Lepidagathis incurva - Curved Lepidagathis

Curved Lepidagathis is a perennial, nearly erect herb, growing up to 60 cm tall, with almost hairless stems. Flowers are white, brown spotted, borne in dense oblong-ovoid spikes in leaf axils, or at the end of branches, 1.5-3.5 cm long. Flower tube is about 6 mm long, dilated in the middle, limb 2-lipped, upper lip erect, notched, lower lip longer than upper, 3-lobed. Sepal cup is 5-parted almost to base, with sepals unequal, linear-lanceshaped. Stamens 4, in unequal pairs, not protruding. Bracts are lance-shaped to ovate, 8-12 mm long, velvety, sharp-tipped. Bracteoles are linear-lanceshaped, about 6-8 mm long, dry. Lanceshaped-oblong-ovate leaves, on 1-2 cm long stalks, are 2.5-11 cm long, 1.7-4.5 cm wide, minutely velvety, sharp tipped. Base is wedge-shaped narrowing into prominent wings on the leaf-stalk. Curved Lepidagathis is found in Subtropical Himalayas, from Punjab to Bhutan, east to S China, Malaysia, at altitudes of 100-2200 m. It is also found in Western Ghats. Flowering: March-May.