Justicia betonica

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 : 279-282

Justicia betonica L. var. villosa C.B.Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 525. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2: 1078. 1921; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India Dicotyledons 25. 2009. Lectotype (designated by Turner, 2021): INDIA, Chota Nagpore , Parasnath 4500 feet, 3 Oct 1873, C. B. Clarke 20196 ( K [ K001129739 digital image!]). FigS. 4 & 5

Perennial under-shrubs, up to 2.5 m tall. Stems erect, cylindrical, dichotomously branched; branches striae, greenish, glabrescent; internode 2–13 cm long, purplish. Leaves petiolate; laminae lanceolate to elliptic, 3–15 × 3–6 cm, base attenuate, margins dentate, sometimes sinuate, apex acuminate, chartaceous, glossy, glabrous, sparsely hairy on veins; veins prominent, secondary veins 3–7 pairs, venation simple craspedodromous; petioles 2–4 cm long, pubescent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary spike, up to 15 cm long, many-flowered; peduncles 1.75–4 cm long, puberulous. Flowers sessile, one per floral node but not secund, 1.2–1.6 × 0.9–1.2 cm; bracts foliaceous, oblanceolate to oblong 0.8–2 × 0.7–1 cm, margins ciliate, apex acuminate, 3-veined, whitish nerves green; bracteoles similar to bracts but narrower, 0.8–1.5 × 0.5–0.8 cm. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, 4–5 × 1.75–2.75 mm at anthesis, accrescent, c. 5 × 3 mm in fruits, greenish, densely pubescent outside; lobes equal, lanceolate to subulate, margins ciliate, apex acuminate. Corolla creamy white with purple striations on lips, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, throat hairy; tube cylindrical, 4–4.5 × 2.75–3 mm, throat slightly enlarged; upper lip erect, ovate to triangular, 6–8 × 5–5.5 mm, margin entire, apex notched, hooded; lower lip 3-lobed, oblong to obovate; lobes unequal, middle lobe ovate to lanceolate, 8.5–9 × 3–3.5 mm, apex acute or obtuse, lateral lobes narrowly oblong to elliptic, 6–7 × 1.75– 2 mm, recurved, apex rounded. Stamens exserted; filaments 5–6 mm long, white, basally hirsute; anther thecae superposed, equal, elliptic, 1–1.5 mm long, creamy white with purplish margin, upper theca dorsally hirsute, lower theca glabrous; appendage c. 1 mm long, apex pointed, white. Ovary 1.5–2 × c. 1.2 mm, elliptic to oblong, pale green, pubescent at apex or throughout with glandular hairs; style filiform, c. 9 mm long, recurved, whitish, hirsute in lower half; stigma slightly bifid; nectariferous disc c. 1 × 1.5 mm, yellowish white, margins undulate. Capsule clavate to oblong, c. 1.5 × 0.5 mm, apex mucronate, pale brown, densely pubescent throughout; base sterile, 6 mm long, flattened. Seeds 2, sub-orbicular or discoid, 3–3.5 × 4–4.2 mm, tuberculate, pale brown.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from September to March; fruiting from April to May.

Habitat: On the margins of evergreen forests, grasslands, plains, along roadsides at an elevation of 50 to1000 m.

Distribution: Indian Subcontinent , tropical and southern Africa; also from America (Hawai) as an introduced species.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Ananthapur district, Yadiki, 13.11.1982, P.V. Yesoda & T. Pullaiah 1108 (MH); Chittoor district, Srikalahasti, 18.01.1988, D. Ranga Charyulu 1986 (MH); Guntur district, Rajupalem, 06.05.1900, C.A. Barber 1555 (MH); Kurnool district, Chelama, 07.12.1963, J.L. Ellis 17968 (MH); Nallamala hill, 15.08.1921, C.E.C. Fischer 4668 (FRC); Ibid., 17.11.1969, J.L. Ellis 32433; Upper Ahobilam, 29.08.1965, J.L. Ellis 25553 (MH); Visakhapatnam district, Ananthagiri, 17.10.1969, G. V. Subba Rao 21717; Ibid., 26.12.1969, G. V. Subba Rao 32818 (MH); Birmisala, 13.04.1976, G. V. Subba Rao 47321 (CAL, MH); Chintapalli, way to Gudem hill, 13.11.1970, J.L. Ellis 37120 (MH); Simhachalam hill slopes, 05.05.1964, G. V. Subba Rao 19345 (MH). Karnataka, Bagalkot district, Mantur, 28.11.1902, C.A. Barber 4934 (MH); Chamarajanagar district, Bandipur R.F., 23.01.1965, B.D.Naithani 23118 (MH); Mysore district, St. Philomena’s college, 10.03.1964, K.M. Sebastine 18709 (MH); Uttara Kannada district, Sirsi, 21.12.2005, P.S. Udayan et al., 03936 (CMPR). Kerala, Alappuzha district, Kayamkulam R.S., s.d. Sunil C.N. 1398 (CALI); Ernakulam district, Malayatoor, 18.03.1913, M.M. Ram Rao 966 (FRC); Idukki district, Chinnar riverside, 16.03.1965, E. Vajravelu 23572; Kumily, 23.04.1960, B.V. Shetty 10268; Painavu, 16.12.1982, C.N. Mohanan 76153; Pulluparai-Peruvanthanam, 22.05.1965, K. Vivekananthan 23958 (MH); Kollam district, Kadambupara, 20.04.1984, E. Vajravelu 80536 (CAL); Malappuram district, Karuvarakundu to Kalikavu, 29.04.1971, N.C. Radha Krishnan 38122 (MH); Ibid., 11.03.1984, N.C. Nair 81188 (CAL, MH); Nilambur, Canoly plot, 13.12.1980, Philip Mathew 32342 (CALI); Palakkad district, Mully, 03.02.1996, A.E. Shanavas 29612 (TBGT); Valliyaparathode, 07.10.1979, M.C. Nair 65364 (CAL, MH); Ibid., 15.01.1980, M.C. Nair 65448 (MH); Pathanamthitta district, Achankovil, 19.05.1979, C.N. Mohanan 61297 (MH); Konni forest division, Thora-Mannarapara area, 19.04.1982, K. N. Subramanian 8258 (FRC); Plappally, 20.09.1988, N. Anilkumar 940; Ibid., 23.02.1979, C.N. Mohanan 61184 (MH); Thiruvananthapuram district, Nedumangad, 29.11.1905, C.A. Barber 7167 (MH); Palode, JNTBGRI garden, 12.12.2017, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138513 (CALI); Thrissur district, Chikkali, 22.01.1919, R Rajan 72915 (CAL); Sholayar, 12.12.1988, N. Sasidharan 5235 (CALI); Vazhachal forest division, Athirapally forest area, 21.01.1988, N. Venkatasubramanian & K.R. Sasidharan 14075 (FRC); Wayanad district, Begur R.F., 03.09.1979, V.S. Ramachandran 62022 (MH); Ibid., 23.11.1983, K. N. Subramanian 9774 (FRC); Wayanad Ghat road, 3rd to 5th hairpin bend, 18.12.2017, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138528 (CALI); Sulthan Bathery - Kalpatta road, 10.02.1987, N. Venkatasubramanian 13687 (FRC); Tholpetty village, 22.11.1977, V.S. Ramachandran 52283 (MH); s.loc., s.d. Ratheesh Narayanan M.K. 2440 (CALI). Maharashtra, Nashik district, Igatpuri, 13.09.1962, R.S. Rao 81330 (CAL); Palghar district, Ambewadi forest, 09.10.1983, P.L. Narasimhan 166035 (BSI); Kohoj fort hilltop, 12.09.1968, K.V. Billore 116673 (BSI, CAL); Vaitarna river bank, 28.10.1967, K.V. Billore 113278 (BSI); Pune district, Bhimashankar, 12.10.1955, G.S. Puri 8452 (BSI); Ibid., 16.10.1957, Vasudeva J.A. 29051 (CAL); Hanuman talao, 10.10.1962, K.P. Janardhanan 81823; Junnar, Durga Khilla, 29.10.1964, K. Hemadevi 104234 (BSI); Khandala-Meroli road, 15.09.1957, S.D. Mahajan 16754 (CAL, BSI); Lonavala, 26.09.1964, B. Venkata Reddi 99182 (CAL); Ibid., near Valvan dam, 01.12.1964, B. Venkate Reddi 99182; Mulshi, 20.11.1956, S.K. Jain 9446 (BSI); Paud, 18.10.1956, S.K. Jain 8201 (BSI); Raigad district, Korlai fort forest area, 22.12.1963, B. Venkatta Reddi 93315 (CAL); Ratnagiri district, Khed, Koliya jungle, 07.12.1961, K.P. Janardhanan 76370 (BSI); Satara district, Mahabaleshwar, 07.01.1957, S.D.M. 13203 (BSI); Thane district, Vihigaon range, 30.08.1967, K.V. Billore 111608 (BSI). Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Aliyar submergible area, 25.11.1962, K.M. Sebastine 15388 (CAL, MH); Anakkatty forest, 28.05.1994, S.K. Mundal 7117 (CAL); Andipara shola, 24.03.1969, R. Marutham 31765 (MH); Maruthaamalai near temple, 07.01.2017, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138532 (CALI); Mettupalayam range, Kunukkumuduvu, Odanthurai, 01.03.1974, K.N. Subramanian 4762 (FRC); Noyyal riverside, 01.08.1968, M. Chandrabose 30561 (MH); Perumalmudi, 29.12.1969, M.V. Viswanathan 341; Sadivayal, 06.08.1960, A.N. Henry 72 (MH); Ibid., near nursery, 03.04.1963, K.N. Subramanian 205 (FRC); Siruvani, 28.12.1956, K. Subramanyam 1843 (CAL); Ibid., Sundakamuthur, 14.06.1968, D.B. Deb 30252; Ibid., 3.01.1978, N.C. Nair 41487 (MH); Thanipallam, 09.10.1960, A.N. Henry 680; Ibid., 25.10.1968, D.B. Deb 31097 (MH); Thekkumalai, 06.12.1956, K.M. Sebastine 1626 (CAL); Valankulam, 05.09.1968, M. Chandrabose 30663; Ibid., 04.10.1968, M. Chandrabose 31101; Waterfalls estate, 10.07.1961, J. Joseph 12810 (MH); Dharmapuri district, Buddireddipatti, 19.12.1913, s.coll. 9672 (MH); Dindigul district, Kodaikanal, Oothu village, 20.12.1988, C. Sudhesan 608 (CAL); Erode district, Hasanur, 10.03.1931, K.C. Jacob 81307 (MH); Sathy, Hasanur-Karaepalayam, 10.01.1987, N. Venkatasubramanian N.V. 61 (FRC); Ibid., Kurubithikadu, Germalam range, 23.10.1987, N. Venkatasubramanian N.V. 913 (FRC); Krishnagiri district, Anchetty, 20.02.1927, K.C. Jacob 18040 (MH); Madurai district, Alagar kovil, 20.04.1991, S.R. Srinivasan 94495 (MH); Namakkal district, Kolli hills, 04.10.1903, S.K. Nazeeruddin 24861 (CAL); Nilgiris district, Benne forest, 20.01.1961, B.V. Shetty 11954 (CAL, MH); Coonoor - Mettupalayam road, 06.09.1970, B.D. Sharma 36068; Coonoor ghat region, 01.02.1985, M.C. Lawson s.n. (MH); Kotagiri, 06.01.1957, K. Subramanyam 1951 (CAL); Kunjapani R.F., Sundapatty, 25.11.1970, E. Vajravelu 37066 (MH); Ooty, on the way to naduvattam, 24. 11.2008, P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138536 (CALI); Segur bridge, 21.11.1970, G. V. Subba Rao 37292 (MH); Pudukkottai district, Cambel road, 23.06.1965, K. Ramamurthy 24913 (MH); Ramanathapuram district, Ayyanarkovil forest, 17.03.1970, E. Vajravelu 33873 (MH); Chittaru river bank, 17.02.1979, N.C. Nair 60609 (CAL); Karkathakudi, 15.01.1989, V. Balasubramanian 2095 (CAL, MH); Salem district, Yercaud Cauvery peak, 04.11.1968, D.B. Deb 31320 (MH); Sivaganga district, Piranmalai, 19.12.1964, K. Ramamurthy 22787 (MH); Tenkasi district, Chittar riverside, 17.02.1973, N.C. Nair 60909 (MH); Therkumalai road, 23.04.1957, K. Subramanyam 2856 (CAL, MH); Thanjavur district, Kumbakonam, 06.03.1987, B. Ragupathy 306 (CAL, MH); Theni district, Combai, 14.06.1961, K.M. Sebastine 12561 (CAL); Thalaiyar MHEP areas, 18.10.1986, K. Ramamurthy 51596; Ibid., 18.10.1986, J.C. Mari 51599 (MH); Tirunelveli district, Manjolai, Tiger falls, 30.06.1957, K.M. Sebastine 3716 (CAL, MH); Panagudi, 04.02.1972, B.D. Sharma 39941; Sengumal estate, 10.02.1972, B.D. Sharma 40069 (MH); Virudhunagar district, Kansapuram to Srivilliputhur R.F., 18.07.1965, E. Vajravelu 24757; Ibid., way to Alagar kovil, 20.04.1991, S.R. Srinivasan 94495 (MH). Telangana, Peddapalli district, Manthani, 27.12.1986, M.R. Rajendra Prasad 192; Pakhal R.F., 27.11.1960, K.M. Sebastine 11645 (MH); Warangal urban district, Hanmkonda, 20.09.1995, R.K. Premanath 105369 (MH).

Conservation status: This species is assessed as Least Concern [LC] as it is widely distributed throughout India.

Justicia diffusa Willd., Sp. Pl. 1: 87. 1797; T.Anderson, J.Linn.Soc.Bot.9: 512.1867; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 538. 1885; R.R.Stewart in E.Nasir & S.I.Ali (eds.), Fl. West Pakistan, Karachi 676.1972; L.H.Cramer, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 12: 121. 1998; Malik & Ghafoor in E.Nasir & S.I.Ali (eds.), Fl. Pakistan 188: 37. 1988; V.A.W.Graham, Kew Bull. 43: 597. 1988; J.Q.Hu, Y.F.Deng & T.F.Daniel in Z.Y.Wu, P.H.Raven & D.Y.Hong (eds.), Fl. China 19: 452. 2011; P.Soumya & Sunojk., Phytotaxa. 415 (3): 130–136. 2019. Rostellaria diffusa (Willd.) Nees in Wall ., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 100. 1832. Rostellularia diffusa (Willd.) Nees in DC., Prodr. 11: 371. 1847. Ecbolium diffusum (Willd.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 487. 1891. Lectotype (designated by Malik & Ghafoor, 1988): INDIA, Nandaradak, 17.10.1794, Klein 724 (B-Herb. Willd. [B-W 00326-010 digital image!]).

Rostellaria hedyotidifolia Nees in Wall ., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 100. 1832. Rostellularia hedyotidifolia (Nees) Nees in DC., Prodr. 11: 370. 1847. Justicia diffusa var. hedyotidifolia (Nees) C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 538. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2: 1081. 1921. Rostellularia diffusa var. hedyotidifolia (Nees) Kumari in A.N.Henry et al., Fl. Tamil Nadu Ind., Ser 1, Analysis 2: 158. 1987. Justicia hedyotidifolia (Nees) Remadevi &Binojk., Fl. Kerala Acanthaceae :97.2009. Lectotype (designated by Soumya & Sunojkumar, 2019b): INDIA, s.loc., s.d., B. Heyne 2450 ( Wall . Cat . 2450) (K [K001116056 digital image!]).

Rostellaria rotundifolia Nees in Wall ., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 100. 1832. Rostellularia rotundifolia (Nees) Nees in DC., Prodr. 11: 370. 1847. Justicia orbiculata Wall. ex T.Anderson in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 9: 512. 1867. Justicia diffusa var. orbiculata C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 538. 1885, syn. nov. Rostellularia diffusa var. orbiculata (C.B.Clarke) J.L.Ellis in Biol. Mem. 2 (1 & 2): 109. 1977. Justicia nepalensis V.A.W.Graham, Kew Bull. 43: 597. 1988, nom. invalid. Lectotype (designated by Deng, 2020): NEPAL, s.loc., 1821, Herbs Wight in Wall . Cat . 2489 (K-Wall. [K001116176 digital image!]).

Figures

Fig. 4. Justicia betonica L.:a. Habit;b. Inflorescence;c. Flower;d. Flower bud;e. Bract;f. Bracteoles–adaxial side;g. Calyx;h. Calyx–opened; i. Corolla–opened; j. Upper lip; k. Lower lip; l. Stamens; m. Gynoecium with nectariferous disc; n. Capsule; o. Seed (from P. Soumya & P. Sunojkumar 138513; photos by P.Soumya).

Fig. 5. Distribution of Justicia betonica L. in Peninsular India. Drawn using R (R Core Team, 2023).