Dear members While identifying specimens of Achyranthes with A. coynei, especially from regions outside of Maharashtra and Karnataka where it is endemic, we have to be doubly sure about its identification. Perhaps The paper supplied by Tanay in another thread should help.
As it appears, A. coynei is closer to A. aspera var. porphyristachya (and not A. aspera var. aspera, which is much smaller plant scarcely exceeding 1.2 m in height and leaves usually smaller than 12 cm), but is more taller (2-4.5 m tall as against 1.3-1.8 m), much more branched, leaves reaching 25 cm in length (like var. porphyristachya), subglabrous above, pubescent beneath especially along veins, inflorescence axis is robust (and not slender) and densely pubescent. The real difference I think is the larger flowers with up to 8 mm long (as against up to 5 mm in A. aspera) rosy or purplish and spreading at anthesis (with spread almost 2 cm). Interestingly the purplish leaf margin mentioned by H S in the key does not figure in the original description. Nayan ji's plants has densely hairy thicker leaves like A. aspera. -- 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: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 7:48 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > Yes Giby ji > Basically there are two main types of endemics: palaeoendemics, which were > once very widely distributed but now restricted to a certain area; and > neoendemics which have originated recently and are yet to move out of their > centre of origin. > Nayan ji's plant lacks the magenta leaf margin, through flowers have > that tinge. This magenta tinge is not uncommon in Achyranthes aspera, and as > such Nayan ji's plant may well be A. aspera. I am uploading my plants from > Delhi to support this conclusion. > > > -- > > 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: 9810359089 > http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 10:25 PM, Smilax004 <[email protected]>wrote: > >> It is a very interesting discussion. >> What I think is that there are many endemics that are later dispersed/ >> or planted elsewhere. Amaranthacean plants are prone to disperse to a >> greater distance because of the adaptation of fruits/seeds. Fruits/ >> Seeds get attached to animals, luggage (packing case or sacs etc.) and >> may take away to long distances with out giving any hint to the >> carriers. Such fruits/seeds can go along with truck loads as well. >> There are lots of possibilities for a plant like Achyranthes to get >> dispersed in these ways. >> Once it started establishing in a place then it spreads easily and >> fast. >> >> I am just throwing some light on how the WG endemic might have >> "reached" to a far away place. >> >> Dear HS, the key is very useful and simple. >> >> Regards, >> Giby >> >> >> >> On Jul 19, 6:58 pm, H S <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Sirji, In Maharashtra there is more than 6 species of Achyranthes. >> > >> > But to seperate A. coynei from A. aspera and A. bidentata >> > >> > 1. Flowers compactly arranged, Leaves margin magenta colour, >> > flower magenta color.... >> > A. coynei >> > 1. Flowers sparsely arranged on rachis, flowers greenish colour. >> 2 >> > 2. Leaves apex round or ovate, outer bracts without two dentation.... >> A. >> > aspera >> > 2. Leaves apex acuminate, outer bracts with 2 teeth like projection... >> A. >> > bidentata >> > >> > regards, >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > > Dear H S >> > > Yes many Himalayan Plants are found in Western Ghats and vice versa, >> but >> > > when we say an endemic plant, its occurrence in another place is >> always >> > > interesting, for the plant may no longer be called as endemic to >> Western >> > > Ghats, if it occurs naturally in another far separated region. That is >> why I >> > > wanted this identification to be verified carefully. Could you kindly >> give a >> > > key separating it from A. aspera and bidentata? as I am not familiar >> with >> > > this species. It should help. May be we can then request Alok ji to >> focus on >> > > those parts of the plant. It would be a great discovery to have this >> species >> > > in Himalayas. >> > >> > > -- >> > > 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: 9810359089 >> > >http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ >> > >> > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 6:40 PM, H S <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > >> Why not sirji, when we can get many Himalayan plants in Western Ghat >> at >> > >> higher elevation, so it is possible, >> > >> > >> infact A. coynei is also found at higher elevation.. >> > >> > >> or more detail study required.. >> > >> > >> regards, >> > >> > >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> > >> > >>> Dear H S >> > >>> I wonder whether a plant Endemic to Western Ghats can be expected in >> > >>> Western Himalayas. >> > >> > >>> -- >> > >>> 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: 9810359089 >> > >>>http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ >> > >> > >>> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:33 PM, H S <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > >>>> Achyranthes coynei >> > >> > >>>> regards, >> > >> > >>>> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 4:17 PM, Suresh Brar < >> [email protected]>wrote: >> > >> > >>>>> hello all, >> > >>>>> I think this is Prickly chaff flower,(Achyranthes aspera). >> > >>>>> Family-Amaranthaceae. >> > >>>>> Regards. >> > >>>>> Suresh Brar. >> > >> > >>>>> On Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 10:04 PM, Smilax004 < >> [email protected]>wrote: >> > >> > >>>>>> Cyathula sp of Amaranthaceae? >> > >> > >>>>>> Regards, >> > >>>>>> Giby >> > >> > >>>>>> On Jul 18, 9:21 pm, Alok Mahendroo <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >>>>>> > Dear friends, >> > >>>>>> > A herb for id... >> > >> > >>>>>> > Location Kalatope >> > >>>>>> > Altitude 2100 mts >> > >>>>>> > Habit herb >> > >>>>>> > Habitat wild >> > >>>>>> > Height 2 feet >> > >> > >>>>>> > regards >> > >>>>>> > Alok >> > >>>>>> > -- >> > >>>>>> > Himalayan Village Education Trust >> > >>>>>> > Village Khudgot, >> > >>>>>> > P.O. Dalhousie >> > >>>>>> > District Chamba >> > >>>>>> > H.P. 176304, India >> > >> > >>>>>> >www.hivetrust.wordpress.comwww.forwildlife.wordpress.comhttp:// >> > >>>>>> mushroomobserver.org/observer/observations_by_user?_js=on&_new. >> .. >> > >> > >>>>>> > DSCN4266.jpg >> > >>>>>> > 127KViewDownload >> > >> > >>>>>> > DSCN4268.jpg >> > >>>>>> > 183KViewDownload >> > >> > >>>>>> > DSCN4269.jpg >> > >>>>>> > 308KViewDownload >> > >> > >>>> -- >> > >>>> - H.S. >> > >> > >>>> A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, - a mere >> heart >> > >>>> of stone >> > >> > >> -- >> > >> - H.S. >> > >> > >> A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, - a mere >> heart of >> > >> stone >> > >> > -- >> > - H.S. >> > >> > A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, - a mere heart >> of >> > stone >> > > > >
