Wayanad flora #15 | 12May2011AR01 from Karapuzha

[raghu ananth]

Wayanad flora #15 | 12May2011AR01

Showy white flowers of this shrub reminds - Striga densiflora, Scrophulariaceae

However, we can see subtle differences in 

- the flower lip -3 lobed, not so deep,  

- upper lip -lean

 

Date/Time-10 Jan 2011 06:19 PM

Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Near  Karapuzha Dam, Waynaad, Kerala

Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type-, Wild, foot hills, beside dry water stream

Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb-Shrub,

Height/Length-approx - 4 feet

Leaves Type/ Shape/ Size- Shape - Approx. 10 cms,  Leaves opposite

Inflorescence Type/ Size- 

Flowers Size/ Colour/ Calyx/ Bracts - White, size-3-4cms, 

Fruits Type/ Shape/ Size Seeds- --NA--

Other Information like Fragrance, Pollinator, Uses etc.- 

[Vijayasankar]

Raghu ji, this is Rhinacanthus nasutus (Snake jasmine) of Acanthaceae.

 

Regards 

 

Vijayasankar Raman
National Center for Natural Products Research
University of Mississippi

[shrikant ingalhalikar]

Mr. Vijayasankar, this plant has been bothering me for ID for a long
time. Rhinacanthus is a taller shrub, the upper lip is deltoid and
acute. Here the upper lip is linear notched and recurved. I have IDd
this as Hypoestis lanata. Could you pls validate. Regards, Shrikant.

On May 12, 9:53 pm, Vijayasankar <vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Raghu ji, this is *Rhinacanthus nasutus *(Snake jasmine) of Acanthaceae.*
> *

> > Other Information like Fragrance, Pollinator, Uses etc.-- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Vijayasankar]

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for the response.
I referred Cooke's flora to know more about these plants.
The following points of him for Rhinacanthus nasutus are matching with the plant posted here. (Cooke's descriptions for Hypoestes lanata are given in parenthesis, in red font):
1. Corolla white, no mention about purple spots on lip (corolla pale purple, lower lip spotted with dark purple at the base)
2. Upper lip linear-oblong, twisted or recurved (upper lip is understandably erect...as there is no mention about this)
3. Upper lip much shorter than the lower (upper lip more or less equal to the lower)
4. Upper lip 9.5 mm long; 2 mm broad at base and 1.3 mm broad at top (upper lip 15.8 mm by 3.2 mm, so it is much longer and broader here, in Hypoestes)
5. Widely distributed & common (Rare, found in Konkan only?)

I also learn that the anthers are 2-celled in Rhinacanthus, and are 1-celled in Hypoestes. May be this feature will help to fix the id unambiguously.
And the bracts said to be larger than calyx segments in Hypoestes, which is not the case in the posted picture (clearly seen in pic # DSC_1483e).
The plant posted here by Raghu ji looks entirely different from either of the pictures in the link: https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/fb4a215ceb4240ae?hl=en#

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks & Regards 

 

Vijayasankar Raman
National Center for Natural Products Research
University of Mississippi

[shrikant ingalhalikar]

Thank you Vijayasankar ji. The key character of anther cells can not
be seen from pictures but I will look for that since I know both
plants distinctly. Rhinacanthus occurs in semi-evergreen habitats and
the other occurs in rocky dry hills. Pls look at the pictures posted
in a seperate post. Many pictures on net show a lot of confusion
between these 2 plants. So far I did not feel the need for a
microscopic study but I will now carry it when feasible. Regards,
Shrikant

On May 13, 10:21 pm, Vijayasankar <vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> Thank you very much for the response.
> I referred Cooke's flora to know more about these plants.

> The following points of him for *Rhinacanthus nasutus* are matching with the
> plant posted here**. (Cooke's descriptions for *Hypoestes lanata* are given

> in parenthesis, in red font):
> 1. Corolla white, no mention about purple spots on lip (corolla pale purple,
> lower lip spotted with dark purple at the base)
> 2. Upper lip linear-oblong, twisted or recurved (upper lip is understandably
> erect...as there is no mention about this)
> 3. Upper lip much shorter than the lower (upper lip more or less equal to
> the lower)
> 4. Upper lip 9.5 mm long; 2 mm broad at base and 1.3 mm broad at top (upper
> lip 15.8 mm by 3.2 mm, so it is much longer and broader here, in Hypoestes)
> 5. Widely distributed & common (Rare, found in Konkan only?)
>

> I also learn that the anthers are *2-celled in Rhinacanthus*, and are *1-celled
> in Hypoestes*. May be this feature will help to fix the id unambiguously.

> And the bracts said to be larger than calyx segments in Hypoestes, which is
> not the case in the posted picture (clearly seen in pic # DSC_1483e).
> The plant posted here by Raghu ji looks entirely different from either of

> the pictures in the link:https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/fb...

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -