Help to identify Paris species from north east Sikkim

[Johan Nilson]

We came across different forms of Paris which I have hard work identifying! I have some guesses but is not sure at all! I would be very glad for help!

Pic 1-2 Paris polyphylla
pic 3 Paris sp( we saw this form with this angled steem on a couple times)
pic 4-6 Paris sp( I am guessing P. violacea) 
pic 7 same Paris sp (in seed)

[Robin Callens]

Johan,

According to book on the genus Paris of Li Heng the following Paris species grow in Sikkim:
P. polyphylla var polyphylla, P. polyphylla var stenophylla, P. marmorata and P. thibetica.

Pics 1 and 2  are probably P. thibetica. This species has very long free connectives on the anthers which the Paris on the pics obviously have.

I don't know what pic 3 is but I would guess P. polyphylla var polyphylla (if the information of Li Heng is correct).

Pics 4 - 6 are probably what you think: P. marmorata (violacea). They also look a bit like P. pubescens (mairei), this species has hairs on the stems and on the backside of the leaves. Did you notice these characteristics on this species?

regards,

Robin

[Johan Nilson]

Hi Robin,

Thanks! This is helping me a lot. Very interesting that the first two pictures probably is P. tibetica.

And for pic 4-6 I came across P.violacea in 'The flora of Bhutan' and the description of a short habit 10-15 cm, variegated foliage with waverly leaf edges and underside of leaf violet. fits pretty good. (guessing that P.marmorata is the accurate name?)

I didn't see any hairs on stems or leaf undersides. But I will check my pictures once more. I have the seedlings from the seeds on pict 7, so will be able to tell in a year or two.

Do you know if its possible to get hold of Li Hengs book?

[Giles]

Johan,
Try China Scientific Book Service  http://www.hceis.com/
Search by author in English.
Out of print, but available as an ebook for 16$.
I've ordered things from them before without problems.

[Johan Nilson]

Giles,
I will order the ebook right away!

Thanks

[Robin Callens]

Johan,

You can also find Li Heng's book at 'nhbs bookstore' (http://www.nhbs.com/title.php?tefno=90017). Rather expensive.
I have to mention that most of the text is in Chinese.

[Johan Nilson]

Giles,
Did you order any of their ebooks? If so, how long did you have to wait, before you received it?

Robin,
Thanks! I just might order? A pretty good Christmas gift for myself!

[Giles]

Johan,
- a couple of days. Don't despair, if all else fails there is someone there who can understand English and sort things out.
Giles

[Afloden]

Johan,
 
 I have see a few posts of your trip to Sikkim and was wondering if you came across any Polygonatum species? The Paris are beautiful.

 Do you own a copy of the Flora of Bhutan, the non-graminae monocots volume? I have tried to get a copy through a library loan, but they sent everything but that volume and I would like to see the treatment on Polygonatum. I am curious about P. brevistylum and P. nervulosum. Niether of these species are in cultivation and I do not have any herbarium specimens yet either.

 All the best,

 Aaron Floden
 Tennesse, US

[ichristie]

Hi Johan, thanks for posting the pictures of the Paris a really interesting group. pic 4 is really very nice, hope your seed germinates then a long wait for plants to flower,  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Johan Nilson]

Aaron,
Yes, we did see a lot of Polygonatums. I Posted some pictures earlier in one of all threads here, but will post again. I will be very glad for help with names!

I don't have my own copy of 'Flora of Bhutan', but I hope to get one soon A friend has got a copy and I have a copy at work as well. If I have time I will try to get in to it tomorrow!

Ian,
Thanks. The seeds were sown in autumn 2007 and came up with their first leaves this spring.

Pictures
1-3 P. kansuense?
4-5 P. hookerii
6-7 P. verticilatum?
8 P. cirrhifolium

[Paul T]

Wow, Johan.    And the wild Arisaema as well.

[Afloden]

Johan,

 From all the protologues of species lumped into verticillatum (kansuense, erythrocarpum, minutiflorum) I would call it kansuense, but kansuense was described from Gansu in northwest China, quite some distance from Sikkim.

 Not sure on the verticillatum thing. It looks at first glance like a pink cirrhifolium until you notice the leaf apices -- non-cirrhose.

 I'll keep looking for a better fit on them both.

 Aaron