Tolypanthus lunatus Rajasek. in J. Swamy Bot. Club 4: 1, ff. 1-2. 1987.

Branches when young densely vermilion-red stellate hairy, glabrous when old. Leaves alternate and opposite, sessile to subsessile, elliptic to ovate-orbicular, amplexicaule at base, undulate along margins, 3 - 6 x 2 - 4.5 cm, coriaceous, densely vermilion-red stellate hairy on both surfaces when young, glabrous when old; lateral nerves 3 or 4 pairs. Inflorescences usually ramiflorous (axillary); peduncle solitary, 3 - 5 mm long; flower buds 1.5 - 2 cm long, sparsely white stellate hairy. Calyculus 5-lobed. Petals united; tube 3 - 3.2 cm long, transversely ribbed; lobes 5, linear, 6 - 8 mm long. Stamens erect; filaments 1.5 - 2 mm long; anthers linear- oblong; thecae 2 pairs. Ovary subglobose or turbinate, 1 - 1.5 mm long, densely cinnamomeous stellate pubescent; style 4-gonous; stigma subglobose. Fruits not seen.

Fl. & Fr. Dec.

Distrib. India: Evergreen rain forests. Karnataka (Mysore).

Endemic.

Notes. Vessels with lateral wall perforations; fibres thick-walled, broad-lumened with reduced pits.

Pollen 3-lobed; P - 23 (24.9) 26 µm; E - 38 (41.6) 42 µm; P/E - 0.60 µm; ex. 2 µm; col. 1 µm.