Blechnum orientale L.

 

Family: Blechnaceae

 Habit: Subshrub

Habitat: Wet tropical biome

Distribution: Western Australia and Southern Asia

Flowering and fruiting:  Throughout the year

Key identification features: The rhizome is erect and covered with linear-lanceolate scales. The stipes are tufted, dark or reddish-brown at the base, and pale or grey-brown above, with a glossy appearance. The lamina is ovate to linear-lanceolate, with 10-56 pairs of alternate pinnae that are pale or yellowish-green, glabrous, and glossy. The sori are linear, dark brown, and continuous, with firm, dark brown indusia. The spores are spherical or ovoid, yellowish-brown, and translucent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angiopteris crassipes Wall. ex C. Presl

 Family: Marattiaceae

Vernacular name:

 Habit: Subshrub

Habitat: Wet tropical biome

Distribution: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet

Flowering and fruiting:  Throughout the year

Key identification features: It is a fern species known for its large, erect, woody rhizome with a wide base supported by thick roots. The fronds are deltoid and pinnate, typically ranging from 5 to 8 meters in length. The leaflets are spreading, giving the plant a distinctive appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh

 

Family: Fabaceae

Synonym: Emerus herbaceus Mill. 

 Habit: Shrub

Habitat: Bunds of paddy fields

Distribution: India (Endemic)

Flowering and fruiting:  September-December

Key identification features: These erect annual subshrubs grow up to 3 meters tall, with a swollen lower stem. The pinnate leaves, 11-25 cm long, have 10-23 pairs of oblong leaflets. The drooping racemes can reach 14 cm, bearing yellow, fragrant flowers. The linear, pendulous pods are 18-26 cm long and slightly twisted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jatropha multifida L.

 

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Synonym: Adenoropium multifidum (L.) Pohl, Manihot multifida (L.) Crantz 

Vernacular name: Churakkalli

 Habit: Shrub

Habitat: Grown in gardens

Distribution: Mexico and Caribbean

Flowering and fruiting:  August-May

Key identification features: Large shrubs have alternate, orbicular leaves that are 7.5-12 cm across and divided into 5-11 lobes. They produce coral red flowers on flat-topped terminal cymes up to 30 cm long. The flowers are about 6 mm in diameter, with red or orange parts, and obovate petals. The fruit is 2-3-lobed, about 2.5 cm long, smooth, and yellowish when ripe, containing ellipsoid seeds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dorstenia elata Gardner

 

Family: Moraceae

 Habit: Herb

Habitat:  Evergreen forests and wet rocky areas in moist deciduous forests

Distribution: South India and Sri Lanka

Flowering and fruiting:  February-April

Key identification features: These herbs have simple, alternate leaves up to 9 x 2.5 cm, with an obovate or oblanceolate shape and sparsely hairy nerves. The flowers are monoecious, numerous, and situated on a 5-angled, discoid receptacle up to 1.5 cm across, with male flowers on the periphery and female flowers at the center. The fruit is an achene, sunken in the receptacle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curcuma cannanorensis R.Ansari, V.J.Nair &N.C.Nair

 

Family: Zingiberaceae

Synonym:  Curcuma cannanorensis var. lutea R.Ansari, V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair , Curcuma lutea (R.Ansari, V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair) Amalraj, Velay. & Mural., Curcuma oligantha var. lutea (R.Ansari, V.J.Nair & N.C.Nair) K.G.Bhat 

Vernacular name - Aarumasapoovu, Arumasachedi, Krishnakireedam, Hanumankireedam

 Habit:   Herb

Habitat: Semi-evergreen forests

Distribution: Southern Western Ghats (Endemic)

Key identification features: Rhizomatous herbs have conical, yellow rhizomes and ovate-fusiform root tubers. Leafy shoots reach 10-30 cm with 3-5 distichous, ovate-elliptic leaves. The inflorescence is both lateral and central, featuring a peduncle and spike. Fertile bracts are lanceolate and green, while flowers are longer than the bracts, with a yellow corolla and orange-yellow labellum. The plant also has broad filaments, spurred anthers, and linear epigynous glands.

 Uses: It is a medicinal plant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleridendrum paniculatum L.

 

Family: Verbernaceae

Synonym:  Clerodendrum citrinum Ridl., Clerodendrum diversifolium Vahl, Clerodendrum paniculatum var. diversifolium (Vahl) C.B.Clarke  (1885), Clerodendrum pyramidale Andrews 

Vernacular name - Aarumasapoovu, Arumasachedi, Krishnakireedam, Hanumankireedam

 Habit:   Shrub

Habitat: Grown as ornamental plant; now naturalized

Distribution: Indo-Malesia

Key identification features: This plant is an erect subshrub that grows up to 2.5 m tall with scarcely branched, stoloniferous stems. Its simple, opposite leaves are orbicular, with faintly lobed, denticulate margins, an acute apex, and a cordate base. The flowers are in terminal panicles of dichotomous cymes, with reddish pedicels and a deeply 5-lobed, red calyx. The red corolla has a slender tube and shorter posterior lobes. Stamens are exserted, and the ovary is oblong, though fruit setting is uncommon.

 Uses: It is a medicinal plant