Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.Anderson

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, sometimes from a woody rootstock and much branched from the base, erect, ascending or scrambling, up 50 cm or more tall

Morphology Stem

Old stems greyish; young stems greenish with a sparse to dense indumentum of up to c. 1 mm long spreading to appressed hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly lanceolate to ovate, up to 23–50 x 7–30 mm, sparsely to densely pubescent with c. 0.5–1 mm long spreading hairs, especially towards the base, apex obtuse to somewhat apiculate, base attenuate to truncate; petiole up to c. 5–30 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences lax, few-flowered terminal or subterminal spikes with 1 flower per node; bracts and bracteoles inconspicuous, triangular, c. 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicels and Peduncles

Peduncles 35–45 mm long; pedicels c. 1–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely to densely pubescent with c. 0.2 mm long spreading hairs; lobes narrowly triangular with a thin hyaline margin, up to 4–7 x 0.8 mm long in flower, up to 6–8 mm in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, lower lobe with violet markings, 11–42 mm long; lobes free from each other for up to c. 4–5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1.5–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules with a sparse to fairly dense indumentum of c. 0.1 mm long patent glandular and eglandular hairs, 19–22 mm long, sterile in the lower half

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds flattened, tuberculate, with an irregular outline.

Distribution

Subsp. gangetica, mostly with corolla more than 25 mm long, occurs from tropical Asia eastwards to the Pacific Islands and is also introduced elsewhere.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 100 - 1500 m.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Distribution

Elevation range: 100–1500 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bolívar, Magdalena, Meta, Santander.

Habit

Herb.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Ecology

It has been found becoming naturalised along roadsides and in clearings on Cayman Brac

Morphology General Habit

This is a trailing or straggling herb, sometimes scrambling over bushes to a height of 2 or 3 m, with ovate leaves and elongate, one-sided racemes of pale yellow or dull purplish flowers, the corolla 3.5–4 cm long

Distribution

Cayman Brac. A native of tropical Asia introduced as a garden plant, this species is obviously a recent escape from cultivation.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

nevado