Lavatera cachemiriana Cambess, Voy. Inde 4(Bot): 29 29, 1841
Syn: Althaea cachemiriana (Cambess.) Kuntze; Lavatera cachemiriana var. haroonii Abedin
Soft pubescent herb up to 2.5 m tall, lower leaves cordate-orbicular, 5-lobed, shallowly crenate, upper leaves 3- or 5-lobed, midlobe longest; flowers solitary in upper leaf axils, 5-8 cm across; epicalyx 3, ovate, united up to middle, shorter than calyx; petals pink, about 4-5 cm long, deeply bi-lobed, hairy at base; staminal tube-8-12 mm long; fruit up to 1.5 mm across with 20-25 mericarps shorter than central axis.
Species endemic to Kashmir
Photographed from Gulmarg in July, growing on open slopes.
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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/