Panchgani Ceropegia

Distribution : INDIA: Maharashtra: Satara (Mahabaleshwar - Lingmala, Kate’s point, Hunter’s point;
Panchgani) Endemic.

An erect tuberous herb, perennial, 30-50
cm high. Stems terete, minutely pubescent above,
glabrous at lower part, sometimes branched at the
base, branches 2-3. Leaves ovate, 6-9 x 3-4.5 cm,
apex acute, base rounded or subcordate, hairy above
and glabrous beneath; petiole 1-2 cm long, puberulous,
grooved above. Cymes 5-8 flowered; peduncles 5-15
mm long, hairy; pedicels 8-15 mm long, hairy; bracts
few, 3-4 mm long, hairy. Calyx divided to base, ca 5
mm long. Corolla 2.8-3.5 cm long; tube 2.2-2.8 cm
long, slightly curved, base inflated, inside a ring of hairs
at the bottom, above narrow, cylindrical, purple
coloured; lobes elliptic-ovate or obovate, ca 6 mm long,
glabrous, greyish-white or yellow coloured. Outer
corona of 5 shortly bifid, hairy lobes; inner erect,
clavate, hairy. Pollinia five, pollen masses solitary in
each anther cell, yellow, waxy with pellucid layer,
attached by light-brown caudicles to dark-brown
corpuscle. Follicles in pairs.