Ceropegia elegans

Ceropegia elegans Wall., Bot. Mag. 57: t. 3015 1830. (syn: .; Ceropegia elegans var. walkerae (Wight) Trimen; .; Ceropegia ledgeri N.E.Br.; Ceropegia mysorensis Wight; Ceropegia similis N.E.Br.; Ceropegia sphenanantha Wight & Arn.; Ceropegia sphenanthera Decne.; Ceropegia walkerae Wight);

 

Images by tspkumar

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Twiners. Leaves to 4 x 3 cm, ovate, lanceolate, apex acute, base slightly cordate, membranous; petiole 1.5 cm. Cymes axillary; peduncles 1.5 cm; pedicels 1 cm; calyx 2 mm. Linear; corolla base bulbous, mouth broadly widened, tube, 1.8 cm long, curved, lobes 5, 1 x 0.6 cm, triangular, ovate, obtusely apiculate; outer corona lobes 5, deeply 2-fid, 2 mm; inner lobes 5, 2 mm, linear.

(Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi

from India Biodiversity Portal)

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Ceropegia elegans Wall. SN Nov 4 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2)

Ceropegia elegans Wall., a nice climber from Virajpet area of Coorg, Karnataka, 

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Ceropegia_24-5-2015_for ID assistance : 4 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (6)

C. elegance, pl

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Yes ceropegia elegans for sure

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Images of Ceropegia elegans shared : 4 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (4)

 

TSPOCT2015-2: Images of Ceropegia elegans shared. : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (4)
It is my pleasure to share a few more images of Ceropegia elegans (Apocynaceae)

Oh!!! Wonderful!!!

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My tryst with the Queen……………Ceropegia elegans.

The genus Ceropegia has always been an enigma. The different floral shapes and colours have fascinated me. I had read that about 43 of the 53 species that are known to occur in India are threatened and have become rare and genetically depleted. I always searched for them, when on field duty, with no success whatsoever. They remained as elusive as quicksilver.

24-06-2014 was another day that I could not keep indoors. It was mid-monsoon. The call of the Giris, my favorite “beckoning hills,” was irresistible. The imposing cliffs, winding roads, mesmerizing mist, blinding rains and its orchid perfume always beckoned me. Unmindful of my nemesis, those cold, slithery, and bloodthirsty leeches, I set out with my team hoping to find some orchids. The day was fruitful as we could find quite a few orchids, terrestrial and epiphytic as well.

The climb was arduous and my nemesis had its fair share of my blood. The sun was already behind the western hills and the light was falling rapidly. We hastened our descent hoping to get into the safety of my Bolero before it got too dark. Before getting into the vehicle, I stopped for a while to fill my lungs and to examine my shoes and socks, Bent a little, kick-dropped a couple of leeches and looked over my shoulders…! I thought that a pair of small, greenish, serpent-like eyes was watching me from among the thickets a few feet away.  I stared for a while, eye-to-eye, and blinked first. Spellbound for a few seconds, I went closer. My heart missed a few beats as I realized that it was not a serpent, but an alien looking flower….! Yes. She was a Ceropegia….my Queen…! I had inadvertently stumbled upon the ‘Queen of Ceropegias’ that was later identified as Ceropegia elegans by that master explorer of Ceropegias, Mr.Sushant More.

She has been a lucky mascot for me because later on I could meet her mates as well during the year. Ceropegia juncea, Ceropegia biflora, Ceropegia candelabrum and the King himself, Ceropegia gardneri…! I have been recapitulating 24-06-2014 every now and then ever since. 

The images I took that day, in the falling light, are my treasure and occupy a prime place in my heart and archives as well. Hence she is my ‘Flora picture of the year’

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It’s indeed the queen of ceropegias and thanks for sharing a wonderful story. I hope you would locate all of them one day and share with us.

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My pleasure … I have shared all the Ceropegia images on efl

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What a great write up, I was completely absorbed as if reading some Shakespearean novel, and finally when I saw the images, the first thing I did was to open my Chikamagalur folder and made sure that queen was there. Thanks … for guiding me to these rare treasures of Karnataka. I marvel your command over English language.  

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That is lovely experience sir you are lucky that you have those hills to explore wish u best luck and happy new year. Best Wishes 🙂

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Thanks … and wish you a very happy 2016 to you too. Your passion towards Ceropegias has kindled my desire to find them…!

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Fantastic account of the flora picture … The blog and pictures complement each other very well. Joy of getting ceropegia into collection is altogether different.

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Thanks… Ceropegias are never unattractive. Finding and picturising them is an out of the world experience.

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References:

The Plant List Ver.1.1  India Biodiversity Portal  Wikipedia  An Excursion Flora of Central Tamilnadu, India By K. M. Matthew (1995- Details with keys)