atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

DICOTYLEDONAE
ACANTHACEAE (Acanthus Family)
Asystasia gangetica (L.) Anders. "asystasia" , "Chinese violet"
syns. Justicia gangetica L. ; Asystasia coromandeliana Nees
Recent introduction . Paleotropics. Occasional. Perennial trailing herb, or sub-
shrubby plant, with ascending stems, up to 30 to 50 cm or longer, especially if climbing
among taller vegetation; leaves, opposite, ovate to heart-shaped, up to 4 to 6 cm long;
flowers, 6 to 10, tubular or bell-shaped, somewhat narrower or curving upwards at the
base, and borne in racemose clusters, up to 15 cm or more long, with a 5-parted calyx,
and a light-violet and white, or yellow, in some varieties, corolla, about 2 to 3 cm long,
with five broad' spreading lobes; fruiting capsule club-shaped, four-seeded. Planted
ornamental and naturalized in some ruderal places. 3, 4(127N), 5, 6(23 I), 7.
Asystasia sp .
Recent introduction. Pot plant. 3(58702).
Barleria cristata L. "Philippine violet", "bluebell barleria"
Recent introduction. India. Rare. Small erect shrub, 60 cm to 1.2 m or higher,
with downy branches; leaves, 2.5 to 10 cm long rough, hairy, short-stemmed, oval and
pointed at both ends; flowers, 1 to 3, attractive stemless and funnel-shaped, with a four-
parted calyx, about 2 cm long, and a five-lobed violet or white and violet corolla, about
5 to 7 cm long, developing at the leaf axils, each accompanied by 2 spiny-edged green to
white narrow lanceolate bracts, about 2 cm long. Planted ornamental. 3(58797), 6.
Barleria prionitis L. "porcupine flower"
Recent introduction. Paleotropics. Occasional. Erect shrub, up to 1 m high;
leaves, 5 to 6 cm - ---- long - by about 2 cm wide, elliptic - -- to ovate or obovate, obtuse, acute or
even somewhat ~etiolate, narrowed to base; flowers, up to-3.5 cm long, with yellow
corollas and bracts converted into three-forked spines, 1 to 2.5 cm long. Planted