Dear All
The images from Paddar Valley are of Rhodiola heterodonta and not
R.bupleuroides.
May I start be repeating that Rhodiola is an extremely difficult genus
identification-wise. Misidentificationsoccur frequently. The situation is
complicated by a lot of pressed specimens in the past being of poor
qualitywhich were badly pressed. If one attempts to dry Crassulaceae in a
normal way compared with specimensbelonging to other families, the results can
be poor, with all the leaves falling off!
I am making an effort with the Rhodiola genus in the NW Himalaya but am still
not certain about a number of species -so cannot yet undertake a full
appraisal of all posting on efi. Hopefully, shall be able to do so at some
stage in the futureas the situation is in need of improvement.
Given the poor reference specimens (inadequate) in most Indian herbaria (and
some other herbaria around the world)it is hardly surprising that something of
a muddle exists.
With the advent of good compact digital cameras, provided those taking pictures
in the coming years operate in a methodicalway and take 10-20 images of each
specimen from which they can select the best/most informative 6-10 to post, our
understandingof this troublesome genus can greatly improve. So please take
more images of Rhodiolas in the Himalaya from 2017 onwardsbut please, not just
1 or 2 general shots not showing close-up detail.
As with pressed specimens for herbaria if scrappy specimens are collected in
the first place and then one is faced with poorquality reference specimens in
herbaria, the muddle will continue. We need more and better close-up images of
ALL speciesof Rhodiola in India (and other genera in the Crassulaceae family).
I have seen a number of false claims of Rhodiola bupleuroides from Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh - yet it is only recorded from West Nepal Eastwards!
The images taken by Suresh match R.heterodonta - please note the second image
illustrates that the stamens are longer than the petals (which when this
characteristic is visible) is one of the features which distinguish it from
R.bupleuroides (not that I am familiar with this species).
Stewart (1972) recorded R.heterodonta from 2400-5000m in Kashmir incl. Ladakh.
I have seen it in Ladakh & Lahoul. Stewart knew it as Sedum roseum var.
heterodontum.
R,bupleuroides is recorded in 'Flora of Lahaul-Spiti' as rare in rock crevices
at Jispa. I have not seen the voucher specimen but I suspect it to be a
misidentification.
The situation is complicated by misidentified images available on the internet
of both live plants in the wild and cultivation and pressed specimens.
Please note that the following link referred to is a complete mix-up as the
specimen show from Bhutan (as it correctly says on the label) is of a Phlomis
which belongs to the Lamiaceae family and looks nothing like Crassulaceae! see:
http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100177639
As for another link: http://www.tropicos.org/Name/8903316?tab=images. These
show quite a number of images of mostly poor pressed specimens - have only
glanced at them but they show more than one species of Rhodiola!
I am not impressed with this tropicos site - do not know who is responsible for
it or the misidentifications!
Given how difficult the genus is, such completely unscientific contributions
will only increase the muddle!!
Best Wishes,
Chris Chadwell
81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK
www.shpa.org.uk
From: J.M. Garg <[email protected]>
To: efloraofindia <[email protected]>
Cc: Suresh Kumar Rana <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, 6 November 2016, 6:18
Subject: Fwd: [efloraofindia:135919] Rhodiola heterodonta from Paddar valley
J&K
It appears closer to Rhodiola bupleuroides as per the
following:http://www.tropicos.org/Image/17648http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100177639http://www.tropicos.org/Name/8903316?tab=imageshttp://www.asianflora.com/Crassulaceae/Rhodiola-bupleuroides.htmhttp://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=88995&flora_id=800http://www.biora.ru/modules.php?name=invitro&file=spec1&sid=19701&gid=202&fid=178
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Suresh Kumar Rana <[email protected]>
Date: 22 October 2012 at 23:24
Subject: [efloraofindia:135919] Rhodiola heterodonta from Paddar valley J&K
To: efloraofindia <[email protected]>
Request for ID confirmation
Kindly confirm this IdBot. name: Rhodiola heterodontaFamily:
CrassulaceaeLocation: Paddar valley J&KAltitude: 3100 metersDate: 17th May 2012
and 9th June 2011
--
Warm regardsSuresh Rana
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