Old man's Cap

Appearance

Polycarpaea species are annual or perennial herbs, usually caespitose, stem erect or suberect, simple or much branched from the base and above, angular or terete, glabrous or pubescent, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, opposite or pseudo-verticellate, basal leaves oblong-ovate, cauline leaves linear lanceolate to subulate, base not connate, margin entire, apex acute to sharply acuminate, not succulent, glabrous or pubescent, usually 1-veined, petiole very short in basal leaves, becoming sessile in the cauline leaves, stipules 2 per node, scarious or fimbriate. Inflorescence usually in terminal, compact lax or dense cymes. Flowers bisexual, pedicel spreading or erect in fruit, bracts paired, margins scarious, sepals 5, free, distinct, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, apex acute, sometimes colored, petals 5, free, pink, margins erose or irregularly toothed. Stamens 5, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules few to many, staminodes absent, style slender, filiform tri-fid, stigmas 3, subcapitate. Fruit capsule, ovoid-cylindrical, tri valved. Seeds 5-8, pyriform, ovoid, plump, translucent, embryo marginal wings absent.

Naming

Common name: Oldman's Cap • Hindi: Bugyale • Marathi: Koyap, Maitosin • Tamil: Nilaisedachi, Cataicciver, Pallippuntu • Malayalam: Katu-mailosina • Telugu: Bommasari, Rajuma • Kannada: paade mullu gida, poude mullu, poude mullu gida • Sanskrit: Bhisatta, Okharadi, Parpata, Tadagamritikodbhava

Distribution

The native range of this species is Tropics & Subtropics.

Habitat

Oldman's Cap is a weed of sandy soils in open woodland and grassland, and of cultivated ground.

Reproduction

Polycarpaea species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: August-December.