Table. Comparison of the diagnostic morphological characters of Eriocaulon meenachilense sp. nov., E. idukkianum and E. tuberiferum in ERIOCAULON MEENACHILENSE, A NEW TUBEROUS SPECIES OF ERIOCAULACEAE FROM THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Table. Comparison of the diagnostic morphological characters of Eriocaulon meenachilense sp. nov., E. idukkianum and E. tuberiferum CharacterE. meenachilenseE. idukkianumE. tuberiferumRootstockAbsentPresentAbsentRoot tubers2 or 3, hairySingle, glabrous2–15, hairyLeavesLinear-subulate, up to 3.5 cm long, 0.2 cm broadLinear-oblong, up to 7 cm long, 0.4 cm broadLinear-lanceolate, up to 5 cm long, 0.5 cm broadPeduncleSolitary, 6-angled, up to 20 cm long1–9, 4-angled, up to 26 cm long1–3, 4-angled, up to 10 cm longSheathUp to 3 cm longUp to 6 cm longUp to 6 cm longHeadsAbout 6 mm across, whiteAbout 10 mm across, whiteAbout 9 mm across, black or greyReceptacleGlabrousPiloseGlabrousInvolucral bractsInflexed, up to 1.5 mm longReflexed, up to 3.5 mm longReflexed, 2.5 mm longMale sepalsFreeFreeSpathaceously fused except at the extreme tipMale and female petalsEglandularWith black glandWith black glandAnthersYellowWhiteWhiteSeedsYellow, appendages absentBrown, appendages absentPurple, cells of seed coat transversely elongated with ribbon-like bands