Saraca indica L. & Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd.

[J.M. Garg]

Both are accepted names as per The Plant List (and therefore diffent plants) as per links:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/ild-1691

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/ild-39965

Which is our plant in India- Saraca indica L. or Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd. or are there some other aspects to it ?

Pl. clarify ?

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[Gurcharan Singh]

Garg ji 

saraca indica L. and Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W. J. de Wilde. are two quite distinct species

Saraca indica L. is distributed in Indo-China: Laos; Thailand; Vietnam

Malesia: Indonesia - Java, Sumatra; Malaysia [Malaya]

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd. is distributed in Indian Subcontinent: Bangladesh; India; Sri Lanka

Indo-China: Myanmar [w.]

The problem arose when Baker in Flora of British India followed Beddome Fl. Sylv. t.57 in considering Jonesia asoka Roxb. (on which name Saraca asoka (Roxb.) Wilde) as synonym of Sarca indica L. and followed by Several Indian authors. As the two species are distinct, the synonymy for Indian plant would be

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W. J. de Wilde, Blumea 15:393. 1968

syn: Jonesia asoca Roxb.; Saraca indica auct. (non L.); Baker in Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 271, 1878

-- 
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/ 

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks a lot, Singh ji.

[J.M. Garg]

Further feedback:

"Saraca arborescens Burm. f. is also present in India

 - H.S."

[Gurcharan Singh]

Saraca arborescens Burm.f. is synonym of S. indica L. according to Kew Plant List

However, S. declinata Miq. (S. triandra Baker) is reported from Mayanmar.

There is surely a lot of confusion in synonymy. Strangely Kew Plant List regards Saraca indica var. zollingeriana (Miq.) Gagnep as synonym of S. indica L., but not S. zollingeriana Miq. on which the combination is based. It rather considers Saraca zollingeriana "sensu Prain, non Miq." as synonym. Saraca minor (Zoll. & Moritzi) Miq. is another synonym of S. indica L.

Since trees native of other regions are also planted now, we should expect to explore all three from India.

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde

Saraca indica L.

Saraca declinata Miq.

Only a reliable differentiating key will help.

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/ 

-- 
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/ 

[Dr. Shiddamallayya Mathapati]

Saraca indica auct. non. L. is synonym for Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde. 

--
Dr. Shiddamallayya N,
Survey of Medicinal Plant Unit
National Ayurveda Dietetics Research Institute,
(A unit of C C R A S,
Dept. of  AYUSH, Mini. of H & F W,
Govt. of India, New Delhi),
G C P Annexe, Ashoka Pillar
Jayanagar I block,
Bangalore - 560 011
0 - 9449644341

[Pankaj Kumar]

Please find the article attached.
non auct. needs to be confirmed which plant that is being referred to.
Regards
Pankaj

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"TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!"

Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae)
Research Associate
Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project
Department of Habitat Ecology
Wildlife Institute of India
Post Box # 18
Dehradun - 248001, India

[Gurcharan Singh]

Thanks Pankaj ji for uploading the paper. Perhaps now we should be able to fix specimens from India if close ups of flowers (and pedicel are available. Here is the key prepared by me for species expected wild or planted in India. Saraca asoca is common in India but other three may occur planted, especially in the North East.

Bracteoles 1-2 mm long, fugaceous; fertile stamens usually 4..........................S. celebica

Bracteoles 4-5 mm long; fertile stamens 6-8 

    Leaflets 3-6 pairs; fls in dense cormbs

            Bracteloes erect, clasping the pedicel, persistent; fertile stamens mostly 7................S. asoca

            Bracteoles spreading, persistent or fugaceous; fertile stamens usually 6.....................S. indica

    Leaflets 2-3 pairs; fls in lax corymbs; bracteoles spreading; 

       calyx tube about as long as lobes.................................................................................S. declinata (syn: S. triandra)

-- 
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/ 

[Gurcharan Singh]

Slight modification in key for Saraca species

Bracteoles 1-2 mm long, fugaceous; fertile stamens usually 4..........................S. celebica

Bracteoles 4-5 mm long; fertile stamens 6-8 

    Leaflets 3-6 pairs; fls in dense cormbs; calyx tube 1.5 to 2 times as long as lobes

            Bracteloes erect, clasping the pedicel, persistent; fertile stamens mostly 7................S. asoca

            Bracteoles spreading, persistent or fugaceous; fertile stamens usually 6.....................S. indica

    Leaflets 2-3 pairs; fls in lax corymbs; bracteoles spreading; 

       calyx tube about as long as lobes.................................................................................S. declinata (syn: S. triandra)