SK 3703 15 March 2023

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Members,

Location: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Date: 11 March 2023

Altitude: 2418m.

Habitat : Wild 

Lauraceae ??

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

[Saroj Kasaju]

[Saroj Kasaju]

[J.M. Garg]

Yes, appears to be from lauraceae.

Can it be some Actinodaphne species.

I tried as per the Checklist of Nepal, but could not find any match. 

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With regards,
J.M.Garg

[Saroj Kasaju]

Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. ?? Herbarium image from nearby location.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fidentify.plantnet.org%2Fru%2Fthe-plant-list%2Fspecies%2FActinodaphne%2520longipes%2520Kosterm.%2Fdata&psig=AOvVaw2W3qn5h8fLOEwsMm-T0TOo&ust=1679121425740000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCOCW8PKs4v0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE 

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

The whorled leaves and the terminal perulate buds indeed point to Actinodaphne. However, in my opinion, A. reticulata is best treated as a rare endemic confined to the Khasi hills in Meghalaya. I think the present images should be compared with A. sikkimensis.

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Tapas Da ! 

A. sikkimensis is not yet recorded from Kathmandu Valley, however, A. reticulata is recorded in 

many localities in the valley and particularly. Phulchoki !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Saroj da,

Would you please read our publication on Actinodaphne and point out where we erred?

Sincere regards, 

Tapas

[Saroj Kasaju]

OK Tapas Da! 

I am not Da but a junior😉!

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Yes, it mentioned Phulchoki also. However, the tree had fallen and I am not sure If I can 

find another tree to follow up for the flowering and fruiting !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

We, Bengali people call everyone as "da" as a token of our affection, irrespective of age ( junior and senior).

Please find attached the paper. Though published in a "substandard journal" several problems in Actinodaphne in our area have been solved here. 

I am particularly interested to know what you call as A. reticulata and how does it match with the typical form confined to the Khasi hills. Your answer will be helpful in knowing the species better.

Regards,

Tapas

[J.M. Garg]

I also feel more close to Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. as per GBIF specimens (one, two, three).

Looks different from Actinodaphne sikkimensis Meisn. as per efi page and GBIF specimens. 

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

[Saroj Kasaju]

Thank you Mr. Garg !

Saroj Kasaju

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

I beg to differ. I think the samples posted by Saroj ji should belong to Actinodaphne longipes Kosterm. which is possibly unrecorded for Nepal. Anyway, for fomally reporting the occurrence of the species  from Nepal, we need flowering or fruiting material and herbarium specimens.

Regards,

Tapas 

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Tapas ji.

There is only one specimen of this in GBIF and it looks different to me. 

Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. has been reported in the Checklist of Nepal.

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Garg ji,

Such a report could be based on misidentification only. Without flowers or fruits we can distinguish A. reticulata, identifiable by the prominent minor venation of leaves on both surfaces of leaves. But here we can see obscure minor venation of the leaves, characteristic of A. longipes. Moreover, true A. reticulata is confined to the Khasi hills and reports outside Meghalaya might be misidentifications, in my opinion. 

The situation can be clarified decisively only when the flowers and fruits are made available.

With regards,

Tapas

[Saroj Kasaju]

OK Tapas Da! I shall  try for the flowers, however the tree was cut down .

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks a lot, Tapas ji

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

[J.M. Garg]

I will keep it as A. longipes for the time being, as suggested by Tapas ji.

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg