Smithia agharkarii

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Smithia agharkarii Hemadri, Indian Forester 97(1): 67. 1971.;
India (N) ; Maharashtra as per ILDIS;

It is differentiated by unequal pair of bracteoles and membranous calyx having larger joints of fruit as compared to other Smithia species. One of the largest Smithia species having unequal bracteoles and larger joints of fruits, although resembling Smithia hirsuta in general habit

Herbs, erect or suberect, annual, 9-20 cm high; stems dichotomously branched, bristly in upper portion. Leaves pinnately compound; leaflets 2-3 pairs, subsessile, 5-13 x 2-5 mm, oblong, obtuse, narrowed at base, bristle-tipped at apex, glabrous above, sparsely strigose beneath. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, simple raceme, with 2-6 flowers; peduncles 0.5 – 1.5 cm long, clothed with bristly hairs; pedicels l-2 mm      iong; bracts 2.5-3 mm long, ovate; bracteoles 2. Calyx bilipped,4-5 mm long, reaching up to 9 mm in fruit, green equal. Petals 6-8 mm long, yellow, standard with 2 red spots. Pods straw yellow to brownish when dried, glabrous, 3-5-jointed; joints 3-4 mm in diameter, folded and orbicular. Seeds, reniform, smooth, yellowish-brown, dorsally compressed.
Flowering period: August – October
Insect- pollinated
autotrophy; primary producer
System: Terrestrial, moist soils at high altitude hill tops. 
Habitat: Open rocky plateaus and scrublands along the Northen Western Ghats.
Endemic

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KAS Week DS_031012_07 Again Smithia? :
This one is similar to my earlier posting Smithia hirsuta, but flower size is smaller and red patches have also become linear patch.
Must be another Smithia ? Id please.

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Yes, the red marking can be a clue to the species but as per key the leaflets are more than 2 pairs (3 pairs) and calyx lobes are with linear segments on margins. This is the rare Smithia agharkarii, an endangered plant found near Kumudini lake on Kas Plateau. Here is another image.

Smithia agharkarii Hemadri was reduced to a synonym of Smithia bigemina in this 1986 paper, and is treated so at POWO.

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