Common name: Roundleaf Star Creeper • Manipuri: কীহোম মান Kihom-man • Mizo: Choakathi • Nepali: तिलिकोस्यो Tilikosyo
Botanical name: Pratia nummularia Family: Campanulaceae (Bell flower family) Synonyms: Pratia begoniifolia, Lobelia begoniifolia
Roundleaf Star Creeper is small trailing herb occurring in moist places
and grasslands. The prostrate stems, 10-60 cm long, root at the nodes.
Leaves are either ovate or round, 1-2.5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, with
prominently toothed margin. The species name nummularia means
coin-shaped. Perfectly shaped flowers occur in leaf axils, on 1-2 cm long
stalks. Sepals are very narrow, linear, pointed, 2-4 mm long. Flowers are
white to pale purple, with dashes of pink, 2-lipped. The flowers appear
star-shaped because of the triangular petals. Flowers are followed by
comparatively large purple-red fruits, which are ellipsoid in shape, 1-2
cm long. Sometimes it is cultivated as a rockery or hanging basket plant.
Roundleaf Star Creeper occurs in the Himalayas, in NE India and
SE Asia, at altitudes of 1000-2400 m. Flowering: June-July.
Identification credit: Leikangbam Reena
| Photographed in Leimaraam, Manipur. |
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