Rubus dhauladharensis (Rosaceae), a New Species from Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Rubus dhauladharensis Chand. Gupta & Vik. Kumar (Rosaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Himachal Pradesh, India. It was collected from Palampur in the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range of the western Himalayas. It is assigned to Rubus subgenus Rubus because the drupelets detach together with the receptacle and no cavity is formed in the detached, usually black fruit. It morphologically resembles R. trichogynus and R. titanus but differs from them by having an eglandular plant body, less prickles on branches, stamens longer than pistils, and minutely hairy ovaries and torus. An identification key to Indian species in Rubus subgenus Rubus is provided.