Pedicularis punctata from Gulmarg Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Pedicularis punctata Decne., Voy. Inde 4: 117 1843.

The species is quite distinct from other Himalayan species in its alternate leaves with 4-6 pairs of ovate-oblong toothed leaflets, flowers purple-pink with white lower half of lobes and galea, corolla tube 2-3 times the calyx, galea twisted, beak upcurved and exserted, lower lip of corolla 12-16 mm broad; 4 calyx lobes foliaceous, the 5th very small; plant  erect or ascending, 5-40 cm tall. 

The plant is very Common in Gulmarg meadow in Kashmir, forming bright-purplish-pink carpets. Photographed from Gulmarg, Kashmir in July. 

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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Balkar Arya]

Beautifull!!! Sir

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Regards

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