Murdannia frm Commelinaceae around us.........

Murdannia versicolor(Dalz.)Brueck.

Annual one with simple fibrous roots restricted southwardly. This one is very similar to Murdannia lanuginosa. But the fibrous roots and uniseriate seeds is key factor to identify this plant. Commonly found along with Murdannia crocea var. ochracea. Flowers opens after 9 am and closes on 11 to 12pm. Best seen at Achirne near Vaibhavwadi district Sindhudurg. As well as Aamgaon Kankumbi Road district Belgaum.

Murdannia vaginata(L.)Brueck.
Annual herb, found commonly in Marshy and wet places in rice field also. Floewers solitary or with 2 to 4 fascicled. Identification mark is flowers always rise on Persistant bract and three seeds in a capsule.
Flowering after 10 am.
Best seen at Chandrapur-Allapali Road as well as Tadoba.


Murdannia spirata(L.) Brueck.
Erect to ascending annual herb with small flowers opens after 9:30am. rooting at nodes, leaves are sessile. Flowers in panicles but stalk is very short. Filaments are bearded. Flower bluish coloured.
Common in moist soil.
This plant shows too much variation in their habit so anyone can confuse. And another thing Dr. R. B. Faden made nos. of varieties of this plant in Flora of Ceylon Vol. 14. But don't worry photo leke ghumenge to no confusion. Flowering from July to Sept.

Murdannia semiteres(Dalz.) Sant.
Smallest Murdannia amongs all Murdannia's found abundently allover the Westeren Ghats.

Linear elongate grasses like leaves with small purple coloured flowers in panicles is the key character to locate this Murdannia.

Easily found in Aug to Oct on all over the Maharashtra.

Plant is very specific but I don't know why some people treated this plant as a Murdannia wightii ? any way.......... Flowers opens during early morning (8 am towards)

Murdannia japonica (Thumb.) Faden

Gigantic herb, annual with tuberous, tuffed root. This plant is different from other Murdannia's by its flower size, broadly ovate leaf.

This is reporetd from Maharashtra (Sindhudurg)but I couldn't get.

Best seen at Khanapur-Jamhboti Road undergrowth of forest as well as Khanapur- Anmod road district Belgaum. Flowering you get from July to Octomber.Flowers open afternoon. This is one of Murdannia I like too much.

Murdannia lanuginosa (Wall. ex C. B. Cl.) Brueck.

An erect to ascending annual herb. Mostly restricted to Plateaus in Westeren Ghats. Chrome Yellow Coloured, axillary Flower and Tuberous root is typical key to identify this one. Easily found in Aug to Oct on Kaas Plateau.

Flowers opens During 10 am to 12 noon.

Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan

This is also annual one commanly found all over in Western Ghats. Blue to pinkish coloured flower on panicle inflorescence with 2 fertile stamen is Key.

Easily found in Aug to Oct on along Road sides in Ghats.

Flowers opens During 11 am to 1 pm.

Murdannia simplex (Vahl.) Brenan

Tall one with basal rossete leaves. Longer leaves, Large Blue colored flower with two fertile and one antherless stamen is peculiar character. Roots are elongated thick fibrous one. Best seen allover the Westeren Ghats Plateaus.

This plant is wrongly treated with others i.e. M. loriformis and M. gigantia but my opinion is these all are forms of M. simplex. Flowers opens after noon.

Yet Numbers of Murdannia's are not published on this blog. But because of lots of confusion i havn't publish. I hope all are published in forthcumin days.

Thank you and Enjoy...................

Regards

Mayur Nandikar

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