Electrophoretic evidence for an undescribed species of Barleria L.

Allozyme data confirmed the existence of a new species of Barleria L., Barl eria sp. nov, aff. B. obtusa. The following loci displayed unique alleles i n at least one of the species studied: AAT-I *95, AAT-2 *50, AAT-3 *60, ACP *-110, EST *105, MDH-1 *95, MDH-2 *100, MNR-1 *100, MNR-2 *100, PEP-D2 *105 , PER-1 *60, PER-I *80, PGM *100 and SOD *-98. Four were unique for the new species: ACP*-110, EST *105, MNR-1 *100 and PER-1 *80. Genetic distance va lues between this species and B. bremekampii Obermeyer, B, heterotricha Lin dau and B. obtusa Nees ranged from 0.389 to 0.670. This compares favourably with values estimated for congeneric species. This was also confirmed by f ixation index values. In a dendrogram constructed using Nei's genetic dista nces, Barleria sp. nov. aff. B. obtusa and B. obtusa are grouped together a nd these species are more closely related to B. bremekampii than to B, hete rotricha We present a biochemical key to identify the species studied.