Hello Garg ji, My study did not help me OR may have misinterpreted the description !!
At iNaturalist, the ID of this observation got corrected to *Pogostemon speciosus var. filiformis* V.S.Kumar & B.D.Sharma Many thanks to *Sobiyanaz* for correcting the ID ... iNaturalist <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339878715>. Regards. Dinesh On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 4:39 PM Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> wrote: > Many thanks Garg ji. > > I have suggested my IDs for observations of *Pogostemon speciosus* and > *Pogostemon > wightii*, purely on the basis of their inflorescence. > > > Among their inflorescence, which appears dense, and whose rachis can be > clearly seen? > When comparing the inflorescence of these two species, the visual density > and the exposure of the rachis (the central stem of the flower cluster) are > two of the most reliable ways to tell them apart in the field. > > The "Dense" Species: *Pogostemon speciosus* > > - Appearance: This species is known for its thick, robust spikes. > - Density: The flowers are packed very tightly together. Because the > individual flowers (corollas) are larger (~7 mm) and more voluminous, they > overlap significantly. > - Rachis Visibility: The rachis is hidden. Because the whorls of > flowers are so close together and the hairs on the calyx are long, you > generally cannot see the central stem once the plant is in full bloom. > > > The "Exposed" Species: *Pogostemon wightii* > > - Appearance: This species has more slender, elongated spikes. > - Density: The flower clusters (verticillasters) are often spaced out > along the stem rather than being a continuous "wall" of petals. > - Rachis Visibility: The rachis is clearly visible, especially between > the lower flower clusters. Because the flowers are smaller (~5 mm) and the > hairs are appressed (lying flat), the central axis of the inflorescence is > much easier to observe. > > > > *Summary Comparison* > Feature *Pogostemon speciosus* *Pogostemon wightii* > *Spike Width* Stout and broad Slender and narrow > *Flower Packing* Very dense / Congested Interrupted / Laxer > *Rachis* *Concealed* by flowers *Visible* between clusters > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > My suggested ID is *Pogostemon wightii* Benth. > The 2nd photo in this post shows the rachis between the cluster of flowers. > > Garg ji, I hope you agree. > > Regards. > Dinesh > > > On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 3:48 PM J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Both are quite close. >> Dinesh ji, may decide based on the following differences as per Google AI >> view: >> *Pogostemon wightii* and *Pogostemon speciosus* are both aromatic, >> endemic species of the Lamiaceae family found in the Southern Western Ghats >> of India. They are similar in appearance and habitat, frequently found in >> high-altitude Shola forests (around 1,000–2,200m). >> [image: ScienceDirect.com]ScienceDirect.com +2 >> The key differences lie in their habit (size/growth form), specific >> floral characteristics, and leaf texture. >> Key Differences at a Glance >> Feature *Pogostemon wightii* Benth. *Pogostemon speciosus* Benth. >> Growth Habit Small shrub or herb (sometimes subshrub) Shrub, up to 2 m >> tall >> Stem/Branching Quadrangular, strigose (stiff, appressed hairs) Pilose-hispid >> (hairy) brown branches >> Leaf Features Densely strigose, 5-6 cm long, ovate Hirsute, 3-8 cm long, >> ovate/orbicular, turn black when dry >> Inflorescence 4-8 cm long spikes, continuous Often described as having >> "bottlebrush" appearance >> Stamens Bearded filaments Lacks moniliform hairs on filaments >> Nutlets Biconvex to triangular, smooth, brown Suborbicular, blackish, 1 >> mm long >> Detailed Breakdown >> >> - Pogostemon wightii: >> - Description: A small, delicate shrub or herb, often found along >> stream sides or in marshy spots within Shola forests. >> - Appearance: Leaves are smaller (5-6 x 3-4 cm) and intensely >> hairy (strigose). >> - Flowering: Occurs in December-January. >> - Distinctive Feature: Filaments (stamens) are bearded. >> - Pogostemon speciosus: >> - Description: A more robust shrub, growing up to 2 meters, common >> on rocky slopes and degraded areas of the Nilgiri and Anamalai hills. >> - Appearance: Leaves are larger and hairy, with the unique >> characteristic of turning black when dry. >> - Flowering: Occurs from January to February. >> - Distinctive Feature: Leaves and stem turn blackish when dried, >> and the stamens are very long, giving a "bottlebrush" appearance. >> [image: ScienceDirect.com]ScienceDirect.com +4 >> >> >> On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 at 17:27, Dinesh Valke <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> *FOR VALIDATION ::* >>> ¿ *Pogostemon wightii* Benth. ? >>> The Nilgiris :: Jan 29, 2026 · 10:11 AM IST >>> Kudimalmund, about 2082 m asl >>> ------------------------------ >>> [image: ¿ Pogostemon wightii Benth. ?] >>> <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339878715> >>> [image: ¿ Pogostemon wightii Benth. ?] >>> <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339878715> >>> [image: ¿ Pogostemon wightii Benth. ?] >>> <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339878715> >>> [image: ¿ Pogostemon wightii Benth. ?] >>> <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/339878715> >>> Regards. >>> Dinesh >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "eFloraofIndia" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/CABSQqC2eP6mASvGneo2BZmatukMMg%3D5FyoOjJAfBD3BgBE_P0A%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/CABSQqC2eP6mASvGneo2BZmatukMMg%3D5FyoOjJAfBD3BgBE_P0A%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> >> >> -- >> With regards, >> J.M.Garg, >> https://efloraofindia.com/ >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "eFloraofIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/CABSQqC1%2BywkQfH28SFswzvFbzGQcRxY4DcmkcgCRmPGesrVhVw%40mail.gmail.com.
