Angiospermworld

Author: Rimjhim Chandra

  • Bicolor Scullcap, Scutellaria discolor Wall. ex Benth.

    Scutellaria is a large, subcosmopolitan genus of the Labiatae with 425 currently recognised species. However, the actual number is closer to 360 due to a large number which doubtfully merit specific status being recognised in the USSR and China (Paton 1990). The name Scutellaria, from the Latin word scutella meaning a dish, referring to the dish-like scutellum of some European species, was first used by Cortuso (1591) as an alternative name for Lamium peregrinum. Morison (1669) was first to suggest that Scutellaria should be given generic status. The English common name Skullcap and the French la Toque refer to the name Cassida, meaning a metal helmet, given by Colonna (1616). Bentham (1834) placed Scutellaria along with Prunella L. and Cleonia L. in the tribe Scutellarineae on account of the superficial calyx resemblance. Visiani (1847) removed Cleonia and Prunella which seems sensible. However Bentham (1848 and 1876) kept these genera together and merged them into the large tribe Stachydeae. This group does not seem natural and does not reflect the apparently isolated position of Scutellaria within the Labiatae. Caruel (1886), emphasising the character of the curved or bent embryo, placed Scutellaria, Perilomia and Salazaria in a new family-the Scutellariaceae, Scutellaria and its allies differ from the rest of the Lamioideae in lacking endosperm. According to a database of POWO, The native range of Scutellaria is Cosmopolitan and portrayed by ten species reported in India: Scutellaria barbata D.Don, Scutellaria discolor Wall. ex Benth., Scutellaria galericulata L., Scutellaria grossa Wall., Scutellaria heydei Hook.f., Scutellaria linearis Benth., Scutellaria prostrata Jacquem. ex Benth., Scutellaria repens Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, Scutellaria scandens D.Don, Scutellaria violacea B.Heyne ex Benth.

    Scutellaria discolor Wall. ex Benth.

    Scutellaria discolor; A. Plant; B. Leaf; C. Flower; D. Floral leaves; E. Corolla Lower lip; F. Corolla Upper Lip; G. H. Three-quarter view of mature calyx with lobes closed to protect developing seeds; ; I. J. Calyx; K. Stamen; L. Carpel; M. N. Fruit, Nutlet.
    Scutellaria bicolor; A. F. Plant; B. L. Inflorescence; C. Calyx; D. Flower bud; E. G. H. Leaf; I. Corolla upper lip; J. Corolla lower lip; K. Flower; M. N. Calyx; O. P. Three-quarter view of mature calyx with lobes closed to protect developing seeds;
    Q. Floral leaf; R. Stamen; S. Carpel; T. U. Fruit, Nutlet; V. Rhizome.

     

     

    Scutellaria discolor Wall. ex Benth.

    Herbs perennial, rhizomatous. Stems ascending to erect, 5.5-38 cm tall, densely puberulent, reddish, unbranched, apically leafless. Stem leaves in 2-4(-7) pairs; petiole 0.5-2.2(-4.8) cm; leaf blade elliptic-ovate to broadly elliptic, 1.5-7.4 × 1-4.8 cm, papery, pubescent or hirsute especially on veins, adaxially densely puberulent to hirsute, abaxially green or purplish, base cordate to shallowly cordate, margin undulate-crenate, apex rounded to obtuse. Racemes secund, 5-24 cm; peduncle 2.5-4 cm, densely puberulent; floral leaves sessile to short petiolate, ovate to elliptic, 0.7-2.5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, base rounded-truncate, apex obtuse; bracts ovate, 1.5-3 × ca. 1 mm, pubescent, margin entire. Flowers alternate or opposite. Pedicel purplish, 2.5-3 mm, densely pubescent. Calyx ca. 2 mm, pubescent outside, glandular pubescent; scutellum spreading, semicircular, 0.5-0.8 mm, reflexed, almost as long as calyx in fruit. Corolla purple, glandular pubescent outside, 0.9-1.2 cm; tube 7-10 mm, base bent, gradually dilated to 3 mm wide at throat; limb ca. 3 mm, puberulent or pubescent inside; middle lobe of lower lip ovate-orbicular; lateral lobes ovate to oblong-ovate. Nutlets brown, ovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 1 mm in diam., with acuminate tubercles tipped by a whorl of hooks.

    Flowering: Jun-November

    Fruiting: July- December.

  • Woolly Leucas 

    Woolly Leucas is a softly desnely wooly-haired perennial herb found on stony slopes in the Himalayas at altitudes of 700-3000 m.Erect, perennial herbs, with several branches from woody root-stock; branches obtusely 4-gonous, densely woolly or subsilky with erect or spreading hairs. Leaves opposite, 1.5-4 x 0.6-1.7 cm, narrowly ovate-lanceolate or oblong to ovate-oblong, acute or obtuse, crenate-serrate, rounded or slightly narrowed at base, thick, tomentose above, silky beneath, sometimes darker above in dry specimens, veins impressed above, upper ones sometimes sessile, rest shortly petioled. Flower-whorls axillary, many-flowered, densely woolly; bracts setaceous, densely hairy, much shorter than calyx. Calyx-tube 5-9 mm long, tubular, straight, ribbed, densely tomentose outside, pubescent or hairy within in upper one-third part; mouth truncate; true villi absent; sometimes hairs protrude beyond the mouth are confused for villi which are much shorter than teeth; teeth 10, alternately short and long, ca. 1.5 mm long, triangular-subulate. Corolla-tube included or little exserted, hairy outside; upper lip densely bearded with white hairs, smaller than lower. Nutlets ca 1.5 x 1 mm, oblong, 3-angular, truncate at apex, tuberculate, brown; seeds not hairy at the ends.

    Flowering: April-September.

    Leucas lanata Benth.; A. Plant; B. Inflorescence; C. Flower; D. Ventral Leaf; E. Calyx; F. G. Corolla tube; H. Carpel; I. Stamens

    content source: https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/229771

  • Slender Wild Basil Clinopodium gracile (Benth.)Kuntze.

    Small perennial herb, slender, stoloniferous; Stem quadrangular, numerous, tufted, erect or procumbent at the base, ascending, 8–30 cm, retrorse, pubescent; Leaves opposite, basal leaves circular-ovate, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.1 cm, base rounded, apex obtuse, margin remotely crenate, lower and mid stem leaves ovate, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm, papery, sub-glabrous, abaxially sparsely hispid on veins, apex obtuse, base rounded to cuneate, margin
    remotely dentate or crenate-serrate, petioles 0.3–1 cm; Inflorescence verticillasters, few-flowered (5–10), lax or
    dense, crowded in short terminal raceme, floral leaves ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–1 × 0.3–0.8 cm, margin serrate, acute; Bract linear, acute, puberulous, much shorter than pedicel; Flower rose-pink, 5–7 × 3–4 mm, pedicel 1–3 mm; Calyx tubular, base rounded, ca. 3–5 mm and declinate in fruit, puberulent or subglabrous, minutely hispid on veins, throat sparsely fine pilose, teeth ciliate, lower two subulate, upper three triangular, reflexed
    in fruit; Corolla ca. 4.5 mm, puberulent; nutlets ovoid, smooth 0.4–0.5 mm (Image 1 and Figure 2). Common name: Calamint, Savory, Slender Wild Basil, Tower Flower.

    Flowering: The flowering has been observed in July.
    Habitat: Stream sides, open grasslands, forest margin, and thickets.

    Location: Chamba, Himachal Pradesh.

    Date of Collection: 27 July 2023.

    Image 1. Clinopodium gracile (Benth.) Kuntze: A—Habit of the plant | B—Stoloniferous root showing root hair (rh) | C—Whole plant revealing
    its vegetatve and reproductve parts | D—Abaxial surface of leaf with leaf petole (lp) | E—Adaxial surface of leaf and inforescence whorl (iw)
    | F—Young shoot displaying foral bud (f) | G—Base of pedicel manifestng bract (br) | H—Calyx portraying its tooth (ct) | I—Vertcillaster
    inforescence exhibitng fower arrangement. © Rimjhim Chandra.