Flower for Id -ID27102016SH2

Shobha Halwe-Chavda

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Oct 27, 2016, 6:41:32 AM10/27/16

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Dear Friends,

Flower for Id pl.

Location - Cherrapunji

Date - 16.10.2016
Regards,

Shobha Chavda

Copy of Meghalaya 188.jpg

J.M. Garg

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Oct 27, 2016, 9:06:18 AM10/27/16

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Thanks, Shobha ji.

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lalithamba

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Oct 28, 2016, 12:50:43 AM10/28/16

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It is Melastoma species
regards

A.Lalithamba

On Thursday, 27 October 2016 18:36:18 UTC+5:30, JM Garg wrote:

Thanks, Shobha ji.

On 27 Oct 2016 4:11 pm, "Shobha Halwe-Chavda" <koa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Friends,
Flower for Id pl.
Location - Cherrapunji
Date - 16.10.2016
Regards,
Shobha Chavda

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chrischa...@btinternet.com

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Oct 28, 2016, 9:03:56 PM10/28/16

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I am in agreement that it is a Melastoma and not Osbeckia which is the commonest genus of the Melastomataceae encountered along the Himalaya -

there is a line drawing of O.stellata in 'Flora Simlensis' showing the stamens all similar 8-10 which helps to distinguish the genus from Melastoma which has stamens of two kinds; 5-7 longer with purple anthers & 2 yellow swellings plus 5-7 shorter with yellow anthers. This characteristic is difficult to see in the single image not in close-up from Cherrapunji. Other differences include the feathery-haired calyces which can be seen or at look sufficiently different to those of the main Osbeckias from the region.

In 'Flowers of the Himalaya' it says there are two species of this genus in the Himalaya. 'Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal' lists M.malabathricum and M.normale - with the former species recorded from Tropical Himalayan foothills around 200m. Whereas the latter 900-1800m.

As does 'Flora of Bhutan' - though the differences in the key are minimal.

But it comes as no surprise to find that M.normale has been relegated to a synonym of Melstoma malabathricum.

I think I probably saw this ten years ago during my only visit to the Meghalaya a decade ago (I was hugely disappointed that it did not rain when I was there) close to wonderful Nohkalikai Falls.

It thus

chrischa...@btinternet.com

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Oct 28, 2016, 9:10:50 PM10/28/16

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I hope it was understood that I considered the specimen to be Melastoma melabathricum - I have minimal knowledge of the local

flora in this region. There appears to only be this species now?

I see this would be the first image for this group from Meghalaya.

On Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 11:41:32 AM UTC+1, Shobha Halwe-Chavda wrote:

J.M. Garg

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Oct 31, 2016, 12:19:32 PM10/31/16

to chrischa...@btinternet.com, efloraofindia

Thanks, Chadwell ji.

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Shobha Halwe-Chavda

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Nov 1, 2016, 9:38:20 AM11/1/16

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Thanks, Chadwell ji and Lalithamba.

Is this also a Rhododendron variety ?

Regards,

Shobha

J.M. Garg

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Nov 1, 2016, 10:14:28 AM11/1/16

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No, Shobha ji

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C CHADWELL

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Nov 1, 2016, 9:32:11 PM11/1/16

to Shobha Halwe-Chavda, efloraofindia

Sorry, I am confused. Which plant/images are you asking about?

Best Wishes,

Chris Chadwell

81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK

www.shpa.org.uk

From: Shobha Halwe-Chavda <koa...@gmail.com>
To: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 November 2016, 13:38
Subject: [efloraofindia:255328] Re: Flower for Id -ID27102016SH2

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girish kumar ellezhuthil

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Nov 2, 2016, 2:40:16 AM11/2/16

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looks like Osbeckia cupularis....

Shobha Halwe-Chavda

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Nov 2, 2016, 4:42:31 AM11/2/16

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Mr.Chris,
It's the same thread in discussion- the pink flower "copy of Meghalaya 188' posted.I read on Google that Melastoma melabathricum is also known as Indian Rhododendron hence asked the question.
Regards,
Shobha

C CHADWELL

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Nov 2, 2016, 9:25:06 AM11/2/16

to girish kumar ellezhuthil, efloraofindia

Dear Girish

I am confused by this suggestion. Do you mean the flower named as a Melastoma?

If not, kindly send images I can view.

Osbeckia cupularis is currently not an accepted name. Do you have links to

up-to-date references?

It is within 'Flora of British India' as a species from S.India/Sri Lanka only with dark purple

or whitish flowers.

Best Wishes,

Chris Chadwell

81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK

www.shpa.org.uk

From: girish kumar ellezhuthil <giri...@gmail.com>
To: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 6:40
Subject: [efloraofindia:255426] Re: Flower for Id -ID27102016SH2

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C CHADWELL

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Nov 2, 2016, 9:46:56 AM11/2/16

to Shobha Halwe-Chavda, efloraofindia

Thanks for information. I understand now.

It illustrates the problems (and often confusion) caused by common names which are applied

differently in different regions of a country or parts of the world.

My understanding of 'Rhododendron' is a plant belonging to a genus within the Ericaceae family.

Whereas 'Melastoma' belongs to the Melastomataceae family - which are not similar, so as a botanist

this common name seems incorrect to me.

In the UK, the common name "bluebells" is used in England for a completely different plant, belonging to

a totally different family compared to its use in Scotland.

I recently read the paragraph in 'Supplement to Flowers of the Himalaya' by Stainton about the use of Latin

names despite the indisputable fact that it is the only universally valid (and accepted) way of referring to

a plant.

I fully endorse this as I can communicate with botanists is Japan, Russia, Norway or wherever who have minimal

English using Latin names.

Anyhow, the main point is that Stainton stated that when describing Himalayan flora English names can be applied

only where the species also occurs in Britain or where it is so well-known as to have acquired an English name even

though it does not grow there.

After publication of 'Flowers of the Himalaya' some regrets were expressed that no vernacular names

had been included. The difficulty being that more than one language is involved, not only Hindi and Nepali, but also the various Tibetan dialects, the Nepali caste languages, Kashmiri and doubtless other variants as well. And even among speakers of the same language the name used for a plant may well differ from one area to another. To have included vernacular names in the text would therefore have been a task to tax the skills of a trained philologist!

Definitely, the inclusion of as many local names in addition to the Latin names (which are troubling enough with so many changes)

is valuable and informative for efloraofIndia, hopefully helping to engage with more people.

I regularly lecture about my travels in the Himalaya (telling them it is Himalaya and not Himalayas) to clubs and societies interested in garden plants. Many struggle with Latin names so I used common names as well when they exist but it is essential to use the Latin ones.

Best Wishes,

Chris Chadwell

81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK

www.shpa.org.uk

From: Shobha Halwe-Chavda <koa...@gmail.com>
To: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>

Cc: koa...@gmail.com; chrischa...@btinternet.com
Sent: Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 8:42
Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:255328] Re: Flower for Id -ID27102016SH2

Shobha Halwe-Chavda

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Nov 3, 2016, 7:07:12 AM11/3/16

to C CHADWELL, efloraofindia

Thanks Mr.Chris.

Regards,

Shobha

To: efloraofindia <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>
Cc: koa...@gmail.com; chrischadwell261@btinternet.com

J.M. Garg

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Jan 21, 2018, 1:04:30 AM1/21/18

to efloraofindia, shobha chavda, girish kumar ellezhuthil

I think this should be Osbeckia stellata as per keys and images herein.

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With regards,
J.M.Garg

'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna'

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