Youngia nilgiriensis

Taxobox
name = "Youngia nilgiriensis"


image_caption =
status = EN
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Asterales
familia = Asteraceae
genus = "Youngia"
species = "Y. nilgiriensis"
binomial = "Youngia nilgiriensis"
binomial_authority = Babcock

"Youngia nilgiriensis" is an endangered perennial herb. It is endemic to the Sispara area of the Kundah range of the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, South India characterised by vast stretches of grasslands interrupted by numerous sholas at an altitude of around 2,060 m.

The plant is 30–47 cm high. Radical leaves are 10–16 cm × 1.5–3.0 cm, oblanceolate, Iyrate-pinnatifid, acute, upper surface puberulous, lower surface glabrous; petiole long; cauline leaves: lower ones similar to radical leaves or acuminate; upper ones sessile, lanceolate, acuminate-caudate.

Flowers are yellow. Heads are 2–4 together, about 13-flowered.

Peduncle is 1.5 cm long, glabrous. Involucre 8–9 mm long, glabrous, dark green.

Corolla is 9–10 mm long; ligule 2 mm broad, dentate, 1.0–1.5 mm long; tube 2 mm long, acuminate.

Anthers are 2 mm long; appendages 0.25 mm long, acuminate; filament 1 mm long.

Achenes is 5 mm long, sub-compressed, apex pale and strongly attenuate, base scarcely attenuate, ribs 12–14, unequal, brown.

Pappus is 5 mm long, 2–3 serrate, ash-grey.

References

Database of Western Ghats Flora, Sahyadri: Western Ghats Ecology and Biodiversity Environmental Information System @ CES , IISc, retrieved 6/8/2007 [http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/database/?q=node/13 Species: Youngia nilgiriensis Babcock]