| |
Hygrophila balsamica
|
| |
|
| |
Family:
ACANTHACEAE
|
| |
Citation: Hygrophila balsamica (L. f.) Rafin., Fl. Tell. 4: 66. 1938; Sreemdh., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 10: 222. 1968; Joseph, Aquatic Angiosp. Malabar 39. 1991.
Ruellia balsamica L. f., Suppl. Pl. 289. 1781.
Cardanthera balsamica (L. f.) Benth. ex Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 404. 1884; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1012(711). 1924.
|
| |
Malayalam Name(s):
|
| |
Tamil name(s):
|
| |
English name(s):
|
| |
Description:
Viscid aquatic herbs, to 80 cm tall, rooting at lower nodes; branchlets 4-gonous. Leaves opposite, 3-5 x 0.5-2.5 cm, heterophyllous; upper aerial ones lanceolate-acute, margin serrulate, lower ones often pinnatifid; submerged leaves pectinate; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm, grandular-ciliate. Flowers axillary; bracts lanceolate, 3-4 x 1-1.5 mm; bracteoles linear, 1 x 0.3 mm. Calyx lobes 5, almost free, unequal, the largest 8 x 3 mm, ciliate, green with a white midrib, 3-4 nerved, other lobes lanceolate acute, to 6 x 1 mm. Corolla white, tube 6 mm long, limb 2-lipped, (2) + (3), lower lip reflexed, mid-lobe with a 2-lobed, 3-nerved palate, bullate with bluish and white hairs. Stamens 4, didynamous, filaments white, longer pair about 5 mm lond, shorter 2 mm long, anthers blue, cells equal. Ovary oblong, compressed, pubescent with nectariferous glands at base; style 6.5 mm, ciliate, stigma linear. Capsule 6 x 2 mm, hairy; seeds many, 0.4 x 3 mm, flat, brown, retinacula minute, straight.
|
| |
Habit:
Herb
|
| |
Flowering & Fruiting:
October-December
|
| |
District(s):
Wayanad
|
| |
Medicinal:
|
| |
Habitat:
Paddy fields and swampy areas
|
| |
Distribution:
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka
|
| |
Aquatic:
Yes
|
| |
Epiphyte(s):
No
|
| |
Saprophyte:
No
|
| |
Stem parasite:
No
|
| |
Root parasite:
No
|
| |
Flower colour(s):
Pink
|
| |
Weed:
No
|
| |
Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
|
| |
Exotic:
No
|
| |
Garden:
No
|
| |
Edible:
No
|
| |
Vegetable:
No
|
| |
Endemic to:
|
| |
IUCN status:
|
| |
Altitude:
|
| |
Localities:
|