1485

 

Vahlia dichotoma (Murray) Kuntze

Synonym	:	Vahlia oldenlandioides Roxb.
Family	:	Vahliaceae
Distribution	:	India, Sri Lanka, Tropical Africa and Madagascar
Distribution in Kerala	:	Palakkad
Habitat	:	Hilly tracts, ravines, forests
Key botanical characters: Erect branching annuals 15-50 cm. high, rarely with slightly woody base, sparsely covered with crisped pubescence, sometimes glandular. Leaves linear to lanceolate, 0.6-7 cm. long, 0.1-0.6 cm. wide, acute at apex, narrowed towards base. Peduncles 0.1-2.2 cm. long, 1 or 2 -flowered; pedicels 0-0.5(-0.8) cm. long. Calyx-tube 1.3-2.5 mm. long, sparsely to ± densely pubescent; lobes ovate-lanceolate to triangular, 1-2.8 mm. long, 0.7-1.1 mm. wide, acute, glabrous to pubescent outside. Petals white to yellow, round or obovate-oblong, 0.9-2.6 mm. long, 0.6-1.7 mm. wide, rounded to tapering or shortly acuminate, entire or sometimes becoming crenate towards apex; midvein and usually at least 1 pair of lateral veins apparent. Staminal filaments 0.5-1.7 mm. long, usually glabrous but occasionally with a few hairs, not appendaged at base; anthers 0.3-1 mm. long. Style-bases distinctly thickened, free to the disc; styles 0.6-2 mm. long, usually glabrous but occasionally with a few hairs. Capsule 2-3.3 mm. long, sparsely hairy; seeds straw-coloured, ovoid to cylindrical, 0.2-0.3 mm. long, with low longitudinal ridges.