1. Amischotolype Hassk., Flora 46: 391 (1863).
Forrestia A.Rich.
Taxon Description
Perennial herbs. Roots fibrous, long at the nodes of stem. Rhizomes present, long. Stems erect to procumbent. Leaves alternate, distichous, elliptic, base cuneate, apex caudate-acuminate, hispid or glabrous above, yellow hirsute below, sheaths tubular, closed, margin entire. Inflorescence cymes, compact, globose, involucral bracts elliptic or ovate to lanceolate or cordate or falcate, small and inconspicuous, large and prominent, penetrating leaf sheath, sessile and capitate. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, sessile to subsessile or shortly pedicellate. Sepals 3, free, carinate, narrow leaf-like, ovate to lanceolate. Petals 3, free, equal, oblong or obovate-orbicular, purplish. Stamens 6, fertile, subequal, filaments torulose villous, anther locules parallel, ovoid, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 3-loculed, ovules 2 per locule. Capsule 3-valved, globose or ovoid. Seeds 1 or 2 per valve, cylindric, trigonous, rugose, reticulate, hilum linear.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide 23 species, in tropical region. One species in Nepal.
1. Amischotolype hookeri (Hassk.) H.Hara, Fl. E. Himalaya: 399 (1966).
Forrestia hookeri Hassk., Flora 47: 629 (1864).
Perennial herbs, 1–3 cm. Rhizomes prostrate, 5–10 cm. Stems decumbent. Leaves elliptic, 6–8 X 2–6 cm, base cuneate, apex caudate-acuminate, hispid or glabrous above, yellow hirsute below. Inflorescence cymose, involucral bracts ovate to lanceolate, penetrating leaf sheath, cymes several, sessile. Sessile to subsessile or shortly pedicellate. Flowers actinomorphic, sessile. Sepals 3, ovate-oblong, connate at base, persistent, glabrous or rarely ciliate margin, tip hooded, green to deep purple. Petals 3, oval or elliptic, slightly round or blunt apex, pale purple-red. Stamens 6, fertile, subequal, anther locules parallel, ovoid, yellow. Ovary 3-loculed, ovules 2 per locule. Capsules 3-valved, ovoid, apex conical-tapered. Seeds 2 per valve, grey, cylindric, 2.5–2.8 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, and E. Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–1,900m.
Ecology: Evergreen broadleaved forests.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: August–September.