Aganosma cymosa is a liana that can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) in length, pale brownish tomentose. Leaf-stalks are 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in), leaf blade broadly ovate or orbicular, 5–16 cm (2.0–6.3 in) by 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in), base rounded or obtuse, apex acuminate or obtuse, rarely retuse, lateral veins eight to ten pairs. Flowers are borne in many-flowered clusters at branch ends, which are carried on stalks up to 6 cm (2.4 in). Bracts and bracteoles are very narrowly elliptic, about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. Flower-stalks are about 5 mm (0.2 in). Calyx with several glands inside margin of sepals; sepals very narrowly elliptic, about 1 cm (0.4 in), pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are white, minutely tomentose outside, glabrous at throat; tube shorter than sepals, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in); lobes oblong, as long as tube. Disc longer than ovary. Ovary pubescent at apex. Follicles 2, cylindric, to 30 cm (12 in) by 0.8–1.2 cm (0.3–0.5 in), yellow hirsute. Seeds oblong, 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) by about 5 mm (0.2 in), coma 2–4.5 cm (0.8–1.8 in). It is native to China (Guangxi, Yunnan), Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam).[1][2][3]

Aganosma cymosa
Flowers and leaves of Aganosma cymosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Aganosma
Species:
A. cymosa
Binomial name
Aganosma cymosa
Synonyms[1]
  • Echites cymosus Roxb. 1832
  • Echites confertus Wall., name published without description
  • Aganosma cymosa var. glabra A.DC.
  • Aganosma doniana Wight
  • Aganosma conferta G.Don
  • Aganosma cymosa var. lanceolata Hook.f.
  • Aganosma harmandiana Pierre ex Spire
  • Aganosma cymosa var. fulva Craib
  • Aganosma elegans G.Don
  • Echites elegans Wall., name published without description

Ecology edit

Aganosma cymosa is the larval host plant for Malabar tree nymph (Idea malabarica).

Vernacular names edit

Vernacular names include:[3]

  • Kannada: chidaralanabilu, chithra leena balli, citrelinaballi
  • Malayalam: anaikaita, anakkayyerram, tsjeria-pu-pal-valli
  • Tamil: manimalaankodi, sellakkodi

Taxonomy edit

Varieties[1]
  1. Aganosma cymosa var. conferta Hook.f. - S India
  2. Aganosma cymosa var. cymosa - Yunnan, Guangxi, Assam, Bangladesh, Indochina
  3. Aganosma cymosa var. elegans (G.Don) Hook.f. - S India, Sri Lanka

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ Flora of China Vol. 16 Page 169 云南香花藤 yun nan xiang hua teng Aganosma cymosa (Roxburgh) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4: 77. 1837.
  3. ^ a b "Forest Aganosma". flowersofindia.net.