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Amomum masticatorium
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Family:
ZINGIBERACEAE
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Citation: Amomum masticatorium Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 317. 1861; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 238. 1892; Sabu, Taxonomic Phylogenetic Stud. Zingiberac. 144. 1991; Sabu, Zingiberaceae and Costaceae of South India 87. 2006.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Rhizome perennial, creeping, 0.5-1 cm thick, covered with ovate, membranous sheaths. Leafy shoot 2-3 m high. Leaves shortly petioled, petiole less than 5 mm long; ligule upto 4.5 cm long, the membranous upper third or half deciduous, the upper ligules short and intact; lamina 20-35 x 5-7 cm, oblong-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescence globose, upto 6 x 3.5 cm; peduncle 5-7 cm, flexuous, decumbent, covered with 1-2 cm long, broadly ovate, slightly pubescent, membranous sheaths. Bract 2-2.5 x 1-1.5 cm, obovate, obtuse to subacute, pink, pubescent margins slightly ciliate. Bracteoles tubular, 1.5-2 cm long, bilobed, glabrous. Calyx 2.5-3 cm long, tubular, trilobed, lobes usually slightly pubescent at their tips, lobes triangular, apiculate. Corolla tube not exceeding the calyx, slightly pubescent, white; lobes white to pale yellow, oblong, rounded; dorsal lobe broader, c. 2 x 1.5 cm; lateral lobes c. 2 x 0.9 cm. Labellum 1.8-2 x 1.3-1.8 cm, broadly obovate, narrowed to a short claw at the base, limb 3-lobed, midlobe bifid, yellow, streaked red. Lateral staminodes 4-6 mm long, linear. Filament 0.8-1 cm long; anther-thecae 5-6 mm long, diverging above, very shortly pubescent at base and apex; connective prolonged into a 10 x 3 mm, semilunar, obscurely 3-lobed crest. Epigynous glands 4 mm long, usually united. Ovary 3-4 mm long, shortly pubescent. Capsule globose, 2 cm in diameter, echinate.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
March-July
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District(s):
Idukki
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Evergreen forests
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Distribution:
South India and Sri Lanka
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Yellow
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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