taxonID	type	description	language	source
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	materials_examined	Type: ― INDIA. Tamil Nadu: Tirunelveli District, Courtallum hills, August 1835, Wight 1835. 553 (lectotype E [barcode E 00001507, image], designated by Klackenberg (1985: 66); isolectotypes E [barcode E 00001508, image], NY [barcode NY 00297601, image]).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	description	Perennial herbs, to 30 cm tall; low, bushy, dichotomously branched from the base (older plants occasionally diffuse). Stem terete at the base, sharply 4 - angular at medio-distal portion; young branches 4 - lineolate; internodes 4 – 45 mm long. Leaves opposite, sessile, orbicular (when young) to lanceolate, 10 – 45 × 7 – 23 mm, succulent, glabrous, green, base cuneate, stem-clasping, margin scarious, apex acute to obtuse, (1 –) 3 – 5 veined, secondary veins diverging from base of the lamina, abaxially prominent. Inflorescence terminal, 5 - flowered cyme, rarely solitary from terminal axis; peduncles 15 – 20 mm long; pedicels 8 – 15 mm long, slightly enlarging in fruit (10 – 20 mm), straight. Calyx 5 - lobed; tube about half the length of the calyx, campanulate, 3 – 4 mm long; lobes 6 – 7 mm long, overlapping at the base in fruit, tapering to a long point at the apex, winged; wings ca. 2 mm broad, rounded or in fruit subcordate at the base, accrescent in fruit with prominent veins. Corolla tube ca. 6 mm long, green; lobes 5, obovate, 11 – 13 × 6 – 7 mm, obtuse to acute at apex, long persistent in fruit but eventually deciduous, blue to deep blue. Stamens 5, 8 – 9 mm long; filaments ca. 3 mm, as long as the anther, attached at the distal portion of the corolla throat; anthers bottle-shaped with a long narrow neck, ca. 6 mm long, base cordate, opening by apical pores that later widen to slits to the base, without papilla. Ovary oblong, ca. 5 mm long; style 10 – 12 mm long, curved; stigma capitate. Capsule oblong-ovate, ca. 7 × 3 mm, dehiscing septicidally, 2 - valved; fruiting pedicel straight; style persistent. Seeds many, irregularly rhomboid, angular, with shallowly sunken sides (Fig. 1).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	biology_ecology	Phenology: — Flowering and fruiting were observed from September to February. Chromosome number: — 2 n = 68 (Mallikarjuna et al. 1987)	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat: — Occurs in the rocky outcrops, mostly in high altitude grasslands in the southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: — INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli District, Courtallum hills, 1836, Wight 1836.552 (MH). Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram District, Ponmudi, ± 793 m, 7 December 2014, Geethakumary 83197 (TBGT); ibid., 18 October 2015, Geethakumary 84385 (TBGT); ibid., 12 January 2015, Geethakumary 84743 (TBGT); ibid., 7 December 2015, Deepu Sivadas 78878 (TBGT); ibid., 10 January 2016, Geethakumary 84794 (TBGT).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8EF16207EBFA99D8C4F7D1.taxon	discussion	Note: — The specimen NY 00297601 is likely to be the material studied by Arnott as this material reached NY from Arnott’s collection.	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — INDIA. Travancore, 1873, Beddome s. n. (lectotype MH [barcode MH 00002366], designated by Henry & Swaminathan (1983: 458); isolectotype K [barcode K 000759944]).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — INDIA. Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Bonacaud, s. d., M. Mohanan 63225 (holotype CAL n. v.; isotype MH n. v.).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	description	Herbs, 15 – 152 cm tall. Stems much branched, terete at the base, sharply 4 - angular above, young branches 4 - lineolate, internodes 10 – 95 mm. Leaves opposite, subsessile, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 15 – 88 × 5 – 20 mm, chartaceous, glabrous, green, base attenuate, petiolate, apex long acuminate, 3 – veined (midvein with one secondary vein on each side), tips recurved, veins diverging from the base of the lamina reaching to the apex prominent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary dichasial lax cymes, rarely solitary from terminal axis; peduncles 15 – 55 mm long; pedicels 6 – 25 mm long, enlarging in fruit (10 – 30 mm), bent towards one side. Calyx 5 - lobed; tube campanulate, 2 – 3 mm long; lobes 5 – 7 mm long acuminate at apex, winged; wings 2 – 3 mm broad, wings narrowing at the apex, abruptly narrowing to base, accrescent in fruit, with prominent veins. Corolla tube 3 - 4 mm long, green; lobes 5, broadly obovate-oblong, 8 – 11 × 5 – 12 mm, subacute at apex, long persistent in fruit with prominent nerves but eventually deciduous, blue towards purplish. Stamens 5, 6.5 – 9.5 mm long; filaments ca. 4 mm long, attached at distal portion of the corolla tube; anthers bottle-shaped with long narrow neck, 5 – 5.5 mm long, slightly curved with the convex back face, base cordate, opening by apical pores that later widen to slits to the base, without papilla. Ovary ellipsoid, ca. 4 mm long; style 9 – 10 mm long, curved, persistent; stigma capitate. Capsule ovoid, 6 – 9 × 3 – 4 mm, dehiscing septicidally, 2 - valved; style persistent. Seeds many, irregularly rhomboid, angular, with shallowly sunken sides (Fig. 2).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	discussion	Note: — We searched for the type specimens of Exacum courtallense var. boneccordense in both CAL and MH, and we were unable to locate them. However, for this study, specimens collected from the type locality matching the drawing in the protologue were used for logical conclusions.	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	biology_ecology	Phenology: — Flowering and fruiting were observed from July to December. Chromosome number: — 2 n = 68 (Mallikarjuna et al. 1987)	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat: — Occurs in the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This species has a wider distribution than E. courtallense and is recorded from many districts in Kerala.	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	conservation	Conservation status: — Based on the information from field surveys and herbarium data, the species is known from 13 subpopulations. Some of these subpopulations are under stress due to a decline in the quality of habitat. The species is annual, and it is observed to have undergone a reduction of over 50 % over a period of 10 years due to a decline in area of occupancy (AOO) and quality of habitat, as evident by the fact that some subpopulations seen in the past are currently not present. Some subpopulations occur along the trek paths and wall cuttings along the roads, which are subjected to annual clearing, posing a threat to these subpopulations. Based on the available population information, the AOO of the species is not expected to be greater than 500 km 2. Given the species has a low AOO, suffered population decline over the past, and the continuing threat due to the decline in habitat quality, the species is assessed as Endangered [EN A 2 ac; B 2 b (ii, iv, v)].	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
0397E93AFF8AF16607EBFF32DA0FF0DA.taxon	materials_examined	Specimens examined: — INDIA. Kerala, Ernakulam District, Bhoothathankettu, 22 September 2012, Geethakumary 70936 (TBGT). Idukki District, Kulamavu, 7 July 1984, C. N. Mohanan 82012 (MH); Thiruvananthapuram District, Travancore hills, 26 December 1821, R. H. Beddome s. n. (MH); Travancore, 1873, R. H. Beddome s. n. (MH); Neyyar Dam, K. Rajappan, s. n. (UCT); Forest near Bonaccord, 500 m, 1 October 1973, J. Joseph 44484 (MH); Bonaccord, 600 m, 22 March 1978, M. Mohanan 54736 (MH); ibid., + 575 m, 3 August 1978, M. Mohanan 58523 (MH); ibid., 700 m, 18 May 1991, N. Mohanan 10818 (TBGT); ibid., 30 October 1992, E S Santhoshkumar & M. A. Jabbar 14727 (TBGT); ibid., ± 600 m, Geethakumary 53681 (TBGT); ibid., 11 December 2014, Geethakumary 80885 (TBGT); ibid., + 700 m, 11 December 2014, Geethakumary 80885 (TBGT); ibid., 12 August 2011, Geethakumary 67929 (TBGT); ibid., 16 November 2011, Geethakumary 69883 (TBGT); Athirumala, 11 December 2014, Geethakumary 80887 (TBGT); ibid., 1100 m, 12 October 1988, N. Mohanan 4215 (CALI, TBGT); Meenmutty, 500 m, 6 November 1990, N. Mohanan 10147 (TBGT); Chemunji, 900 m, 5 February 1991, N. Mohanan 10325 (TBGT); Karamanayar, 700 m, 30 July 1991, N. Mohanan 10704 (TBGT); Near Karamana River, 660 m, 26 September 1995, C. S. K. & S. A. K. 24359 (TBGT); near Karamanayar, s. d., Geethakumary 63693 (TBGT); Agasthiyamala MPCA, 27 April 1994, N. Mohanan & T. Shaju 2055 (TBGT); Cement cana, 800 m, 14 August 2001, NWFP team 46630 (TBGT); Way to Koviltherimala, 16 November 2011, Geethakumary 69884 (TBGT); ibid., Geethakumary 69886 (TBGT); Chemunji, 16 November 2011, Geethakumary 69888 (TBGT). TAMILNADU: Kanyakumari District, Way to Muthukuzhivayal, ± 1000 m, 31 August 1976, A. N. Henry 48174 (MH); Thovazha hill, s. d., Narayana Iyer s. n. (TBGT); Tirunelveli District, Mahendragiri, 18 September 1916, s. coll. 13249 (MH).	en	Geethakumary, M. P., Deepu, S., Kissling, J., Pandurangan, A. G. (2022): Revisiting the taxonomy of Exacum courtallense (Gentianaceae) and recognizing E. courtallense var. laxiflorum at the species rank. Phytotaxa 559 (2): 185-192, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.2.7
