Panchgani Ceropegia

Description:

Distribution : INDIA: Maharashtra: Satara (Mahabaleshwar - Lingmala, Kate’s point, Hunter’s point; Panchgani) Endemic. An erect tuberous herb, perennial, 30-50 cm high. Stems terete, minutely pubescent above, glabrous at lower part, sometimes branched at the base, branches 2-3. Leaves ovate, 6-9 x 3-4.5 cm, apex acute, base rounded or subcordate, hairy above and glabrous beneath; petiole 1-2 cm long, puberulous, grooved above. Cymes 5-8 flowered; peduncles 5-15 mm long, hairy; pedicels 8-15 mm long, hairy; bracts few, 3-4 mm long, hairy. Calyx divided to base, ca 5 mm long. Corolla 2.8-3.5 cm long; tube 2.2-2.8 cm long, slightly curved, base inflated, inside a ring of hairs at the bottom, above narrow, cylindrical, purple coloured; lobes elliptic-ovate or obovate, ca 6 mm long, glabrous, greyish-white or yellow coloured. Outer corona of 5 shortly bifid, hairy lobes; inner erect, clavate, hairy. Pollinia five, pollen masses solitary in each anther cell, yellow, waxy with pellucid layer, attached by light-brown caudicles to dark-brown corpuscle. Follicles in pairs.

Habitat:

The plant grows in open areas of semi-evergreen forest at an altitude of over 1000 m. Population status / Cause for RET : Critically Endangered. It is very specific in its habitat requirements and therefore restricted in distribution. It is represented by about 100 individuals at Mahabaleshwar and about 50 individuals at Harishchandragad.