― Stem A small plant, not higher than 30 cm.
― Leaf The petiole and peduncle bear crusty patches resembling lichen and are generally multi-colored. The spathe is multi-colored. The petiole and peduncle are green and smooth. The spathe is green.
― Flower/Fruits An inflorescence consisting of an elongate or ovate spathe (a sheathing bract), which usually envelops the spadix (a flower spike with a fleshy axis). The spathe can have different colors, but mostly brownish-purple or whitish-green.
Genetic Makeup x = 13 and 14. Most species were diploid but one, A. bulbifer, was triploid with 2n = 39.
References Mead, 2013; Sedayu et al., 2010; Chauhan and Brandham, 1984
Plant Hornstedtia scottiana
Origin Australia, Hornstedtia (Zingiberaceae) is native to lowland tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers Each rhizomatous sympodium. The rhizome bear laterally up to six inflorescence.
― Stem A 4–4.5 m tall, leafy, aerial shoot.
― Leaf
― Flower/Fruits The inflorescences are reddish, exposed and clumped. Each reddish, fusiform inflorescence stands 10–15 cm tall and is composed of a helix of tightly overlapping bracts forming a tank containing 8–11 ml of a sticky, sweet liquid in which the developing floral buds and fruits are submerged. Each inflorescence produces 0 to 3 flowers, plant produces up to 40 inflorescences.
Genetic Makeup
References Ippolito and Armstrong, 1993
Plant Raphanus Sativus Var. Longipinnatus (Daikon)
Origin Native to Southeast or continental East Asia
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers An enlarged, edible hypocotyl/root shape of a giant white carrot ~20–35 cm (8–14 ′′) long and 5–10 cm (2–4 ′′) in diameter, non-white varieties.
― Stem
― Leaf
― Flower/Fruits Late-flowering annuals or biennials.
Genetic Makeup
References Campbell and Snow, 2009; Warwick, 2011; Wikipedia.org
Plant Brassica spp. (Rutabaga)
Origin Mediterranean-Middle Eastern area, with a secondary center of origin and differentiation of B. rapa and B. juncea in China.
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers
― Stem
― Leaf
― Flower/Fruits
Genetic Makeup
References Gates, 1950; Soengas et al., 2008
Plant Lepidium meyenii
Origin Origin in the Mediterranean basin
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers An enlarged fleshy underground organ formed by the taproot and the lower part of the hypocotyls, a storage organ resembling a turnip. The “hypocotyls” display a variety of colours from purple to cream and yellow.
― Stem An annual crop.
― Leaf Dimorphic leaves
― Flower/Fruits Primary branch possesses 1000 flowers. Inconspicuous flowers, axillar racemes, 4 erect, concave sepals, and 4 small white petals, ovary is oval and bicarpelar with a short style, which develops into a dehiscent silique.
Genetic Makeup The basic genomic number of Lepidieae is x = 8, octoploid. 2n = 8 x = 64 chromosomes.
References Quirós and Cárdenas,1997
Plant Arctium
Origin Native to the Old World
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers
― Stem Biennial or perennial, spiny or unarmed suffruticose herbs with rootstock or taproot. Leaves leathery or herbaceous, dentate, lobed, pinnatipartite, pinnatisect or entire.
― Leaf Basal leaves in a rosette, the cauline leaves similar to bottom leaves but gradually diminishing towards the apex, the most distal ones usually sessile. Free pappus, but the basal appendages of the anthers are described as entire, fimbriate appendages occurring in Arctium, presence of verrucae on the anther filaments, synflorescence paniculate, racemose or corymbose.
― Flower/Fruits Capitula homogamous, solitary or in clusters, from sessile to long pedunculate with 3 to >100 florets, spherical to ovoid, glabrous to densely arachnoid.
Genetic Makeup x = 18
References Wikipedia.org
Plant Microseris scapigera
Origin
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers One or more tuberous roots, 33 cm long and 1–5 mm wide, tapering gradually from near insertion.
― Stem 30 mm long and 11 mm wide caudex, sparingly branched.
― Leaf Subfleshy-membranous, 8–25 cm long, 1–10 mm wide, linear to lanceolate or obovate-spathulate, acute-obuse or apiculate, lobes deeply pinnatifid leaves upto 25 mm long, blades glabrous on both sides.
― Flower/Fruits 10–30 cm long, 1–2 mm diameter, scapes; achenes fruit pattern.
Genetic Makeup Tetraploid, 2n = 36
References Sneddon, 1977
Plant Bunium persicum
Origin Origin in the area between Central Asia and Northern India
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers All Bunium species have spherical or oval tuberiform storage roots.
― Stem Dwarf (30 cm) to tall (80 cm) compact or spreading, moderately to highly branched, tuberous and perennial herb. The stem is often hollow in the internodal region with secretory canals containing ethereal oils and resins.
― Leaf The leaves are freely, pinnate (2–3), finely dissected and filiform.
― Flower/Fruits Convex or flat-topped flower cluster in which all the pedicles arise from the same apex. The flowers are small, white in color with readily symmetrical small sepals, petals and stamens (each 5 in number) and are present in compact umbels.
Genetic Makeup 2n =14
References Sofi et al., 2009
Plant Scorzonera hispanica
Origin
Morphological features/ Identification marks
― Roots/tubers
― Stem
― Leaf
― Flower/Fruits
Genetic Makeup The chromosome number in the sub- tribe is x = 6 or 7.