SK328JAN18-2017:ID

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Members,

Location: Kalinchowk, Dolakha, Nepal

Altitude: 11000 ft.

Date: 25 July 2014

Cynoglossum  ???

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[J.M. Garg]

Pl. Check comparative images at EFI.

[Saroj Kasaju]

Cynoglossum amabile Stapf & Drummond (accepted name)   ???

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[chrischa...@btinternet.com]

According to Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal, Cynoglossum amabile has been recorded from  Nepal but this is ONLY on the basis of

a specimen gathered by Bailey's collector from an unknown collector.  It was identified by Johnston the Boraginaceae specilalist but the Hara, who covered

Boraginaceae for the Enumeration considered this to be doubtful.  He gave its distribution as Bhutan, E.Tibet and W.China, ?Nepal.

Hara listed 4 species of Cynoglossum for Nepal.  There was no key provided and Cynoglossum is not an easy genus.  Sometimes mature fruits are needed to be certain of identification.

I note the suggestion of C.amabile is based on consulting entries for Cynoglossum in eFI but I wonder about some of these....  ANOTHER genus which requires examining more closely - though a DAUNTING task with many complications likely.  CANNOT be a priority.

Flora of Bhutan has a key for Cynoglossum but this requires either pressed specimens or possibly very good close-ups to reveal details of stem hairs, lower leaf hairs, diameter of corolla and nutlet details - which one CANNOT see in the images taken by Saroj.

Nevertheless, this work says C.amabile is close to C.furcatum Wall. (known as 'Bende Kuro' and 'Khirpatey' in Nepal which is a minor weed of crops, apparently very frequently misidentified as C.zeylanicum (Lehmann) Brand, which is a species of tropical India & Sri Lanka which does not reach the Himalaya.  I need to check how this name relates to C.zeylancium (Vahl) Thunb. ex Lehm.

R.R. Mill who covered Boraginaceae for 'Flora of Bhutan' Vol 2 Part 2 (1999) stated "Further investigation on the taxonomic status of these small-flowered plants is needed.

I think for the present, unless we have a Cynoglossum/ Boraginaceae specialist in the group who can "come to the rescue", best to just call the plant Cynoglossum sp.  Speculating too much as to what it MIGHT be will only lead to further confusion/mistakes.

In case members consider this UNSATISFACTORY, even at top herbaria such as Edinburgh, there can be specimens which DEFY naming even to genus or sometimes family.

I recollect on my last visit (decades ago) there was a box above a cabinet labelled "COME UP AND SEE ME SOME TIME" for such specimens which had defied the staff members....

SOMETIMES, either the photos posted do not provide sufficient detail or the genus is insufficiently known/studied to go beyond genus (unless someone with specialist knowledge is available).

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks,  Chadwell ji

[J.M. Garg]

May be close to Cynoglossum microglochin var. nervosum (Benth. ex C.B.Clarke) Y.J.Nasir as per comparative images at Cynoglossum

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With regards,
J.M.Garg

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[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Mr. Garg,

Enclosing list of Nepal for your reference please.

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[J.M. Garg]

I will go for Cynoglossum microglochin var. nervosum as per images and details herein. 

POWO gives distribution. 

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With regards,
J.M.Garg