Monographs Details:
Authority:
Leonard, Emery C. 1953. The Acanthaceae of Colombia, II. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 31: i-viii, 119-322.
Leonard, Emery C. 1953. The Acanthaceae of Colombia, II. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 31: i-viii, 119-322.
Family:
Acanthaceae
Acanthaceae
Description:
Description - Suffrutescent, glabrous, up to 1 meter high; leaf blades elliptic, up to 15 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, acuminate, ending in a blunt point, narrowed at base and decurrent on the petiole, entire or undulate, green, the costa and lateral veins (9 to 10 pairs) rather prominent; petioles up to 3 cm. long, winged; flowers borne in terminal sessile spikes up to 10 cm. long and 2 cm. broad; bracts rather closely imbricate, erect or erect-spreading, brilliant red outside and yellow inside, oblong-elliptic, up to 18 mm. long and 3 mm. wide at base, and 1 cm. wide at middle, acute at apex, glabrous, subchartaceous, veiny; bractlets linear-subulate, 1 mm. wide at base, striate; calyx segments lanceolate, subequal, 8 or 9 mm. long, bearing triangular calluses at base (these conspicuous on the outside), the posterior segment oblong, 2.5 mm. wide, 2-or 3-toothed at tip, the anterior pair (1.5 mm. wide) and the lateral pair (1 mm. wide) narrowly lance-attenuate; corolla about 6 cm. long, red (?), glabrous except the lips, these minutely pruinose within, the tube gradually enlarged from 4 mm. at base to 6 mm. at mouth, the upper lip erect, about 2 cm. long and 8 mm. wide, acute, the lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, the lobes subequal, oblong-obovate, about 2 cm. long, 7 to 8.5 mm. wide near the middle, acute or acutish at apex; stamens slightly exserted, the filaments sparingly, minutely, and inconspicuously pilose, the anthers 5.5 mm. long; capsules not seen.
Description - Suffrutescent, glabrous, up to 1 meter high; leaf blades elliptic, up to 15 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, acuminate, ending in a blunt point, narrowed at base and decurrent on the petiole, entire or undulate, green, the costa and lateral veins (9 to 10 pairs) rather prominent; petioles up to 3 cm. long, winged; flowers borne in terminal sessile spikes up to 10 cm. long and 2 cm. broad; bracts rather closely imbricate, erect or erect-spreading, brilliant red outside and yellow inside, oblong-elliptic, up to 18 mm. long and 3 mm. wide at base, and 1 cm. wide at middle, acute at apex, glabrous, subchartaceous, veiny; bractlets linear-subulate, 1 mm. wide at base, striate; calyx segments lanceolate, subequal, 8 or 9 mm. long, bearing triangular calluses at base (these conspicuous on the outside), the posterior segment oblong, 2.5 mm. wide, 2-or 3-toothed at tip, the anterior pair (1.5 mm. wide) and the lateral pair (1 mm. wide) narrowly lance-attenuate; corolla about 6 cm. long, red (?), glabrous except the lips, these minutely pruinose within, the tube gradually enlarged from 4 mm. at base to 6 mm. at mouth, the upper lip erect, about 2 cm. long and 8 mm. wide, acute, the lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, the lobes subequal, oblong-obovate, about 2 cm. long, 7 to 8.5 mm. wide near the middle, acute or acutish at apex; stamens slightly exserted, the filaments sparingly, minutely, and inconspicuously pilose, the anthers 5.5 mm. long; capsules not seen.
Discussion:
A close relationship exists between Aphelandra alexandri and A. lawranceae. However, the bracts and corollas of A. alexandri are glabrous instead of pubescent as in A. lawranceae. The lower bracts of A. alexandri occasionally bear toward tip several definite but minute teeth. The following note written by A. E. Lawrance accompanies the type specimen: "The two colors (brilliant red on the outside and yellow on the inside of the sepals) make the red appear orange. Outstanding plant worth propagating. Said to be used as a remedy for worms in children by boiling flowers in hot water and drinking same." The species is named for Alexander E. Lawrance.
A close relationship exists between Aphelandra alexandri and A. lawranceae. However, the bracts and corollas of A. alexandri are glabrous instead of pubescent as in A. lawranceae. The lower bracts of A. alexandri occasionally bear toward tip several definite but minute teeth. The following note written by A. E. Lawrance accompanies the type specimen: "The two colors (brilliant red on the outside and yellow on the inside of the sepals) make the red appear orange. Outstanding plant worth propagating. Said to be used as a remedy for worms in children by boiling flowers in hot water and drinking same." The species is named for Alexander E. Lawrance.