Pentapetes phoenicea
L., Sp. Pl. 698. 1753; Masters in Fl. Brit. India 1: 371. 1874.
Beng.: Kat-lata, Bandhuli; Tipp.: Dupure chandi.
Herbs, up to 2 m high, much branched, sparsely stellate-hairy. Leaves 7 - 15 cm long, deltoid or hastate to linear, deltoid at base, acute at apex, often broad up to 3 cm, strongly crenate-serrate, glabrous above, stellate-hairy on the veins beneath; petioles 1 - 3 cm long; stipules linear-subulate, equalling petioles. Flowers 1 - 3 in axillary fascicles. Sepals up to 1 cm long, connate at base, lobes lanceolate, acuminate, stellate-hairy mixed with sunple bristles outside. Petals 1 cm long, obovate, truncate. Staminal cup bearing 5 groups of 3 stamens alternating with 5 staminodes; staminodes as long as petals, linear-spathulate, glandular on inner surface. Ovary 5-locular, hairy, ovules many in each locule; styles 1 - 1.5 cm long, often twisted. Capsules 1 - 1.5 x .6 - 1 cm, subglobose o oblong, 5-valved, stellate-tomentose with scattered bristles equalling or shorter than the persistent calyx. Seeds 8 - 12 in two series, ca 2 mm long, obovate, dotted.
Fl. & Fr. Aug. - Jan.
Distrib. India: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, N.E. India, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; often cultivated.
Tropical Asia.
Herbs, up to 2 m high, much branched, sparsely stellate-hairy. Leaves 7 - 15 cm long, deltoid or hastate to linear, deltoid at base, acute at apex, often broad up to 3 cm, strongly crenate-serrate, glabrous above, stellate-hairy on the veins beneath; petioles 1 - 3 cm long; stipules linear-subulate, equalling petioles. Flowers 1 - 3 in axillary fascicles. Sepals up to 1 cm long, connate at base, lobes lanceolate, acuminate, stellate-hairy mixed with sunple bristles outside. Petals 1 cm long, obovate, truncate. Staminal cup bearing 5 groups of 3 stamens alternating with 5 staminodes; staminodes as long as petals, linear-spathulate, glandular on inner surface. Ovary 5-locular, hairy, ovules many in each locule; styles 1 - 1.5 cm long, often twisted. Capsules 1 - 1.5 x .6 - 1 cm, subglobose o oblong, 5-valved, stellate-tomentose with scattered bristles equalling or shorter than the persistent calyx. Seeds 8 - 12 in two series, ca 2 mm long, obovate, dotted.
Fl. & Fr. Aug. - Jan.
Distrib. India: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, N.E. India, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; often cultivated.
Tropical Asia.
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