Polycarpaea apetala (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Kerala (South-West India)

Polycarpaea apetala, a new species from the coarse soil area near the forest outskirts of Kottur forest area of Thiruvananthapuram District (Kerala, SW-India) is described and illustrated. P. apetala is morphologically similar to P. aurea from which it differs in the absence of petal and stipules (vs. present in P. aurea), oblong bracts (vs. ovate lanceolate, and seed surface architecture (ovoid with no striations vs. reniform with irregular striations).