Rubus niveus var. pauciflorus from Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Rubus niveus var. pauciflorus from Kashmir, very common at lower altitudes, often along fences and among shrubs and trees. Photographed from Shankeracharya hill on June 22 and Mohra near Uri on June 24, 2010.

--
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/

[tanay bose]

Sir Ji can you kindly tell me the taxonomic character for this particular variety of Rubus niveus.

Tanay

--
Tanay Bose
Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant
Department of Botany
University of British Columbia
3529-6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada)
Phone: 778-323-4036

[Gurcharan Singh]

Dear Tanay one would get really confused if we compare with older Indian Floras (Flora of British India, Flora Simlensis, etc.) The species described there as R. lasiocarpus Smith (flowers pink, leaves pinnate compound, leaflets 5-11)  is now R. niveus Thunb, with var. pauciflorus (few flowers) as R. niveus var. pauciflorus (Hook.f.)Saxena. The species described in these books as R. niveus Wall ex Hook.f., the different varieties are now often treated as distinct species R. mesogaeus, R. hypagyrus, etc. Our Kashmir plant commonly known as R. fruticosus var. discolor (subsequently R. discolor) is a different species, R. ulmifolius with 3-5 leaflets (palmate), sulcate (channelled) and pruinose branches and crumpled white to light pink petals. Both R. ulmifolius and R. discolor are described in Flora Europaea. 

-- 
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/ 

[tanay bose]

Thanks Sir Ji for the detailed explanation of the taxonomic maze.

Tanay