Triumfetta annua Linn., Mant. 1:73. 1767.
The species is distinct from others in its orange flowers and glabrous uncinate spines on the fruit. Annual herb up to 1 m tall, stem purplish on one side with line of hairs; leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-5-veined from base, stipules linear, hirsute; cymes leaf-opposed, usually 3-flowered; flowers orange, 8 mm across, petals slightly smaller than sepals; stamens 10; capsule globose 9-11 mm in diam including spines which are 4-5 mm long glabrous and with hooked tips.
Photographed from near Kalsi along Mussoorie Chakrata road on September 16, 2011
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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/