HOLMSKIOLDIA

Holmskioldia Retz., Observ. Bot. 6: 31. 1791; Benth. & Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 596. 1885; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 35.

Straggling or climbing shrub. Leaves opposite, simple, entire or dentate. Inflorescence usually axillary racemes or cymes. Calyx tube turbinate, membranous, mostly red, somewhat truncate at apex, enlarged in fruit. Corolla tube cylindric, curved; limb 2-lipped, upper lip 2- lobed, lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens with exserted anthers, epipetalous. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary 4-locular with 1 ovule in each loculus, style filiform, stigma bifid. Drupe subfleshy, obovoid, enclosed by enlarged, persistent, coloured calyx; seeds oblong.

One species

Holmskioldia sanguinea

Holmskioldia sanguinea Retz. Observ. Bot. 6: 31. 1791; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 596. 1885; Collett, Fl. Siml. ed. 2: 380. 1921 (Reprint 1980); Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed.1: 403. 1918 (Reprint 1973); Bor & Raizada, Some Beaut. Ind. Climbers and Shrubs, Bomb. Natl. Hist. Soc. 142. 1954; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 499. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 543-544. 2006; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 35; keralaplants.in

Large straggling shrub, twigs quadrangular, pubescent when young. Leaves opposite; petiole 1.5-3 cm long, puberulent; leaf blade 5-10 cm x 2.5-8 cm, ovate, apex acute to acuminate, base truncate or subcordate, margin crenate or crenate-serrate or subentire, minute gland-dotted, especially abaxial surface; lateral nerves 3-5 pairs, the lowest pair from the base. Flowers 7-8 mm across and ca. 2 cm long, scarlet tinged with orange, in short axillary cymes. Bracts 2.5-5 mm long, lanceolate, deciduous; pedicels ca. 5 mm long, puberulent. Calyx ca. 1.5 cm across, up to 2.5 cm across in fruiting condition, minutely glandular-pubescent; tube broadly obconic, membranous, reticulate, scarlet tinged with orange; limb subtruncate, spreading. Corolla 2-2.5 cm long, glandular-pubescent; tube curved, slender, somewhat widened upwards and at base; limb oblique, 5-lobed, lobes unequal, 2-lipped: upper lip 2-lobed, erect, lobes small; lower lip 3-lobed, spreading, reflexed. Stamens 4, didynamous, exserted; anthers bithecous, ovate, thecae parallel; filaments glandular pubescent below anthers. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary 4-locular, 1 ovule in each loculus attached laterally; style long; stigma shortly bifid.

Fruit a drupe, 5-7 mm long, obovoid, deeply 4- lobed at apex, nearly dry or sub fleshy, endocarp splitting into 4 one- seeded pyrenes. (Fruits not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: Almost throughout the year
Common Names: Chinese Hat, Cup and Saucer, Mandarins Hat, Parasol Flower; Kapni (Hindi)