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Biophytum nervifolium
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Family:
OXALIDACEAE
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Citation: Biophytum nervifolium Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 64. 1858; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 76. 1988; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 95. 1994; Manna in Hajra et al., Fl. India 4: 234. 1997; N.P. Balakr. & W. Arisdason in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 572. 2005.
Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. var. nervifolium (Thw.) Edgew. & Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 437. 1874.
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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:
Annual; stem very short, erect, unbranched. Leaves many, forming a crowded rosette, almost on ground; leaflets 8-12(-14) pairs, generally overlapping, terminal one the largest, broadly oblong, apiculate at apex, glabrous, paler beneath; lateral nerves very prominent. Peduncles stiff with appressed hairs. Flowers in dense umbels, crowded; pedicels shorter than sepals; bracts hairy. Sepals linear-lanceolate, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, 4.5-5 x 0.6-0.8 mm, hyaline at margin; nerves 7, prominent, parallel. Petals oblanceolate, attenuate at base, entire at margin, rounded at apex, 6-7 x 0.7-1 mm, with a distinct red midnerve. Ovary 2.5-3 mm long; styles hairy; stigma papillose. Capsules ovoid, 3-3.5 x 2.5-3 mm, shorter than sepals; seeds 0.9-1 x 0.6-0.8 mm, strongly and transversely 6-ribbed, not tubercled.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
December-March
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District(s):
Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Moist shady places
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Distribution:
South India and Sri Lanka
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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):
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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:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Aralam, Kottur R.F.
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