Stenandrium tuberosum (L.) Urb.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Acanthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Stenandrium tuberosum (L.) Urb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Herb 3-10 cm tall; roots usually tuberous; stems subterranean and short. Leaves congested, in a rosette at base; blades 1.5-4 x 0.8-1 cm, oblanceolate, obovate, spatulate, or ovate, membranous, densely or sparsely covered with white hairs, the cystoliths inconspicuous, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base tapering or nearly cuneate, the margins crenate and ciliate; petioles 1-5 cm long, slender, densely covered with white, long hairs. Flowers in scapose inflorescences; bracts lanceolate or awl-shaped, ca. 6 mm long, with long hairs. Calyx with 5, awl-shaped, greenish, 3 mm long sepals; corolla pinkish lavender, to 1.2 cm long. Capsule ca. 6 mm long, nearly cylindrical, puberulent to glabrous. Seeds ca. 1.5 mm long, lenticular, brown, with a few glandular hairs.

    Distribution and Ecology - Rare, gregarious in forest understory. Bethany (B352), Fish Bay (W761). Also on St. Thomas; Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, St. Martin, and Guadeloupe.

  • Discussion

    Ruellia rupestris Sw., Prodr. 93. 1788. Stenandrium rupestre (Sw.) Nees in A. D C , Prodr. 11: 283. 1847.

    Gerardia portoricensis Britton & P. Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 6: 214. 1925.