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Aganosma cymosa
Flowers and leaves of Aganosma cymosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Aganosma
Species:	A. cymosa
Binomial name
Aganosma cymosa (Roxb.) G.Don
Synonyms
Echites cymosus Roxb. 1832 Echites confertus Wall., name published without description Aganosma cymosa var. glabra A.DC. Aganosma doniana Wight Aganosma conferta G.Don Aganosma cymosa var. lanceolata Hook.f. Aganosma harmandiana Pierre ex Spire Aganosma cymosa var. fulva Craib Aganosma elegans G.Don Echites elegans Wall., name published without description

Aganosma cymosa is a liana that can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) in length, pale brownish tomentose. Leaf-stalks are 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in), leaf blade broadly ovate or orbicular, 5–16 cm (2.0–6.3 in) by 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in), base rounded or obtuse, apex acuminate or obtuse, rarely retuse, lateral veins eight to ten pairs. Flowers are borne in many-flowered clusters at branch ends, which are carried on stalks up to 6 cm (2.4 in). Bracts and bracteoles are very narrowly elliptic, about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. Flower-stalks are about 5 mm (0.2 in). Calyx with several glands inside margin of sepals; sepals very narrowly elliptic, about 1 cm (0.4 in), pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are white, minutely tomentose outside, glabrous at throat; tube shorter than sepals, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in); lobes oblong, as long as tube. Disc longer than ovary. Ovary pubescent at apex. Follicles 2, cylindric, to 30 cm (12 in) by 0.8–1.2 cm (0.3–0.5 in), yellow hirsute. Seeds oblong, 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) by about 5 mm (0.2 in), coma 2–4.5 cm (0.8–1.8 in). It is native to China (Guangxi, Yunnan), Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam).

Ecology

Aganosma cymosa is the larval host plant for Malabar tree nymph (Idea malabarica).

Vernacular names

Vernacular names include:

• Kannada: chidaralanabilu, chithra leena balli, citrelinaballi
• Malayalam: anaikaita, anakkayyerram, tsjeria-pu-pal-valli
• Tamil: manimalaankodi, sellakkodi

Taxonomy

Varieties

1. Aganosma cymosa var. conferta Hook.f. - S India
2. Aganosma cymosa var. cymosa - Yunnan, Guangxi, Assam, Bangladesh, Indochina
3. Aganosma cymosa var. elegans (G.Don) Hook.f. - S India, Sri Lanka

References

1. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Flora of China Vol. 16 Page 169 云南香花藤 yun nan xiang hua teng Aganosma cymosa (Roxburgh) G. Don, Gen. Hist. 4: 77. 1837.
3. ^ "Forest Aganosma". flowersofindia.net.

• Aganosma
• Flora of Asia
• Plants described in 1832