Justicia

P., Soumya, Y. F., Deng, S. S., Dash & Sunojkumar, P., 2023, A taxonomic revision of the genus JUStICIa (Acanthaceae) in Peninsular India, Rheedea 33 (4), pp. 270-331 : 273-277

Key to the SPecieS of JuSticia in PeninSular India

1. Inflorescence a cymose panicle...... Justicia scandens

1. Inflorescence a simple or compound spike ........ 2

2. Flowers secund ..................................... J. sivadasanii

2. Flowers not secund.................................................... 3

3. Calyx equally 5-lobed ............................................... 4

3. Calyx equally 4-lobed, or unequally 5-lobed with fifth lobe much reduced ........................................ 12

4. Spikes with 1 flower per node................................ 5

4. Spikes with 2 or more flowers per node ............. 8

5. Bracts petiolate, spathulate to oblanceolate or orbicular; appendage forked................................... 6

5. Bracts sessile, ovate to lanceolate or elliptic; appendage pointed..................................................... 7

6. Leaves ovate to elliptic with acute apex; bracts and bracteoles with long setae along margins ............................................................................ J. glauca

6. Leaves orbicular to obovate or spathulate with rounded or emarginate apex; bracts and bracteoles with fine cilia along margin ........ J. tranquebariensis

7. Perennial erect shrubs; leaves petiolate, broadly elliptic to lanceolate or ovate with acuminate apex ............................................................... J. betonica

7. Annual decumbent herbs; leaves sessile, narrowly elliptic to oblong with obtuse or acute apex ........................................................................ J. trinervia

8. Bracts ≥ calyx lobes, obovate to elliptic or ovate to oblong, 3–7-veined .............................................. 9

8. Bracts <calyx lobes, linear to narrowly lanceolate or triangular, usually single-veined .................... 11

9. Bracts ovate to widely lanceolate, less than half of the corolla, upper lip oblong ............... J. santapaui

9. Bracts obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic to oblong, greater than half of the corolla, upper lip ovate to elliptic ......................................................... 10

10.Corolla> 1.5 cm long, whitish with purple striations on the lower lip ..................... J. adhatoda

10.Corolla <1.5 cm long, whitish without any striations..................................................... J. beddomei

11. Peduncles densely pubescent with glandular hairs; corolla tube shorter than the upper lip ..................................................................... J. wynaadensis

11. Peduncles glabrous and eglandular; corolla tube equal or slightly longer than the upper lip .................................................................... J. gendarussa

12.Herbs <10 cm tall; bracts without scarious margin ..................................................... J. ekakusuma

12.Herbs or subshrubs> 10 cm tall; bracts with scarious margin ....................................................... 13

13.Bracts and bracteoles very slender, exceeding or equalling corolla with long setae on margin ..................................................................... J. micrantha

13.Bracts and bracteoles not slender, shorter than corolla with cilia on margin.................................. 14

14.Calyx deeply 4-lobed with lobes equal or sub-equal ............................................................................ 15

14.Calyx deeply 5-lobed with one segment much reduced ....................................................................... 16

15.Bractsandbracteoleslineartonarrowlylanceolate or triangular; anthers without abaxially bearded upper theca; style 3–3.5 mm long........... J. diffusa

15.Bracts and bracteoles ovate; anthers with abaxially bearded upper theca; style 5–7 mm long................................................................ J. vahliana

16.Calyx, bracts and bracteoles appressed to the axis; flowers lax in slender spikes; bracts and bracteoles ≤ calyx lobes, margin minutely ciliate ........................................................................ J. prostrata

16. Calyx, bracts and bracteoles diverging from the axis; flowers dense in stout spikes; bracts and bracteoles ≥ calyx lobes, margin densely ciliate........................ 17

17. Leaves ovate to elliptic or lanceolate to oblong or orbicular; length to width ratio <3..... J. procumbens

17.Leaves linear to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate to oblong, length to width ratio> 3 ......................................................... J. quinqueangularis

Justicia adhatoda L., Sp. Pl. 1: 15. 1753; Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1: 127. 1820; T.Anderson, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 9: 509. 1867; Stearn, J. Arnold Arbor. 52: 640. 1971; L.H.Cramer, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 12: 111–112. 1998; Malik & Ghafoor in E.Nasir & S.L.Ali (eds.), Fl. Pakistan 188: 39. 1988; V.A.W.Graham, Kew Bull. 43: 584. 1988; J.R.I.Wood in A.J.C.Grierson & D.G. Long (eds.), Fl. Bhutan 2(3): 1287. 2001; J.Q.Hu, Y.F.Deng & T.F.Daniel in Z.Y.Wu, P.H.Raven & D.Y.Hong (eds.), Fl. China 19: 456. 2011. Adhatoda vasica Nees in Wall ., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 103. 1832; in DC., Prodr. 11: 387. 1847; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 540. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2: 1082. 1921; C.C.Hu, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 70: 277. 2002. Ecbolium adhatoda (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 487. 1891. Lectotype (designated by Manning & Getliffe, 1985): SRI LANKA (Ceylon), Herb. Hermann. 2: 43, No. 16 (BM [BM000621656 digital image!]); Epitype (as lectotype, designated by Graham, 1988): Herb. Hermann. 5: Icon. 226 (BM [BM000621001 digital image!]).

Adhatoda zeylanica Medik., Hist. & Commen. Acad. Elect. Sci. Theo.-Palat. 6: 393. 1790. Type: Not designated. FigS. 1 & 2 Perennial shrubs up to 5 m tall. Stems erect, angular, branched; branches many, stout, green to pale brown, glabrous to pubescent; internodes 1–7 cm long.Leaves petiolate; laminae elliptic to lanceolate, 10–30 × 3–10 cm, base cuneate, margins entire or slightly undulate, apex acuminate, chartaceous, glossy, glabrous; veins prominent, secondary veins 5–14 pairs, venation simple craspedodromous; petioles 1–6 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal or axillary spikes, up to 14 cm long, 8–15-flowered, compact; peduncles 2–10 cm long, puberulous. Flowers sessile, two per floral node, 2.5–3 × 1.75–2 cm; bracts foliaceous, obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic to oblong, 1.7–3 × 0.7–1.8 cm, margin entire, slightly ciliate, sometimes undulate, apex acute or obtuse, 5–7-veined, greenish, puberulous; bracteoles linear to oblanceolate, 1.4–2 × 0.3–0.5 cm, margin entire, minutely ciliate, apex narrowly acute, 1–3-veined, greenish. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, 1–1.25 × 0.35–0.5 cm at anthesis, accrescent to 1.3–1.5 × 0.5–0.75 cm in fruit, greenish, pubescent outside; lobes equal, lanceolate to oblong, margins weakly scarious, ciliate, apex acute. Corolla creamy white with purple striations on lips, pubescent outside, glabrous inside except in the throat; tube cylindrical, 1.2–1.6 × 0.35–0.5 cm; upper lip erect, ovate, c. 1.7 × 1.3 cm, apex obtuse or notched; lower lip obovate or orbicular, 3-lobed; lobes unequal, middle lobe broadly oblong, c. 1.5 × 0.8 cm, apex obtuse, lateral lobes c. 1.7 × 0.6 cm, narrowly oblong, recurved, apex rounded or obtuse. Stamens exserted; filaments 1.7–2 cm long, declinate, white or pale yellow, basally sericeous; anthers thecae superposed, equal, elliptic, 3.5–4 mm long, pale or yellowish green, glabrous; appendage white, c. 3 mm long, apex rounded or obtuse. Ovary ovoid, c. 3 × 2 mm, pale greenish, hirsute at apex or throughout; style filiform, 2.25–2.7 cm long, recurved, white, hirsute in lower half; stigma simple; nectariferous disc c. 1.5× 2.25 mm, pale green.Capsule clavate, 1.5–2.5 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute, shortly pointed, greenish brown, pubescent; base sterile, 9 mm long and flattened. Seeds 4, sub-orbicular to reniform, compressed, c. 6 × 5 mm, glabrous; testa rugulose to alveolate.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from November to February and fruiting from March to April.

Habitat: Seen under cultivation as medicinal herbs or as hedge plants, typically below 800 m. Frequent along roadsides, dry slopes, open waste places and forest margins near human settlements as escapes from cultivation.

Distribution: Afghanistan to Indochina, now extensively cultivated and naturalized in various other tropical regions.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Anantapur district, Hottebetta R.F., 01.10.1982, T. Pullaih & N. Yesoda s.n. (MH); East Godavari district, Tiger Camp, Maredumilli, 17.02.1994, s.coll. 101264 (MH); Hyderabad district, Nampally, 28.04.1959, K.M. Sebastine 8047 (CAL); Vishakhapatnam district, Araku Valley, 17.09.1961, N.P. Balakrishnan 665 (CAL); Kilagada, 09.03.1965, G. V. Subba Rao 22571; Ibid., 04.01.1976, G. V. Subba Rao 29577 (MH); Ibid., s.d., S.K. Nazeeruddin 27658 (CAL). Goa, North Goa district, Pernem taluk, Tamboxem, 18.11.1962, Seshagiri Rao Rolla 84934 (CAL). Karnataka, Kodagu district, Madikeri, 15.06.1977, B.C. Baneyei 11768 (CAL); Mysore district, Someshwar Ghat road, 06.02.1960, R.S. Raghavan 69423 (CAL). Kerala, Alappuzha district, Aroor, 07.05.1993, C.N. Sunil 1591 (CALI); Idukki district, Calvary mount to Erattayar road, 14.10.1982, C.N. Mohanan 74621 (CAL, MH); Kannur district, Pazhassi dam, 21.01.1978, V.S. Ramachandran 59063 (CAL, MH); Kasaragod district, Karimbam, 15.05.1980, V.J. Nair 73935; Kumbla, 25.01.1979, V.J. Nair 59886 (CAL, MH); Kollam district, common in hedges, 06.05.1913, M.M. Rama Rao 1094 (FRC); Kottayam district, Changanacherry, Vazhappally, 16.11.1984, V.T. Antony 988 (CAL); Pulluparai to Peruvanthanam, 22.01.1965, K. Vivekanandan 22939 (MH); Malappuram district, C.U. Campus, 17.03.1989, Elsie Ouseph P. 51487; Nilambur, Chungathara, 07.03.1985, A. Babu 38374; Ibid., Kanjirakkadavu, 04.03.1982, Philip Mathew 33976 (CAL); Palakkad district, Mannarkad, 14.09.2007, K.A. Anilkumar 2121 (CMPR); Olavakkode., 16.10.1963, J. Joseph 17744 (MH); Ottappalam, Ananganadi, 05.03.2018, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 157550 (CALI); Pathanamthitta district, Ayroor Grama panchayat, Pannikunnu, 26.01.1992, R. Chandrasekaran 96678 (MH); Thiruvananthapuram district, Kollayil, 21.02.1996, Dhruvan, T. 27976 (TBGT); Neyyar, 16.04.1973, J. Joseph 44175 (MH); Ibid., 27.09.2018, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 151858 (CALI); Palode, JNTBGRI garden, 05.12.2017, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138557 (CALI); Pulimath, 11.03.1990, N. Mohanan 54522 (CAL, MH); Thrissur district, Vazhani dam, 10.04.1976, K., Ramamurthy 48282 (CAL); Wayanad district, Mananthody, s.d. R.T. Balakrishnan 41675 (CAL). Maharastra, Pune district, Khandala waterfalls, 03.02.1951, P.V. Balu 247; Khadakwasla range, 23.09.1963, K.V. Billone 115337; Law college hill, 06.02.1957, G.H.K. 9767; Mulshi, Kolwan, 22.11.1956, S.K. Jain 9504; Sinhagad, s.d., S.K. Jain 374; Ibid., 08.03.1962, John Cherian 77745 (CAL). Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, BSI Campus, 23.01.2016, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138552; Ibid., 05.03.2018, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 157555 (CALI); R.S Puram, 18.05.1967, M. Chandrabose 28989 (MH); Cuddalore district, Annamalai nagar, 31.01.1958, K.M. Sebastine 5240; Nanjalur, 17.09.1979, K. Ramamurthy 64139 (MH); Sirupakkam R.F., 11.02.1963, K. Ramamurthy 90402 (CAL); Kallakurichi district, s.loc., 08.09.1977, K.R. Ramesh 50682 (MH); Kanyakumari district, Thovalai, 24.01.1978, A.N. Henry 53269 (CAL, MH); Madurai district, Thiruvathavur, s.d, K. Ravikumar 2283 (CAL); Nagapattinam district, Point Calimere, 07.08.1960, K.M. Sebastine 10614 (CAL, MH); Ramanathapuram district, Pondiyoor, 30.12.1989, V. Balasubramaniam 2356 (CAL, MH); Salem district, Namakkal, Kolli hills, 19.04.1978, A. Mohan 13160 (CAL); Thanjavur district, Pattukkottai to Adiramapatnam, 13.09.1977, K. Ramamurthy 51206 (CAL, MH); s.loc., 04.08.1962, Rabindranath Behara 738 (FRC); s.loc., 04.08.1962, N. Sathagunam 739 (FRC); Tirunelveli district, Papanasam, 31.05.1978, V.J. Nair 57195 (MH); Tiruvannamalai district, Tiruvannamalai to Kallakurichi, 25.09.1978, N. Venugopal & C. Manoharan 17811 (CAL); Vellore district, Panapakkam, 15.06.1969, G. V. Subba Rao 31886 (MH). Telangana, Hyderabad district, besides the road Nampali, 28.04.1959, K.M. Sebastine 8047(CAL); Siddipet district, s.loc., 02.1976, s.coll. s.n. (CAL); Herb. Ind. Or. Hook.f. & Thomson, Malabar & Concan, Hook & Law s.n. (MH). Peninsula Indiae Orientalis, Herb. Wight. Propr. 2260, 2679 (CAL).

Conservation status: This species is provisionally evaluated as Least Concern [LC] as it is widely distributed throughout peninsular India, either under cultivation as medicinal plants and as garden escapes.

Figures

Fig. 1. Justicia adhatoda L.: a. Habit; b. Inflorescence; c. Flower; d. Flower bud; e. Bract; f. Bracteoles–adaxial (left) and abaxial side (right); g. Calyx;h. Calyx–opened;i. Corolla–opened;j. Upper lip;k. Lower lip;l. Stamens;m. Gynoecium;n. Nectariferous disc;o. Capsule;P. Seeds (from P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 157555; photos by P.Soumya).

Fig. 2. Distribution of Justicia adhatoda L. in Peninsular India. Drawn using R (R Core Team, 2023).