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Biophytum insigne
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Family:
OXALIDACEAE
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Citation: Biophytum insigne Gamble, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1921: 216. 1921; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1868(1293). 1936; Sivad. et al., Rheedea 4: 65. 1994; Manna in Hajra et al., Fl. India 4: 232. 1997; Gopalan & Henry, Endemic Pl. Agasthiyamala 62. 2000; N.P. Balakr. & W. Arisdason in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 571. 2005.
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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, erect, woody, branched at base; branches 4-8 cm high. Leaves tufted at ends of branches, paripinnate; rachises pulvinate, mucronate at tip, 7-15 cm long, tomentose; leaflets 5-9 pairs with the lowest pair about 1/3 above rachis base, opposite, subsessile, ovate-oblong, oblique at base, mucronate at apex, 1-2.5 x 0.6-0.75 cm, tomentose when young, glabrescent when mature except nerves beneath; stipules setaceous, ca 5 mm long, hairy. Inflorescence a pseudoumbel, 8-12 flowered; peduncles 12-18 cm long, strigose; bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca 3 mm long; pedicels to 6 mm long, strigose, not jointed. Flowers 5-10 mm across. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, ca 4 mm long, strigose. Corolla campanulate; petals clawed, connate below, emarginate, ca 1.2 x 4 mm, 5-nerved. Stamens 10, 5 long and 5 short; long filaments 3-4 mm, short ones 2-2.5 mm. Pistil ca 1 mm long; stigmas 2-fid; ovules usually 2, rarely 1; seed usually 1, subspirally tubercled. Receptacle much elongating in fruit.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-March
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District(s):
Kollam
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Moist places in evergreen forests
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Distribution:
Southern Western Ghats
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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:
Southern Western Ghats
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IUCN status:
Critically Endangered (CR)
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Altitude:
200-500
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Localities:
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