Overview of Indian Plants

Odontochilus poilanei  (Gagnep.) Ormerod Family: Orchidaceae . Description:   A slender, mycoheterotrophic (saprophytic), leafless terrestrial orchid. The entire plant is achlorophyllous (without green parts). The plant typically reaches a height of up to 20 cm. Roots / Rhizome: P lant has a creeping, terete rhizome up to 5 cm long. It is taxonomically described as a holomycotrophic tuberous geophyte. Leaves: is leafless; the stems are covered with scaly, red, overlapping sheaths instead of leaves. Flowers: Numerous flowers (up to 10) are borne on an erect, pubescent rachis (inflorescence) up to 7 cm long. F lowers are non-resupinate, up to 1.5 cm wide and 1.5 cm long. The sepals and ovary are typically red. L abellum (lip) is prominently colored in shades of yellow and red, Y- or T-shaped, and is 2-lobed with an irregularly laciniate (deeply or irregularly toothed) margin. Distribution (World & India):   Global:   Widespread across Asia, including Bhutan, China,...

  Calanthe triplicata (Willemet) Ames Family: Orchidaceae . Description: A robust, evergreen terrestrial orchid with large, pleated leaves and showy white flowers. The plant typically reaches heights of 50–100 cm. Roots / Pseudobulbs: The plant has short rhizomes and pseudobulbs that are small and partially buried. Roots are fleshy and fibrous, emerging from the base. Leaves: Large (up to 60 cm long), basal, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, prominently plicate (pleated), soft-textured, and bright green. Flowers: Numerous white flowers borne on a tall, erect raceme (inflorescence up to 1 m tall); lip (labellum) is 3-lobed, with central lobe often yellow or orange near the base; spur short. Flowers are fragrant and bloom typically after the monsoon season. Distribution (World & India): Global: Widespread across tropical and subtropical Asia, Pacific Islands, northern Australia, and parts of East Africa. India: Found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Northeastern states, ...

  Hyoscyamus niger L. Family:  Solanaceae . Description: Erect, hairy, sticky, odorous annual or biennial herb, growing to about 0.75‑1.5 m high under favorable conditions. Leaves: Basal leaves petiolate; leaf blades ovate‑lanceolate to oblong, coarsely toothed or irregularly pinnatifid; cauline leaves sessile or clasping, sometimes lobed. Flowers: Cup‑ or bell‑shaped (campanulate), about 2‑3 cm diameter; yellowish or pale yellow with purple veins, often darker in centre; calyx tubular or campanulate, enlarging in fruit; fruit is capsule (pyxis) that dehisces via a lid. Distribution (World & India): Global / general: Native in temperate Eurasia, NW Africa; widespread in western Asia; introduced into many regions. Altitude range: Typically found in India (Himalayan region) between ~ 1,500 to 3,700 m above sea level. In India: Occurs in western Himalayas from Kashmir to Uttarakhnad. Cultivated in some areas, also found wild in disturbed/waste places and roadsides. ...

Cypripedium cordigerum D. Don Family: Orchidaceae . Description:  Glabrous erect terrestrial herb. Stem solitary, slender to stout, 22‑60 cm tall. Leaves 2‑5, spreading, elliptic to broadly elliptic (ovate‑lanceolate to elliptic), acute to acuminate, glabrous. Flower solitary (rarely two), terminal; sepals and petals greenish‑white to pale green (occasionally white or pale lemon‑yellow), lip (pouch) white (with inner spotting) often with pinkish markings; staminode yellow with red spots. Pedicel/ovary densely glandular. Flowering & Fruiting period: May‑October (main flowering in July‑August) Distribution (World & India): Global / general : Himalayas (from northern Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, South Tibet, and northern India). Altitude range : ~ 2,100 m to ~ 4,000 m asl. In India: Found in the north‑western Himalayas; recorded in Uttarakhand (Kumaun, Garhwal), Himachal Pradesh, districts like Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur etc. Often in subalpine to alpine temperate zones, shady...

Habenaria intermedia D. Don Family: Orchidaceae . Description: It is a terrestrial orchid, perennial with a tuberous rootstock. Stems arise annually, leafy, somewhat flexuous. Plants typically reach about 50‑75 cm height. Leaves: 2‑4 leaves, sheathing at base; leaves are ovate to ovate‑lanceolate or elliptic, acuminate, 5‑10 × 4.5 cm approximately. Veining 5‑7‑nerved. Inflorescence / Flowers: Raceme up to 20‑25 cm long, dense, bearing several (3‑6) flowers. Flowers greenish‑white to white; sepals and petals forming a hood; lip 3‑lobed with spur, lateral lobes pectinate (filiform segments), mid‑lobe simple linear‑oblong; spur stout, exceeding ovary in many cases. Flowering from about June to September. Distribution (World & India): Global / general: Found in Himalayas (Nepal, China/Tibet, Pakistan, Bhutan), and northeastern India. Altitude range: Approximately 1,500 to 3,300 m above sea level (some sources give ~1,800‑2,900 m for Indian Himalayas). In India: Found in temperate...

Aconitum nagarum Stapf Family: Ranunculaceae Description: It is a perennial herbaceous plant, growing from tuberous rootstock (caudex). Stems are erect, 50–70 cm tall, sometimes reaching up to 1 m, simple or branched, glabrous below and pubescent above. Plant arises from a carrot-shaped or subterete tuberous rootstock. This underground part is presumed to be the primary medicinal component, similar to other Aconitum species. Leaves: Basal leaves are petiolate with blades often pentagonal-reniform in shape, 3-sect or deeply lobed, occasionally to the base. Cauline (stem) leaves are smaller, similar in shape, and fewer in number. Flowers: Inflorescence is a narrow, long raceme, 12–30 cm, bearing 6–25 flowers. Flowers are large, blue to purple, with hooded (“helmet-shaped”) upper sepals. Sepals are pubescent outside. Inner petals glabrous; carpels 5, densely white pubescent. Flowering period is typically around October. Distribution (World & India): Global / General: Native to th...