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Biophytum congestiflorum
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Family:
OXALIDACEAE
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Citation: Biophytum congestiflorum Govind., Journ. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 311. f. 1. 1996; Manna in Hajra et al., Fl. India 4: 231. 1997; N.P. Balakr. & W. Arisdason in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 570. 2005; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 177. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Perennial, to 1 m high; stems usually branched, appressed-hairy when young; branches 2-6, in pseudowhorls; leaf scars many, lunate. Leaves 6-10(-12) x 2-3 cm; stipules linear-lanceolate, to 4 mm long; leaflets 15-22 pairs, falcate, undulate at margin, cuspidate at apex, densely bulbous-based-hairy beneath, margin and midnerve above with a row of bulbous based hairs, dirty green above, glaucous beneath; terminal pair of leaflets obovate, asymmetric; intramarginal nerve thick. Inflorescence a pseudoumbel, shorter than leaves, 10-12 flowered; peduncles 4-8 cm long; pedicels 1.5-2 mm long, shorter than bracts, glabrous; bracts closely whorled, linear-lanceolate, 4.5-5 mm long, strigose at margin, membranous. Sepals ovate to lanceolate, 4-4.5 x 1-1.5 mm, sparsely strigose, 5-7 nerved. Petals obovate, rounded at apex, 5.2-5.5 x 0.5-0.7 mm, to 5-nerved, yellow. Filaments 1-1.8 mm long, glabrous; anthers ca 0.4 mm long. Ovary 5-lobed, ca 0.8 x 0.4 mm, glabrous; ovules (2-) 4 in each locule; styles ca 2.5 mm long, puberulous; stigma discoid. Capsules turbinate, ca 2.5 x 2 mm; seeds (2-) 4 in each locule, broadly ovoid, acute, 0.6-0.8 x 0.6-0.7 mm, with undulate oblique and muricate ridges, shining and reddish brown.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
October-December
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District(s):
Idukki, Wayanad
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Shady areas
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Distribution:
Southern Western Ghats (Kerala)
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Yellow
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
Kerala
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Peermade
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