Cerastium indicum
Content
Description
Erect, perennial, ascending, somewhat viscid herb.
Leaves narrowly elliptic, acute, sparsely villous, (8-)15-65 by 2-10 mm, subsessile, in the middle of the stems more than 4 times longer than wide.
Inflorescence lax, few-flowered, glandular pubescent;
Flowers 4- or 5-merous.
Sepals 3-4 mm, obtuse, herbaceous or membranaceous at the very apex, glandular pubescent.
Petals slightly longer than sepals, subemarginate.
Capsule straight, 4-6 mm;
Seeds 1-1.5 mm.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Australasia, East Africa present, Madagascar present, Papua New Guinea present, Timor present
From East Africa and Madagascar throughout India to Australia. In Malesia: Java, Timor, Celebes and Papua New Guinea.
Taxonomy
There is a considerable variation in height and leaf size evidently due to environmental conditions. Möschl, l.c., described three varieties, of which var. ruwen-zoriense (Williams) Möschl matches the material from Java. There are also collections matching var. parvifolium Möschl. We do not find it necessary to maintain formal subspecific classification due to the polymorphy of the species, and therefore follow the treatment of Wadhwa, l.c.
Citation
Backer 1911: Schoolfl. Java: 82
N.C. Majumdar 1993 – In: Fl. India: 524
Möschl 1951 – In: Mem. Soc. Brot.: 53, 86
Backer & Bakh. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 208
Miq. 1855 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 1056
Wadhwa 1996 – In: Fl. Ceylon: 59
Steenis 1972: Mount. Fl. Java: f. 4
Edgew. & Hook. f. 1875 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 227