| Prince-of-Wales Feather |
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| File size | 116405 |
| Original date | 7/7/11 4:40 PM |
| Resolution | 800 x 600 |
| Flash | Flash did not fire, auto |
| Focal length | 5.1mm |
| Exposure time | 1/320s |
| Aperture | 3.2 |
| Focus Distance | |
| Metering Mode | Multi-segment |
| Camera make | NIKON |
| Camera model | COOLPIX L120 |
| Sensor type |
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 aturalized |
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Photo: |
Botanical name: Amaranthus hypochondriacus Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
Synonyms: Amaranthus flavus, Amaranthus aureus, Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys
Synonyms: Amaranthus flavus, Amaranthus aureus, Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys
Prince-of-Wales Feather is an ornamental plant,
originally from Mexico where it is endemic. It is grown as an
ornamental worldwide, and is naturalized in many parts including the
Himalayas. Stem is green or purple, 10-80 cm tall, branched, hairless
or slightly hairy. Leaf-stalks are 1-7.5 cm, hairless. Leaves are
rhombic-ovate or oblong-lanceshaped, 3-10 × 1.5-3.5 cm, hairless, base
narrow, margin entire or wavy, tip pointed or long-pointed.
Inflorescence is borne at branch ends, erect, cylindric, about 25 cm,
1-2.5 cm in diameter, branched or not, composed of many spikes. Lateral
spikes are short, about 6 cm. Bracts are green or purple, ovate,
subulate, 4-5 mm, about twice as long as perianth, tip distinctly long
pointed. Tepals green or purple, with a dark midvein, oblong, about as
long as or longer than fruit, apex acute or acuminate. Stigmas 2 or 3.
Utricles exceeding perianth, green, tinged purple above,
rhomboid-ovoid, 3-4 mm, circumscissile. Seeds are white, nearly round,
about 1 mm in diameter. Flowering: July-August.
Identification credit: Tanay Bose, Alok Mahendroo
| Photographed in Kalatope-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. |