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

Recent introduction. Mexico. Rare. A weak-stemmed much-branched shrub, 60
cm to 2 m or higher; leaves, 2.5 to 6 cm long, opposite, entire, pointed, ovate to heart-
shaped, somewhat shiny-green and hairy; petioles, 1 to 2 cm long; flower spikes, up to
10 cm long, consisting of conspicuous brick-red, heart-shaped overlapping downy bracts,
1 to 1.5 cm long, those near the tip yellow-green with red veins, from which protrude
small white flowers with a calyx with five narrow lobes, and a white corolla, 2.5 to 4 cm
long, two-lipped to near the middle, with two rows of maroon spots on the lower, shortly
three-lobed lip; fruiting capsule, club-shaped and four-seeded. Planted ornamental and pot
plant. 3(58720), 5, 6.
Nicoteba betonica (L.) Lindau
syn. Justicia betonica L.
"white shrimp plant", "squirrel's tail"
Recent introduction. Trop. Africa to Malaya. Rare. Weak-stemmed shrub, up to
1.5 m or higher; leaves, 7.5 by 3.5 cm or much larger, ovate or narrower, acuminate,
smooth, dark green; flower spikes, about 10 cm long, borne at branch tips in erect
spikes, with white and lilac flowers, each accompanied by three conspicuous overlapping
heart-shaped and ovate pointed bracts which are white with green veins. Planted
ornamental. 6, 7.
Odontonema stricturn (Nees) 0. Ktze. "odonotema" , "red justicia"
syns. 0. tubiforme (Bertol.) 0. Ktze.; Justicia tubaeformis Bertol.; Thrysacan-
thus strictus Nees; 0. nitidum (Jacq.) 0. Ktze.; Justicia coccinea Aubl.(?)
Recent introduction. C. America. Occasional. Erect shrub, up to 1.5 m tall;
leaves, mostly 5 to 20 cm long and 4 to 9 cm wide, ovate-oblong or lanceolate-oblong,
wavy margins, and smooth above and slightly hairy beneath; petioles, 0.5 to 2 cm long;
branching terminal flower spike, with very small bracts and straight slender bright-red
corolla tubes, 2.5 cm long and only about 5 mm across, with 5 lobes, each about 3 mm
long, crowded at branch tips. Planted ornamental. 5, 6, 7.
Pachystachys lutea Nees "yellow shrimp plant"
Recent introduction. Brazil. Rare. Erect branched shrub, up to 45 cm tall; leaves
rich, dark-green, elliptical, and pointed; stems, erect, each terminating in a striking 2.5
to 10 cm-long cone-like spike of conspicuous rich yellow overlapping bracts, from which
protrude white tubular flowers, about 4 cm long. Pot plant. 3(58720).