Momordica renigera in Hooghly and Kamrup need attention

[surajit koley]

After several recent discussions on Momordica cochinchinensis & M. renigera (M. subangulata ssp. renigera), i thought i know the both plants very well. But, very recent find by myself in Hooghly and Karuna Sir in Kamrup give rise to new question - why apparently similar looking plants are showing different bract characters, on female flowers, on different individuals?

I searched a lot, last night.... this morning.... this evening, but failed to find any answer.

Momordica renigera with minute bract on female flower (as in FoC & http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/on-the-occurrence-distribution-and-taxonomy-of-momordica-subangulata-TdMZ63JlMt/6)

1. KAMRUP : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/indiantreepix/y4lsydu2b3s/JD0HpXj_crEJ
2. Hooghly : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/indiantreepix/xiq5VBXvGKU

Momordica renigera with conspicuous bract on female flower (could not find any literature)

1. KAMRUP : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/indiantreepix/321Mb80b-nU/qs0fHOSxQmMJ
2. Hooghly : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/indiantreepix/yF8IhDueTFc

One male plant : https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!topic/indiantreepix/tmmOgn82pgg

It is certain that none of the above is Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. Because, every literature i found describes having glands on petiole and/or leaf-blade, also on bracts; smooth lobed leaves; larger fruits.

The problem is i have only two literature related two taxonomical descriptions of M. renigera - 1) FoC and 2) 5 minutes free access to http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/on-the-occurrence-distribution-and-taxonomy-of-momordica-subangulata-TdMZ63JlMt/6.

The second document above gives an account of infraspecific variability; but that variability remains focused mainly on fruits.

Flora Indica or Bengal Plants doesn't throw any light on M. renigera.

Flora of British India, under M. dioica, does mention M. renigera having large woolly bract. But, it is not clear if the same can be found on both, male & female flowers.

I am attaching three more photos of another (my 4th collection of renigera series) plant, found in the wild, yesterday. Please, note, in this 4th individual -

• no conspicuous bract was present
• in addition to the three big darker spots/eyes there were two more smaller eyes at the base of remaining two petals

Thank you

Regards

[surajit koley]

Attaching fruit & seed pictures of this particular wild M. subangulata ssp. renigera.

It is to be noted -

• " (fruits) with soft dense echination and a few slightly broad based papillae arranged in rows and remnant ridges at the stalk...." as per document - http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/on-the-occurrence-distribution-and-taxonomy-of-momordica-subangulata-TdMZ63JlMt/6
• but, not "comparatively large fruits", as described in the above doc

Thank you

Regards