MEMECYLON SAHYADRICA (MELASTOMATACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Memecylon sahyadrica Sivu, Ratheesh & N.S. Pradeep, a new species of Melastomataceae collected from an evergreen forest in the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It resembles M. sisparense Gamble, but mainly differs in having broadly ovate leaves with cordate base, obscure intra-marginal veins, inflorescence without peduncle, flowers with 9–12 mm long pedicels, campanulate calyx tube and broadly obovoid fruit.