FoI
Two-Leaved Chirita
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Two-Leaved Chirita
ative Photo: Pankaj Kumar
Common name: Two-Leaved Chirita
Botanical name: Henckelia bifolia    Family: Gesneriaceae (Gloxinia family)
Synonyms: Chirita bifolia, Didymocarpus bifolius

Two Leaved Chirita is a perennial herb with erect stem up to 25 cm tall. The stem is leafless at the base during flowering, and has 2 unequal leaves above. Stalkless leaves are round to oval, with a heart-shaped base, toothed margin, thinly hairy. Flowering stems are 1-2, rarely more, each bearing 1-2 funnel-shaped flowers which hang looking down. Flowers are about 5 cm long. Bracts are oblong, hairy. Sepals are 5, hairy. Flowers are funnel-shaped, swollen on one side, white with golden markings inside. The flower-tube open into 5 rounded, blue or purple petals. Two Leaved Chirita is found in the Himalayas, from Himachal Pradesh to Butan, at altitudes of 1500-2400. Flowering: June-August.

Identification credit: Pankaj Kumar Photographed in Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand.

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