Crossandra nilotica and Crossandra infundibuliformis

[Neha Singh]

Dear all,
               Here are the pics of both : Crossandra infundibuliformis and  Crossandra nilotica for comparison.

Regards
Neha

[Dinesh Valke]

... an observation: there is no much discussion on internet about Crossandra nilotica having naturalized OR growing wild in India.
NPGS/GRIN puts its nativity to tropical (central and eastern) Africa.

Is it found anywhere else in our country?

Regards.
Dinesh

[Dinesh Valke]

Neha ji ... in my haste of query ... ... many many thanks for showing both the plants together.
Regards.
Dinesh

[Neha Singh]

Dinesh Sir you are welcome .

Also you are right and because of this fact that " there is no much discussion on internet about Crossandra nilotica having naturalized OR growing wild in India "", I couldn't identify it then .( I referred FOI but it is not there ).
  
By chance I found it's reference somewhere and identified it.
I found it growing by roadside among debris and wild plants in Warje, Pune.
I dunno what to make of it..whether it is getting naturalized here or it's just one exception.

So it's up to the experts here to judge all this.

Regards
Neha Singh
 
    

[Balkar Arya]

Thanks Neha ji for Information and showing both species

--
Regards

Dr Balkar Singh
Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology
Arya P G College, Panipat
Haryana-132103
09416262964

[J.M. Garg]

For the link below I have a query about identification and distribution of plant species:
https://groups.google.com/g/indiantreepix/c/x0zwrpaem8A

There is no record of cultivation/plantation/introduction of Crossandra nilotica Oliv. from Indian subcontinent as per KEW, and COL (Catalogue of Life) databases, and I am not sure about identification of this species on eFloraofIndia (misidentified).

But Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees which is native to India has been used as a significant species for floriculture varieties consisting various habits, leaves and flowers sizes and colours.

ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has produced 5 varieties from this species as:

1. Arka Chenna (Medium Orange Flowers)
2. Arka Kanaka (Large Orange Flowers)
3. Arka Ambara (Large Orange Red Flowers)
4. Arka Shravya (Orange Red Flowers)
5. Arka Shreeya (Big Orange Red Flowers)

Similarly other varieties like:

1. Delhi cultivar Triploid - Bright Deep Orange flowers
2. Orange Tetraploid - Bright Orange flowers
3. Lutea Tetraploid - Bright Orange Yellow flowers
4. Sebaculis Red Tetraploid - Hardy Red flowers

According to a report Shri Vengadapathi Reddiar a Padma Shri awardee and a proficient personality in the field of horticulture has developed more than 100 new varieties of Crossandra infundibuliformis by induced mutation and cross-pollination.

Kind regards,
Varun