Common name: Purple Smithia • Marathi: बरका Barka, Burkur
Botanical name: Smithia purpurea Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
The genus Smithia is named in honour of Sir James Edward Smith, 1759-1828.
Purple Smithia is a small annual herb, 0.5-1 ft tall. Stem erect, branched,
glabrous. Stalkless leaves are pinnate, with oblong leaflets having a bristle
at the tip. Purple flowers, about 1 cm across, occur in racemes of 6-12
flowers. The round "standard" petal and the "wings" are marked with white
spots. Flowering: October.
| Photographed at Bhimashankar, Maharashtra. |
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
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