A new species of Emilia Cass. (Asteraceae) from the Eastern Ghats of India with notes on ecosystem evaluation and conservation status

Emilia reddyi is described and illustrated as a new species from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India. It resembles Emilia scabra, Emilia javanica, and Emilia sonchifolia, but is distinct by the stem which is woody at the base, the strictly cauline leaves, and floral characters. A description, information on habitat, distribution, and phenology, and relevant taxonomic notes are provided. The landscape in which E. reddyi occurs was evaluated for the rate of deforestation and land cover changes to understand the anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem of the described species. Based on these data, the conservation status of the species was assessed.