Perfumed Passionflower ( Passiflora vitifolia) - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:            Malpighiales

Family:           Passifloraceae

Genus:            Passiflora

Species:          P. vitifolia

Binomial name : Passiflora vitifolia Kunth.

Other Names:  Perfumed Passion flower

Special feature: Passiflora vitifolia is a species of Passiflora, native to southern Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama) and northwestern South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru).

It is a vine with cylindric stems covered in red-brown hairs when young. The leaves are serrate, three-lobed, up to 15 cm long and 18 cm broad. The lobed leaves' resemblance to grape leaves gives this passionflower its specific epithet, "vitifolia," meaning "grape leaves" after the Latin for grape "vitis." The flowers are bright red, up to 9 cm diameter.

The fruit is a berry 5 cm long and 3 cm broad, with green flesh speckled with white, slight downy hairs, containing numerous seeds. The fruit is quite sour when it falls off the plant and can take a month to ripen to its full flavor of sour strawberries. Due to the fragrant fruit, it is in small-scale cultivation in the Caribbean. (Source: Wikipedia)

Sulfur Cosmos (Cosmos sulphurous) - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:            Asterales

Family:           Asteraceae

Genus:            Cosmos

Species:          C. sulphurous

Binomial name : Cosmos sulphurous Cav.

Other Names:  Sulfur Cosmos and Yellow Cosmos

Special feature: It is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, and naturalized in other parts of North and South America as well as in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

This plant was declared invasive by the United States Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council in 1996. The flowers of all Cosmos attract birds and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly.

This species of Cosmos is considered a half-hardy annual, although plants may re-appear via self-sowing for several years. Its foliage is opposite and pinnately divided. The plant height varies from 1–7 feet (30–210 cm). The original and its cultivars appear in shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Young shoots are eaten raw or cooked in Indonesia under the name of lalab or gudang.

The flowers are a dye, producing an orange-yellow dye, used in pre-Columbian America and later in southern Africa to dye wool. In Thailand, they are consumed in salads or herbal tea with the effect of inhibiting pancreatic lipase.

According to a Pakistani team (2017), in rats subjected to a high dose of paracetamol extract of the plant has a hepatoprotective effect.

A Ukrainian publication (2017) attributes to bread containing 10% dry extract of Cosmos sulphureus a good note for its organoleptic qualities. (Source: Wikipedia)

Begonia "Angel Wing" - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:            Cucurbitales

Family:           Begoniaceae

Genus:            Begonia

Species:          Begonia "Angel Wing"

Special feature: Begonia "Angel Wing" is a hybrid Begonia which resulted from a cross between Begonia aconitifolia and B. coccinea. The hybridization was made by California plant breeder Eva Kenworthy Gray in 1926.

Angel is named for the shape of their leaves. Angel Wings generally contain spots or a frosted pattern. The underside is often a deep red. They flower and produce blooms that range in colors from red and pink to white.

Often, these plants are used as year-round houseplants. They're easy to grow for a gardener who understands their needs. Since begonias originated in the tropics, the ideal growing conditions include high humidity, good circulation of the air around the plant, a lot of water, and a lot of light. The more light, the more brilliant the color of the leaves. 

Angel Wing Begonias will grow well under shade cloth, lattice, or in early morning/late afternoon sun. They will burn if grown in direct mid-day sun. The flowers are edible, with a sweet tart taste.(Source: Wikipedia)

Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:            Gentianales

Family:           Rubiaceae

Genus:            Galium

Species:          G. boreale

Binomial name: Galium boreale L. 1753

Other Names:  Northern bedstraw

Special feature: G. boreale is a perennial plant that dies back to the ground every winter. Established plants spread by rhizomes, creating colonies of new plants around the original one

The squarish unbranched stems may grow between 20 centimetres (7.9 in) and 50 centimetres (20 in) tall. The leaves are attached directly to the stem in groups of four; spaced evenly like the spokes of a wheel. Leaves are longer than they are wide and have three prominent veins.

The small white flowers grow in fairly showy panicles from the top of the stem. Each individual flower has 4 pointed segments that fold back from a fused tube enclosing the stamens and pistil. The lightly perfumed flowers have no calyx. Seeds are formed in pairs in dark fruits that may be covered in short hairs.

Gallium boreale is edible, with a sweet smell and taste, and can be eaten as a wild salad green. (Source: Wikipedia)

Identified by: Debasis Chattopadhyay

                       Ask IDs of Indian Plants ( Facebook Page)