\author[2]{Shrirang Ramchandra Yadav}%
\author[1]{Manoj Lekhak}%
\affil[1]{Affiliation not available}%
\affil[2]{Shivaji University Kolhapur}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{May 24, 2024}


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\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{abstract}
A new species of Senecio L. (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), Senecio
anjanericus is described and illustrated from the Anjaneri Hills of
Nashik district, Maharashtra, India based on morphological and
cytogenetical studies. The species resembles Senecio bombayensis but
differs from it in small size of the ligules, presence of conspicuous
foliose supplementary bracts and dense indumentum on stem. The somatic
chromosome count was observed to be 2n=2x=20, with all the chromosomes
exhibiting median region centromeres. Detailed morphology, illustration
and karyotypic features of the new species are provided.%
\end{abstract}%



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\textbf{Introduction}

The genus \emph{Senecio} L. (Senecioneae: Asteraceae) is recognized for
its remarkable species richness, comprising approximately 1250 species
worldwide and exhibits a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, with its
primary centers of diversity found in southern Africa and south America
(Pelser et al. 2007). \emph{Senecio} exhibits a remarkable diversity in
life forms ranging from annual to perennial herbs, shrubs, vines, trees
or epiphytes and its ability to thrive across a wide range of habitats
(aquatic to desert, from low altitudes to alpine and from arctic regions
to tropical areas) (Dana et al. 2021). The genus can be identified with
a set of characters such as presence of truncate style-branches with
short hairs on stigma, stamens with ecaudate anther bases (obtuse or
rounded) and balusterform filament collar (Nordenstam 2007).

\emph{Senecio} is represented by 53 taxa (47 species and 6 varieties) in
India (Karthikeyan et al. 2020). Of these, 21 taxa are endemic to the
country (Singh et al. 2015). The distribution of \emph{Senecio} species
in India is predominantly confined to two major regions, the Himalayas
and the Western Ghats. The Anjaneri Hills, located in the northern
Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, are known for their rich floral
diversity (Auti et al. 2020). During botanical surveys conducted by the
authors in the Anjaneri Hills, a previously unidentified
\emph{Senecio}species was found. The plants resembled \emph{Senecio
bombayensis}N.P.Balakr., but further examination revealed significant
differences between the Anjaneri population and \emph{S. bombayensis} .
Accordingly, this population is described here as a new species.
Furthermore, cytogenetical differences between the new species and
\emph{S. bombayensis} are also discussed.

\textbf{Material and methods}

\emph{Taxonomy:} The morphological analysis and description of the newly
discovered species were made through examination of live specimens on
the field as well as in the laboratory. Herbarium specimens housed at
BLAT, BSI, CAL and MH were studied. Also, the specimens were compared
with the type specimens of closely related species in the virtual
herbaria (K and E). The acronyms of the herbaria consulted is as per
Index Herbariorum (http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/). Descriptions
were made following the terminology of Hickey and King (2001).

\emph{Cytogenetics:} Mitotic studies of the new species and \emph{S}
.\emph{bombayensis} were conducted on the root tips obtained from
germinating cypselae. Root tips were pre-treated with a saturated
solution of \emph{para} -Dicholorobenzene (\emph{p} DB) for 4--5 h at
7\selectlanguage{ngerman}±2\selectlanguage{english}. The roots tips were then hydrolysed in 1N HCl and squashed in 2\%
propionic orcein. Suitable plates from freshly prepared slides were
photographed with Leica DM 750 microscope with attached camera at 1000X
magnification. Five cells with well-spread metaphase chromosomes were
selected for karyotype analysis by using KaryoMeasure software (Mahmoudi
and Mirzaghaderi 2021). Karyological parameters, viz. 2\emph{n} , mean
chromosome length (MCL), total haploid chromosome length (THL), mean
centromeric asymmetry (M\textsubscript{CA}), coefficient of variation of
chromosome length (CV\textsubscript{CL}) and coefficient of variation of
centromeric index (CV\textsubscript{CI}) were used for karyotype
analysis. To generate chromosomes with secondary constriction in
Idiogram, single image was selected for measurement in Idiogram
generation option found in the side panel of software. Voucher specimens
were deposited in the Herbarium of Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK).

\textbf{Results}

\textbf{Taxonomic treatment}

\emph{Senecio anjanericus} \textbf{A.S.Jeswani, S.R.Yadav \& Lekhak sp.
nov. (Figs. 1--2)}

\textbf{Type:} India, Maharashtra, Nashik district, Anjaneri hills
(19\textsuperscript{o}55'.139'' N 73\textsuperscript{o}34'.381'' E),
1264 m, 8 Oct 2022, A.S.Jeswani, M.M.Lekhak and S.R.Yadav (holotype:
CAL, isotypes: BSI, SUK).

\textbf{Etymology:} The specific epithet is derived from Anjaneri Hills,
the type locality of the species.

\textbf{Diagnosis:} The new species is related to \emph{S.
bombayensis}but differs in the presence of dense woolly tomentose
indumentum observed specifically on the peduncles (vs puberulous to
pubescent peduncles in \emph{S. bombayensis} ); presence of distinct
foliose supplementary bracts with white tomentum beneath and arachnoid
hairs on the vein (vs absence of such bracts in \emph{S. bombayensis} );
small size of ligules ca. 3.5 x 1.5 mm (vs large ligule size ca. 11 x
3.5 mm). Other differences between the two species are provided in Table
1.

\textbf{Description} \textbf{:}Annual herbs up to 35 cm tall.
\emph{Stems} erect, striate with dense indumentum of arachnoid hairs,
much branched apically. \emph{Leaves}alternate, gradually smaller and
sessile apically otherwise petiolate, ovate to rhomboid, 1.2--4.5 x
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.
\emph{Capitulescence} terminal, paniculiform, axes densely woolly
white-tomentose. \emph{Capitula} radiate, pedunculate; peduncles 1--5 cm
long, densely white arachnoid-tomentose, ebracteolate. \emph{Foliose
supplementary bracts} ca. 5--10, lanceolate, 0.5--1.7 x 0.2--0.5 cm,
puberulous above, woolly tomentose beneath, central vein with a row of
hairs. \emph{Involucre} campanulate, 0.5--1.2 cm in diameter; phyllaries
ca. 20--22, linear-lanceolate, 0.5--0.7 cm x 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. \emph{Ray
florets} 10--13, usually sterile; corolla yellow, limb somewhat oblong,
3.5--4 x 1.5 mm, 3--4 veined, 2--3 denticulate, tube ca. 1 mm long,
hairy at mouth. \emph{Disc florets}70--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 x 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. \emph{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.

\textbf{Phenology:} Flowering season is from August to September;
fruiting October.

\textbf{Distribution:} To date, \emph{S.} \emph{anjanericus} is only
known from the type locality; Anjaneri Hills, Nashik district in
northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.

\textbf{Habitat:} It grows on the slopes and tops of hills. Common
associates are \emph{Pinda concanensis} (Dalzell) P.K.Mukh. \&
Constance, \emph{Pogostemon deccanensis} (Panigrahi) Press
and\emph{Smithia purpurea} Hook.

\textbf{Conservation status:} \emph{S.} \emph{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).

\textbf{Cytogenetical analysis}

\emph{S. anjanericus} and \emph{S. bombayensis} exhibited the somatic
count of 2\emph{n} =20 chromosomes. The former species had chromosomes
with median region centromeres (10m) whereas in the latter nine pair had
median region centromeres (9m) and one pair a sub-median centromere
region (1sm). The karyotype was bimodal in both the species. Of the 10
pairs, two pairs were conspicuously larger than the remaining eight
pairs. The first pair was characterized by the presence of a secondary
constriction (Figs. 3--4). In \emph{S. anjanericus} the secondary
constriction was on the short arm whereas in \emph{S. bombayensis} it
was on the long arm. Comparative karyotypes of both the species are
given in Table 2.

\textbf{Discussion}

\emph{Taxonomy:} The new species shares similarities with those
classified under the genus \emph{Madaractis} DC. Candolle (1838)
initially identified four species (\emph{M. glabra} DC., \emph{M.
pinnatifida} DC., \emph{M. polycephala} DC., \emph{M. scabra} DC.) in
this genus. Clarke (1876) considered it as a subgenus and included a
total of 17 species. Among them, \emph{S. bombayensis} (Syn. \emph{S.
reticulatus} C.B.Clarke) was the only species included under
subsection\emph{Sub-paleata} of section 1 (members of peninsular India).
The subsection is characterised by the presence of sub-paleaceous nature
of pappus which was also observed in \emph{S. anjanericus} . Other
members of the section found in Maharashtra are \emph{S. belgaumensis}
(Wight) C.B.Clarke, \emph{S. dalzellii} C.B.Clarke and \emph{S.
edgeworthii}Hook.f. (Syn. \emph{S. tomentosus} (Wight) C.B.Clarke).
These members are further characterized by lax corymbs, uniseriate
involucre, ray florets epappose, cypselae of ray florets sometimes
abortive, anthers ecaudate, and pappus rigid and scabrid. Hooker (1881)
mentioned two more species (both occurring in Maharashtra), \emph{S.
hewrensis} (Dalzell) Hook.f. and \emph{S. gibsonii} Hook.f. under
section \emph{Madaractis} .\emph{S. anjanericus} falls under this
section; however, none of the above-mentioned species show supplementary
bracts in addition to uniseriate involucre that sets \emph{S.
anjanericus} apart from the other species of the group.

\emph{Cytogenetics:} Cytological information for \emph{Senecio} is very
scarce in India, covering about 40\% of the total species. Within the
section \emph{Madaractis} (DC.) Hook.f., four species have had their
chromosome numbers identified previously: \emph{S. bombayensis}
(Syn.\emph{S. grahamii} Hook.f.), \emph{S. hewrensis} and \emph{S.
wightii}(DC.) Benth. ex C.B.Clarke (Syn. \emph{S. saxatilis} Wall.) have
a common chromosome number 2\emph{n} =20 (Gupta and Gill 1979, Gosavi
et al. 2020) while \emph{S. dalzellii} with \emph{n} =20 (Matthew and
Matthew 1988). Additionally, the karyotypic formula for \emph{S.
hewrensis} is reported as 10m (Gosavi et al. 2020) and for \emph{S.
wightii} , it is 9m+1sm (Matthew and Matthew 1988). Based on the
available information, it is observed that the species of the section
have a base number \emph{x} =10. \emph{S. anjanericus} , with a
chromosome number of 2\emph{n} =20 and a karyotype formula of 10m,
appears to have a close relationship with the other members of group.

Karyotype of \emph{S. bombayensis} was more asymmetric than \emph{S.
anjanericus} . Also, bimodality was more conspicuous in \emph{S.
bombayensis} with the value of ratio of the longest to shortest
chromosome of a complement (R) 2.46 in contrast to 1.74 in \emph{S.
anjanericus} . The higher values of M\textsubscript{CA} (10.43) and
CV\textsubscript{CL} (31.94) in \emph{S. bombayensis} indicated
variation in chromosome type and heterogeneity in chromosome length of
the complement. This is also reflected in the karyotype formula of the
species, i.e. 9m+1sm and the range in chromosome length, 3.42 -- 1.39
\selectlanguage{greek}µ\selectlanguage{english}m. High CV\textsubscript{CI} (12.60) in \emph{S. bombayensis} than
\emph{S. anjanericus} (2.75) reflects the shift of centromere from
median to sub-median position. Additionally, the secondary constriction
in\emph{S. anjanericus} was located on the short arm whereas in \emph{S.
bombayensis} it was on the long arm.

\textbf{Conflict of interest:} The authors declare that they have no
conflict of interest.

\textbf{Significance statement:} The significance of this study lies in
expanding our understanding of genus \emph{Senecio} in Maharashtra and
its position. The detailed morphological and cytogenetic analyses
provide essential data for further research on the evolutionary
relationships and ecological roles of \emph{Senecio} species in the
Western Ghats, emphasizing the importance of the Anjaneri Hills as a
rich biodiversity hotspot.

\textbf{Data archiving statement:} The data associated with this study,
the type and voucher specimens have been deposited in the Herbarium of
Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK). Access to this archived data can be
facilitated through appropriate channels, and researchers interested in
further examination or validation of the findings can contact the
corresponding author for access to the materials at SUK.

\textbf{References}

Auti, S. G., Kambale, S. S., Gosavi, K. V. C and Chandore, A. N. 2020.
Floristic diversity of Anjaneri Hills, Maharashtra, India. -- J. Threat.
Taxa. 12: 16295--16313.

Candolle, A.P. de. 1838. Prodromus systematis naturalis regni
vegetabilis, sive enumeratio contracta ordinum, generum, specierumque
plantarum huc usque cognitarum, juxta methodi naturalis normas digesta.
Vol. 6. Treuttel \& W\selectlanguage{ngerman}ürtz, Paris. pp. 439-440

Clarke, C.B. (1876\emph{)} Compositae Indicae, Descriptae et Secus
Genera Benthamii Ordinatae. W. Thacker \& Co., London. pp. 177--210.

Dana, E. D., Verloove F., Alves, P. and Heiden, G. 2021. \emph{Senecio
brasiliensis} (Spreng.) Less. (Asteraceae), another potentially invasive
alien species in Europe. -- Bioinvasions Rec. 10: 521--536.

Gosavi, K. V. C., Madhav, N. A. and Chandore, A. N. 2020.
Karyomorphology of Senecio hewrensis (Asteraceae): An Endemic Species
from India. Cytologia 85: 257--259.

Gupta, R. C. and Gill, B. S. 1979. In IOPB chromosome number reports
LXIV. Taxon 28: 391--408.

Hickey, M, and King, C. 2001. The Cambridge illustrated glossary of
botanical terms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hooker, J. D. (1881) \emph{Senecio} Linn. In: Hooker, J.D. (eds.) Flora
of British India. L.Reeve \& Co., London. pp. 338--356.

IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1. Second
edition. IUCN, Gland \& Cambridge.

Jeffrey, C., Halliday, P., Wilmot-Dear, M. and Jones, S.W. 1977. Generic
and sectional limits in \emph{Senecio} (Compositae): I, Progress report.
Kew Bull. 32: 47--67.

Karthikeyan, S., Sanjappa, M., Moorthy, S., Bhattacharjee, B., Dash,
S.S., Meena, S.L. and Mastakar, V.K. 2020. \emph{Senecio} . -- In: Mao,
A.A. and Dash, S.S. (eds.) Flowering Plants of India, An Annotated
Checklist (Dicotyledons). Vol. 1. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
pp. 786--790.

Mahmoudi, S. and Mirzaghaderi, G. 2021. Tools for Drawing Informative
Idiograms. BioRxiv.

Mathew, A. and Mathew, P. M. 1988. Cytological studies on the south
Indian Compositae. Glimpses Plant Res. 8: 1--177

Nordenstam, B. 2007. Tribe Senecioneae. -- In: Kadereit, J.W. \&
Jeffrey, C. (eds.), Flowering Plants. Eudictos. Asterales, Vol. 8 of
Kubitzki, J. (eds.), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants.
Springer, Berlin. pp. 208--241.

Pelser, P. B., Nordenstam, B., Kadereit, J. W. and Watson, L. E. (2007)
An ITS phylogeny of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and a new
delimitation of \emph{Senecio} L. Taxon 56: 1077--1104.

Singh, P., Karthigeyan, K., Lakshminarsimhan, P. and Dash, S. S. 2015.
Endemic vascular Plants of India. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
pp. 112--113.

\textbf{Legends}

\textbf{Figure 1.} Illustration of \emph{S. anjanericus} A. habit, B.
capitulum, C. \& D., involucral bracts, E. ray floret, F. disc floret,
G. stamen, H. style, I. cypsela

\textbf{Figure 2.} Morphology of \emph{S. anjanericus} and \emph{S.
bombayensis} A. habitat, B. habit, C. capitulescense, D. capitulum top
view, E. capitulum back view showing foliose supplementary bracts, I.
ray floret, K. disc floret, M. cypsela. \emph{S. bombayensis} F.
capitulescense, G. capitulum top view, H. capitulum back view, J. ray
floret, L. disc floret, N. cypsela

\textbf{Figure 3.} Mitotic metaphase chromosomes of
\emph{Senecio}species A. \emph{S} . \emph{anjanericus} B. \emph{S.
bombayensis.} Scale bars = 5 \selectlanguage{greek}µ\selectlanguage{english}m.

\textbf{Figure 4.} Idiograms of \emph{Senecio} species. A. \emph{S.
anjanericus} B. \emph{S. bombayensis} . Scale bars = 1 \selectlanguage{greek}µ\selectlanguage{english}m.

\textbf{Table 1.} Comparison of morphological features of \emph{S.
anjanericus} and \emph{S. bombayensis} .

\textbf{Table 2.} Comparative karyotypes of \emph{Senecio anjanericus}
and \emph{S. bombayensis} (THL = Total haploid length, MCL = Mean
chromosome length, M\textsubscript{CA} = Mean centromeric asymmetry,
CV\textsubscript{CL} = Coefficient of variation of chromosome length, R
= ratio of the longest to shortest chromosome of a complement,
CV\textsubscript{CI} = Coefficient of Variation of Centromeric Index).

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