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Justicia
Justicia alternifolia C.B. Clarke
Nomenclature
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Subtribe: JusticiinaeGenus: Justicia
SUMMARY
Subshrubs, stems erect, 20–150 cm high, woody, terete, with longitudinal dark lines, glabrous; younger parts pubescent. Leaves subalternate (seemingly alternate due to disappearance of one leaf of each pair), subcoriaceous, lanceolate or ovate, 11.5–15 by 3.2–5 cm; apex acute or acuminate; base attenuate, cuneate, rounded or oblique; margin entire; glabrous, cystoliths linear, conspicuous on both surfaces, upper surface dark green; lower surface light green; midrib, lateral veins and reticulations impressed on upper surface, distinct on lower surface; lateral veins in 5–7 pairs; petioles 3–7 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescences axillary, simple dichasium, 1–3 cm long; bracts triangular, rarely narrowly triangular, 2–2.5 by 0.5–1 mm, pubescent on both surfaces, shorter than calyx; bracteoles narrowly triangular, ca. 2 mm long, pubescent on both surfaces, shorter than calyx; peduncles 0.5–1.5 cm long, pubescent. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, greenish, 3–3.5 by 0.5–1 mm; lobes lanceolate; apex acute, pubescent on both sides. Corolla white to greenish with purple markings at base of lower lip, 3.5–0.9 mm long, sparsely pubescent outside; tube cylindrical, 1–5 mm long, slightly enlarged in throat; upper lip erect, tapering, emarginate, 3–4.5 mm long; lower lip rounded, deflexed, 3–4 by 3–6 mm, lateral lobes 1–2.5 by 0.5–1.5 mm, middle lobe 1–3 by 1–4 mm, middle lobe broader. Stamens 3–5 mm long, pubescent at base, inserted near middle of corolla tube, filament straight and anthers separated; anthers 2-thecous, ca.1.5 mm long, thecae superposed, subequal, lower theca 1–1.2 mm long, with tail ca. 0.2 mm long, upper theca 0.8–1 mm long. Ovary ovoid or ellipsoid, 1–3 mm long, pubescent at apex; style filiform, lower part sparsely hairy, 2–5 mm long; stigma with two minute, unequal lobes. Capsules not seen.