Justicia pectoralis Jacq.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Acanthaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Decumbent herb, 30-40(-60) cm long, profusely branching from near the base; stems cylindrical, glabrous, except for a line of hairs along one side. Leaf blades 5-11 x 0.5-1.8 cm, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, membranous, glabrous, with numerous cystoliths, the apex long-acuminate, the base acute or obtuse and slightly unequal, the margins entire or minutely serrate; petioles slender, 5-8 mm long. Flowers borne on long terminal spiciform, unilateral panicles; bracts and bracteoles minute and awl-shaped, with minute glandular hairs. Calyx ca. 2.2 mm long, with 5 deeply cleft, lanceolate sepals; corolla lilac, purple, or pink, with white markings, 8-9 mm long, funnel-shaped. Capsule ca. 5 mm long, club-shaped, covered with glandular hairs. Seeds 4, 1.5 mm diam., reddish brown, lenticular, papillose.
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Distribution
Not common, mostly cultivated in moist grounds. Cinnamon Bay (A4097). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas; widespread in tropical America.
Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|