4. Theropogon, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg, ser.3, 15: 89 (1870).
By: Srijana Shah & Krishna K. Shrestha
Taxon Description
Perennial rhizomatous herbs. Rhizome short, thick and fleshy. Root long, thick and hairy. Leaves sessile, simple, basal tufted, linear, grass-like, distinct midrib, glabrous, margin entire, sheathing base, a leafless flowering stalk ‘scape’ arising from the base, angular, narrowly winged, shorter or almost equal to leaves, dark green. Inflorescences a terminal raceme, slender, many flowered, a single bract and bracteole present. Flowers solitary, bisexual, actinomorphic, small, campanulate, loosely arranged along the axis; pedicel often curved downwards, petaloid, not jointed. Tepals 6, arranged in two whorls, free. Stamens 6, inserted; filaments flattened, membranous, connate at base; anthers basifixed. Ovary superior, ovoid, 3-locular, axile placentation; style simple, slender. Fruit a berry. Seeds numerous.
Taxon Statistics
Single species worldwide and Nepal distributed in temperate region.
1. Theropogon pallidus (Wall. ex Kunth) Maxim., Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg, ser. 3, 15: 90 (1870).
Ophiopogon pallidus Wall. ex Kunth, Enum.Pl., 5: 300 (1850); Ophiopogon mollis Royle
जङ्गली प्याज Jangali pyaj (Nepali).
Herbs 50–70 cm. Rhizomes 10–15 mm thick, fleshy. Root 2–3 mm thick. Leaves 6–15, linear, 15–40 cm X 3–10 mm, erect or arching, dark green above, glaucous and light green beneath, apex acute to acuminate, leaf sheath membranous. Scapes 15–30 cm, slender, shorter or almost equaling leaves. Inflorescences 5–18-flowered; bracts linear to lanceolate, 4–15 X 2–3 mm, green, margin membranous, usually shorter than flower; bracteoles linear, 4–5 mm. Flowers pedicellate, pedicel 5–20 mm, often narrowly winged; flowers bell-shaped, pale white or white, often tinged pink or purple. Tepals oblong to ovate, 5–9 X 2–4 mm, slightly hooded when young, apex obtuse. Filaments 1.5–2 mm, creamy-white; anthers triangular, 2–3 mm, cream-yellow, lobes subcordate. Ovary globose, 1.5–2.5 mm, pale green; style 4–5 mm, white. Berries green when young, red at maturity, globose, 5–7 mm in diam. Seeds brown, reniform to subglobose, 1–2 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma and E Asia.
Altitude: 1300–3400 m.
Ecology: On Pinus roxburghii forest, Quercus–Rhododendron forest, rocky and open areas.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: August–September.