At present I am unsure what this is but have doubts about it being Geranium lambertii (have just posted images of a cultivated specimen of this species for reference purposes). G.lambertii has previously been recorded from Chamba. There are a number of geraniums in Kashmir & H.P. I am not familiar with. Shall spend some time looking at these to see if this plant fits any. I also consider there is every chance than one or two more species will be recognised in the coming decades.
I consider it will be helpful for keen photographers, willing to make an additional effort, to know which parts of Geranium to photograph. Having images of such parts of each geranium will greatly aid identification and enhance our understanding of the genus in the Himalaya - and perhaps you can help with the locating and identification of a species new-to-science! PHOTOGRAPHING GERANIUMS: *IF only the first one or two flowers have come out don't bother to collect as the form of inflorescence will not be evident.* *The rootstock is important; get enough to show whether compact or creeping, or annual. You can photograph the base of the plant which should provide this information. Clearly, one requires permission from the authorities to uproot a plant. There is still a need and indeed role for the collection of pressed specimens for herbaria in India but that is primarily the domain of staff of botanic gardens/ institutions.* * In the early stages of flowering look out for the best-developed unripe fruits available.* * If fruit is ripe try to include both dehisced and undehisced states.* * If the fruits are falling with the seeds inside them, collect some (many geraniums disperse their seed explosively but some seed is often retained).* *Include some loose petals when pressing (detach if necessary). Expose stamens to show filament shape and hairs by taking 2 or 3 sepals off a flower from which petals have recently dropped.* *Smoothing out one or two leaves and flowers as you close the press may be helpful; a few separately pressed basal and lower/middle stem leaves are often useful.* *Wilted specimens can be very misleading.* *Notes should be taken as to flower posture, colour and patterning of petals, colour of stigmas, anthers and distal parts of filaments (not necessary if your photos show these).* *And don't forget to ensure the stipules are clearly shown - something that would have been obviously in pressed specimens, so not mentioned above by Yeo.* On Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 6:13:07 PM UTC+1, Alok Mahendroo wrote: > > Dear friends > > Looked to me at first like the Himalayan Geranium... but then it seemed > different... > > Location Chamba > Altitude 3500 mts > Habit herb > Habitat wild > Plant height 18-20 inches > > regards > Alok > -- > Himalayan Village Education Trust > Village Khudgot, > P.O. Dalhousie > District Chamba > H.P. 176304, India > > www.hivetrust.wordpress.com > www.forwildlife.wordpress.com > > http://mushroomobserver.org/observer/observations_by_user?_js=on&_new=true&id=2186 > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
