Ophiorrhiza brunonis Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 404 1834. (syn: Ophiorrhiza brunonis var. hirsutior Wight ex Hook.f.; Ophiorrhiza brunonis var. johnsonii Hook.f.);
SW. India as per WCSP;
Common name: Brown’s Snake Root
Small subshrubs; branches pubescent. Leaves to 20 x 7 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous except the nerves; nerves 10-12 pairs, arching; petiole 2-4 cm long, hispid; stipule 10 mm long, lanceolate, glabrous. Cymes 5-7 cm broad, terminal, corymbose; peduncle 2-6 cm long, hispid. Flowers 15 mm long, densely arranged; bracteoles 13 mm long, filiform, villous; calyx lobes 2 mm long, hairy; corolla tube 8 mm long, hispid, lobes ovate, obtuse; anthers 2.5 mm long, linear. Fruits not seen. Flowering and fruiting: February-September
Evergreen forests
Southern Western Ghats
(attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi from India Biodiversity Portal)
Seen this herb at Shola Forest near Munnar.
Bot. name: Ophiorrhiza brunonis Family: Rubiaceae
As per FOI link (http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Brown’s%20Snake%20Root.html ), this is Critically endangered sp. and it was believed to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 2013.
References: Catalogue of Life The Plant List Ver.1.1 WCSP GBIF (with high resolution specimens) High resolution specimen Flowers of India India Biodiversity Portal |