Common name: Indian Grass Lily • Kannada: Kaadu belluli, Neeru baale • Marathi: भूई चक्र Bhui chakra, जांभले भूई चक्र Jambhle bhui chakra • Telugu: kaki katuka
Botanical name: Iphigenia indica Family: Liliaceae (Lily family) Synonyms: Melanthium indicum, Anguillaria indica
Indian Grass Lily is a small perennial herb only 10-25 cm tall. Leaves are
grass-like 7-15 cm long,3-9 mm broad. Midvein is prominent, base is
sheathing and stem-clasping. Flowers are borne in 2-10-flowered clusters.
Bracts are linear, 1.5-2.5 cm long, flower-stalks 2-4 cm long. Tepals are
dark purple, linear to narrowly inverted-lanceshaped 7-10 mm long,0.7-1 mm
wide. Stamens are 2-3 mm long, with anthers about 1 mm. Stigma lobes are
curved back. Capsule are obovoid to oblong, 6-8 × 3-3.5 mm. Indian Grass
Lily is found in peninsular India and in the Himalayas, from Kumaun to
Nepal, at altitudes of 1800-2000 m. Flowering: June-July.
Identification credit: Jayesh Patil
| Photographed at Matheran, Maharashtra. |
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