ROTALA BAILEYANA SP.NOV. (LYTHRACEAE) FROM KERALA, INDIA

Rotala baileyana, a new species of Lythraceae, collected from temporary pools on lateritic hills in Kasaragod district of Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It is similar to R. tulunadensis but differs by its annual habit, oblong-obovate submerged leaves with entire margin; oblong-obovate aerial leaves with retuse apex and clasping base; 2-6 mm pedicels, absence of bract; triangular-falcate bracteole; presence of nectory gland in the joining of calyx lobes, calyx tube wing with a constriction and projection below the lobes, elliptic-oblong petals with retuse apex; red anther lobes with broad connective.