Momordica Janarthanamii (Cucurbitaceae); A Remarkable New Species From Northern Western Ghats, India

Momordica janarthanamii, a new species L., is described and illustrated from northern Western Ghats, India. The new species is closely related to Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. Colored photographs, economical value, ecological note and distribution of the new species are provided. A key for the dioecious species of Momordica from India has also been provided to facilitate identication.


Introduction
Momordica L. is one of the largest genera of the Cucurbitaceae and distributed throughout tropics of the old world (Mabberley 2017). Schaefer and Renner (2010) reported 59 species while Mabberley (2017) reported 45 species in the genus. In Asia, Momordica is represented by 12 taxa, among them 6 species, one subspecies and one variety are reported from India (Bharathi and Joseph 2013).
Momordica is diversi ed by having annual to tuberous perennial and monoecious to dioecious in habit. Phylogenetically monoecious group of the genus has evolved from dioecious species (Schaefer and Renner 2010). Recently karyomorphological and molecular work of Indian Momordica carried out by Ghosh et al. (2020). Many species of the genus are well known for their use as fruit vegetable; however, only Momordicacharantia L. is widely cultivated for its edible and medicinal properties. In India, along with wild occurrence almost all 8 taxa are locally cultivated.  Bharathi and Joseph 2013) it was found that, species is closely related to Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd., which is distributed in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka but differs in many remarkable characters (Table.1). After examination of a type specimen of Momordicadioica (660 597 housed in BR) and aforesaid literature including protologue of M.dioica (Willdenow 1805) it is con rmed that, it's an interesting undescribed species of the genus Momordica. Therefore, it is described and illustrated here as a Momordicajanarthanamii Gosavi, Gholave Madhav & Kambale.

Materials And Methods
The specimens of Momordica were collected from Karanjali ghat (Kumbharbari), Nashik in July 2020. The morphological characters were studied under Leica EZ4 Stereo Zoom microscope. Diagnostic characters of the unknown species were compared with protologue and type specimens of its closely related species i.e. M. dioica. Photographs in the eld and different parts of the plants were taken by using M50 Canon camera. The Type specimens have been deposited at BSI, CAL and SUK herbaria.

Diagnosis
Momordicajanarthanamii is closely related to M. dioica but differs in buds of male owers not subtended in bract (vs. subtended in bract), bracts of male owers orbicular, 0.4-0.5 cm long, not covers pedicel and glandular along margins (vs. reniform, cucullate, up to 1 cm long, covers pedicel and eglandular along margins), bracts of female owers ovate and glandular along margins (vs. cucullate and eglandular), sepals of female owers 10-12 mm long, linear elliptic to ensiform, glandular along margins and acute at apex (vs. 3-6 mm long, elliptic to oblong, eglandular along margins and mucronulate at apex), seeds hexagonal in shape and 7-9 mm long (vs. round to slightly ovoid in shape and 2-3 mm across).
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting-July to August. Distribution: India: Maharashtra: Nashik district. Economic value: Fruits of the species are used as vegetable by localites. The unripe fruits are also sold in local markets.
Ecological note:Momordicajanarthanamii is commonly grows from foothills to almost top of Karanjali ghat and also at hills of Tryambakeshwar in Nashik districts. Thus, there is need to explore the species to estimate its IUCN status. At present it is considered here as Data De cient (DD, IUCN, 2019). The species is commonly found on shrubby species and bushes like Carissacarandas L., Strobilanthescallosa (Nees) Bremek, Capparissepiaria L., Lantanacamara L. and Tectonagrandis L.f. Etymology: The speci c epithet is in honor of Prof. Malapati Kuppuswamy Janarthanam, Department of Botany, Goa University for his valuable voluminous contribution in the eld of angiosperm taxonomy and conservation of the rare and endemic species of Western Ghats, India.

Discussion And Conclusion
Presently, Momordica is represented by seven species, one subspecies and one variety in India. The new species described herein can also be utilized as a new crop. After screening for its nutritious properties and food value it will be useful in the breeding programmes to improve the cultivated species of Momordica.