This is a species that shows intermediate characteristics between the Arisaema griffithii-group (notice the reticulated innerside of spathe blade in the last picture) and the elephas alliance. AP is and area where the Sino-Himalayan and Indo-Himalayan floras meet and there are many plants that show characteristics of species from both areas. The Arisaema griffithii group usually has long threadlike appendices and not the thicker and short appendix of the plants on the pictures. Similar but darker plants can be found in the Yumthang area of N Sikkim where the slow change from griffithii type plants to this type and further on to true Arisaema elephas is more apparant. Further east in AP similar plants like this are found that have a more beige-orange flowers.
Some remarks on names mentioned in this thread: - Arisaema handelli is very similar to Arisaema elephas but has a rather narrow distribution range in China, most important characteristic of this species is a rugose (rough, like sandpaper) appendix wheras the plants on the picture have a smooth appendix, it also has a flowerstalk that generally is shorter than the leafstalks whereas the plant on the pictures has its flowers as high or higher than the leaves. - Arisaema intermedium has a very long threadlike appendix that can reach 50-70 cm in length, it is also much smaller with narrow, more elliptic leaflets, not the broad rhombic leaflets of the AP plants - Arisaema hookeri (or hookerianum) is the lowland form of Arisaema griffithii that can be found at Tiger Hill and some parts of Shingallila National Park in W Bengal. It differs from normal griffithii by a very triangular folded spathe and a more purple colour. Nevertheless it is a full synonym of Arisaema griffithii. - Arisaema sivadasanii is a endemic autumn-flowering form of Arisaema tortuosum from S India. It has now been reduced to a variety of tortuosum by Punekar and Kumaran Whether the plant on the pictures has characteristics sufficently unique to warrant a separate status extensive fieldwork needs to show. As it is it doesn't fall within any known species I would suggest to ID it as Arisaema species aff. griffithii-group. Regards, Pascal Bruggeman The Netherlands ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> Date: 6 nov, 01:36 Subject: Fwd: [efloraofindia:46090] id pl. of Arisema sp. To: efloraofindia Forwarding again for Id confirmation or otherwise pl. Some earlier relevant feedback: “Tabish ji, the leaves are broadly trifoliolate, and not digitate as in case of A. tortuosum. I too have seen this plant (certainly not A. tortuosum) at the Eaglenest pass and wondering about its ID. Regards, Shrikant” “I can't make out the leaves clearly from the picture. *If they are* * indeed trifoliate, it surely cannot be A. tortuosum. * Then, this could be a species not yet reported from Arunachal Pradesh. We found Arisaema elephas in Tawang region, from where it is not reported (as far as I know). So, one may have to look at some species from China, the neighboring region. * One such candidate is Arisaema handelii, which has trifoliate leaves, * http://www.aroid.org/genera/arisaema/herold/Images/arhandelii.jpg http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027206 " Spathe green, purple, or dark green with broad white stripe", "Appendix whitish, narrowly conic, basal 4-6 cm densely papillose or rugose, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., abruptly narrowed at base into stipe ca. 6 × 5 mm, distal part smooth and gradually drawn into flagellum to 38 cm in total, exserted from spathe tube and tortuous, pendulous in distal flagellate part. " - Tabish” A reply from Dr. M.K.Pathak: "*Arisaema hookeri*" "May be A. sivdasani" from Sharad Kambale ji. -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ushaprabha page <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 5:52 AM Subject: [efloraofindia:46090] id pl. of Arisema sp. To: [email protected] Which Arisaema-id pl. Location- Eagle nest sanct. Altitude 9500feet. time12.35 p.m.on 22nd April 10. Ushaprabha. P4220127.JPG 137KWeergevenDownloaden P4220130.JPG 155KWeergevenDownloaden P4220131.JPG 51KWeergevenDownloaden P4220132.JPG 167KWeergevenDownloaden P4220133.JPG 225KWeergevenDownloaden P4220137.JPG 55KWeergevenDownloaden
