Smithia purpurea is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family.[1]

Smithia purpurea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Smithia
Species:
S. purpurea
Binomial name
Smithia purpurea
Hook., 1847

Description

edit

A small annual herb with an erect stem that grows to a height of 0.5 to 1 ft (0.15 to 0.30 m) and has spreading branches. Leaves are pinnate, leaflets with a bristle at the tip. Flowers purple, about 1 cm across, occur in racemes of 6-12 flowers. The standard petal has two bright white dots.[2]

Range

edit

Western Ghats, India[3]

Habitat

edit

In open moist sunny areas on basaltic outcrops and is abundant on basalt mesas with an elevation of 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level.

Ecology

edit

In patches on open plateaux, banks of streamlets, road sides and farm bunds of Gghat regions. More frequently encountered near village environs and disturbed places.[4]

Etymology

edit

The genus is named after British botanist and physician Sir James Edward Smith and the specific epithet refers to the purple colour of the flower.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Smithia purpurea". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  2. ^ http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Purple%20Smithia.html
  3. ^ "Smithia purpurea Hook. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
  4. ^ https://ngcpr.org/link-files/Endemic%20plant%20species%20pdf/Smithia%20purpurea.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "Smithia purpurea - Names of Plants in India".