No idea where to start!

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by Silver surfer, May 27, 2011.

  1. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Between Lava and Jaldapara. West Bengal. India.
    Please can anyone help with id.
    Thanks.
     

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    Silver surfer, May 27, 2011
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  2. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    saltcedar, May 27, 2011
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  3. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    More similar in leaf habit to Costus. Alpinia rarely have whorled leaves like that....

    C. lacerus is pretty close, and Tropicos has records for it in India - compare. It's recently been moved into a new genus, Cheilocostus, but it's the same creature.
     
    lorax, May 27, 2011
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  4. SusanDunlap

    SusanDunlap Active Member

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    VERY interesting structure. Thanks for posting it.
     
    SusanDunlap, May 28, 2011
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  5. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Thank you saltcedar and Lorax for your help.
    I thought I could recognise Costus/Cheilocostus, but confess I have only seen it with flowers on. With seeds on it looks very different.
     
    Silver surfer, May 28, 2011
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  6. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    For me, the dead giveaway for Costus/Cheilocostus/etceteracostus (the genus has been divided into 5, if memory serves) is the spiral arrangement of the leaves. I have yet to meet another member of the ginger family that does it.
     
    lorax, May 28, 2011
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  7. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 22, 2013
    Silver surfer, Oct 23, 2011
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  8. SusanDunlap

    SusanDunlap Active Member

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    hmm, not sure the leaf arrangement is a match to yours.. the flower is indeed quite similar.
     
    SusanDunlap, Oct 23, 2011
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