Asteraceae Fortnight Part I-Radiate Heads: Anaphalis 3 for id from Chakrata- NS 95 : Attachments (3). 5 posts by 3 authors. Again an Anaphalis sp. shot from Chakrata in a different period of time.... compared to Anaphalis 1 posted for id... this looks similar to that one.. can this be sorted out? All Anaphalis are really confusing. Its good that you have documented many of them so nicely that some day we will reach to conclusion. I also hope so ... certainly I will keep a closer look this time to get any conclusive pics.. thanks for your nice words... Anaphalis are indeed difficult to identify. Providing a key for identification of common species. Keys for common Anaphalis species in West Himalaya, based on Naithani (1984): 1a. Involucral bracts acute, spreading in flowers 2a. Head diameter 1.2-2.5cm 3a. Leaves 1.2-5 cm long; involucral bracts ovate-lanceolate 4a. Lower leaves spathulate half amplexicaule....A.cuneifolia 4b. Lower leaves obovate-spathulate, contracted at base.. A.nepalensis 3b. Leaves 5-10cm long; involucral bracts ovate-lanceolate acute...A.triplinervis 2b. Head diameter 0.6-0.8 cm 5a. Stout roots, plants woody based, twisted, with many short branches having linear spathulate leaves, involucral bracts with a broad brown claw....A.xylorhiza 5b. Root woody but stem not twisted, many, involucral bracts white ....A.royleana 1b. Involucral bracts, obtuse, erect in head 6a. Lanceolate leaves 7a. Leaves thin, lower surface cinnamon red or grey...A.margaritacea 7b. Leaves thick, lower surface white ...A.adnata 6b. Linear leaves 8a. Leaves 3.8-5 cm long 9a. Basal lobe long, decurrent, involucral bracts elliptic oblong, 2-2.5 mmlong...A.busua 9b. Basal lobes narrow, apiculate, involucral bracts linear oblong, 4mm long ...A.virgata 8b. Leaves 1.2-2.5 cm long, basal lobes short ...A.contorta HOWEVER, to follow keys plant specimens, rather than pics, are more desirable in addition to basic ground in Plant Taxonomy. Thanks a lot ... for your efforts, I will try to make use of this data for my present posts.. and you are absolutely right in saying that only photographs cannot be decisive, identification can be achieved in field through actual examination of the specimens.. but some basic things should be there to keep in mind... thanks again for providing relevant points to look for while trying to distinguish different specimens of Anaphalis.. |
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