ASTERACEAE Fortnight Part 2-Discoid heads: Pluchea lanceolata from Uttarakhand_DSR_8

[D.S Rawat]

Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke is a wild shrubby member in Asteraceae. It is rather rare in Pantnagar (located in one place) just yesterday (4^th June). Since I was unaware of the ID, dissected out it considering species of Vernonia but later determined it as P.lanceolata. Interestingly, two types of tubular florets exist in the head- outer slender female florets in few rows and central few robust bisexual florets (which despite of bisexual structures act as male). Slender achenes are produced only by outer female florets.

This species known as “Rasna” is an important medicinal plant.

DSRawat Pantnagar