Justicia procumbens vs Rostellularia crinata syn. Justicia micrantha

[J.M. Garg]

Dear members,

See the thread http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/0cd4767bdc7b16ae# for which there has been differening views on Justicia procumbens vs Rostellularia crinata syn. Justicia micrantha

 

I think we have to have a re-look in this matter as earlier such plants has been thought to be Justicia procumbens only as per links:

http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/ee4de9b7f6b9ec2c
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788242693/

http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/c3d45e07e08b3ea7

http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/7a5feead4bb5cd7c

 

Further Shrikant ji doesn't mention Justicia procumbens & only mentions Rostellularia crinata syn. Justicia micrantha. Why?

 

FOI links on these two species are given below:

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Small%20Flowered%20Justicia.html (Rostellularia crinata)

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Water%20Willow.html (Justicia procumbens)

 

What is the recognisable difference between Justicia procumbens & Rostellularia crinata syn. Justicia micrantha?

 

Dinesh ji pointed out differences in the thread:

http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/c3d45e07e08b3ea7

as " I am attempting to put two differences (referring the FOI links you 
have provided): 
1) smooth leaves (*J. procumbens*) ... hairy leaves (*R. crinita*) 
2) terminal spikes, often purplish  (*J. procumbens*) ... terminal as well 
as axillary spikes (*R. crinita*) 

By the way, I have not yet sighted *R. crinita*, so cannot stress on any 
other differences. "  to which I don't seem to agree as leaves are hairy in all the pictures  & terminal as well 
as axillary spikes are seen in J. procumbens at thread http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/c3d45e07e08b3ea7

 

I seek views of all the experts on this group. Do we require outside expert opinion in the matter?

--
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J.M.Garg (jmg...@gmail.com)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1
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[Rajesh Sachdev]

Let us take suggestions from M. Isaac Kehimkar as well. Gargji, an you also mark it to Mr. Isaac.

2009/10/24 J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>

--
Regards
Rajesh Sachdev
------------------------------------------------------------
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/leopardguy
www.rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.com

[Dr Santhosh Kumar]

Dear All,

 

I am convinced it belongs to Justicia procumbens L. The shape of leaves from oval-oblong and dense spike etc matches well with the type specimen of Justicia procumbens in Linnean herbarium. Secondly arguing with a photograph also simply wasting our time. One has to consider that this is a wide spread species and there would be expecting variations. And finally such enigmatic specimens need to be revisited and to be  collected at least a few specimens for taxonomic investigation.

I leave it for further comments.

 

Santhosh

2009/10/24 Rajesh Sachdev <leopa...@gmail.com>

--
SANTHOSH
------------------------------------------
Dr. E.S. Santhosh Kumar
Tropical BOtanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode
Thiruvananthapuram-695562
Kerala
India
www.drsanthosh.wetpaint.com

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Santhosh ji,

You seemed to have solved the mystery.

 

2009/10/25 Dr Santhosh Kumar <drsanth...@gmail.com>

[J.M. Garg]

I think Tabish ji & Shrikant ji may pl. have a re-look at the whole thing in their website & the book respectively.

2009/10/25 J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>