Acanthaceae
Justicia appendiculata
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Species Parent: Justicia Status: Valid
Morphological Description
Diagnosis: Herb or subshrub to 2 m tall. Inflorescence subtended by yellow bracts. Flowers pink-red to red.
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Herb or subshrub to 2 m tall.
Leaves: Leaves simple, opposite; petioles to 2 cm long; lamina elliptic, to 10 x 20 cm, semi-glacous below, the margins entire.
Reproductive Morphology
Inflorescence: Inflorescence terminal or axillary spikes with yellow, leaf-like bracts.
Flowers: Flowers to about 3.5 cm long; calyx actinomorphic, corolla funnel-shaped, 2-labiate, upper lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed, pink-red to red; fertile stamens 2, exerted below upper lip.
Fruit: Fruit a clavate, bivalved capsule, brown when mature.
Other
Ecology: Terra firme, mixed swamp, and secondary forest.
Notes: Toxic.