Arisaema ghaticum

Arisaema ghaticum (Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav) Punekar & Kumaran, Novon 19: 391 2009. (Syn: Arisaema sahyadricum var. ghaticum Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav);
  

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by Prashant Awale (Id by Pascal Bruggeman), Shrikant Ingalhalikar (Id by Manudev Madhavan) & Satish Nikam (Id by Pascal Bruggeman) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details,
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This small perennial herb is seen soon after first shower at higher elevations in hills on open rocky places. The flowers last for only few days and i was bit fortunate to spot this one.
Bot. name: Arisaema sahyadricum
Family: Araceae
Location: Sinhgad Fort near Pune

Thanks to … for the ID..

Very peculiar species, leafless at flowering.

Actually this is the related Arisaema ghaticum. Arisaema sahyadricum does not occur that far north in Maharahstra state and flowers with the leaves. Ghaticum was first described as a variety of sahydricum but is now considered a separate species. Apart from Sinhagad it can also be found in the area near Kas around the lakes and at the base of shrubs. It is smaller in all its parts than sahyadricum and the appendix is often rough, protruding and pointing down.

identification no190911sn2: Kindly identify. My guess Arisaema tortuosum ?.

date/time:aug11
location:mulshi,Pune
habitat:wild
plant habit:herb
height/length:about 3 ft.

yes even i guess Arisaema tortuosum

Either Arisaema ghaticum (previously known as Arisaema sahyadricum var. ghaticum) or Arisaema sahyadricum. I am not familiar with normal sahyadricum growing that far north so my best guess would be Arisaema ghaticum, a species known to grow around Pune (at Sinhagad for instance). Arisaema tortuosum has a different leaftype with a strongly developed rachis and usually has 2-3 leaves arranged along a pseudostem. Identification of Arisaema (or any Araceae) from infrutescences however is always a bit tricky but Arisaema ghaticum is the most likely ID. 

 
Kas Week: Arisaema sahyadricum:  With a small area of 5 sq km and a handful of members, it was encouraging to see many posts covering more than 30 species. I am now joining with posts of some plants that are lesser known because of their flowering season apart from monsoon. I hope these posts lure members to Kas in non-peak seasons also. I am sure no one will stop them from exploring plants.

This is a plant found flowering in rocks around Kumudidni lake at Kas in May with the advent of first moisture (not showers). This perennial has a tuber of about 3 cm. The peduncle is 15-20 cm and the spathe is 7-10 cm. The solitary leaf 15-30 cm tall arises in June with rains. The plant is quite rare.

I am confused.. seeing the long appendix, well exserted beyond the mouth, which is not a characteristic feature for A. sahyadricum.

However, another closely allied species A. ghaticum (Sardesai et al.) Punekar & Kumaran, actually described as a variety of the former species, has an appendix which exserts beyond the mouth of the tube. I suppose this could be A. ghaticum (Sardesai et al.) Punekar & Kumaran, though I haven’t seen this taxa in live.

Yes, this should be updated to A. ghaticum from A. sahyadricum var. ghaticum. Thank you for reminding.

 
 

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