Ruellia tuberosa L.
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Authority
Leonard, Emery C. 1951. The Acanthaceae of Colombia, I. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 31: 1-117.
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Family
Acanthaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Roots thick-fibrous or fusiform stems erect or ascending, usually branched, obscurely quadrangular, pilose or glabrate, bearing numerous minute cystoliths; leaf blades ovate or oblong, 2 to 11 cm. long, 1.5 to 6 cm. wide, obtuse at apex, abruptly narrowed at base to a short petiole, undulate-crisped, rather thick, sparingly pilose or glabrous, the cystoliths numerous; flowers one to several, borne in erect or ascending dichotomous cymes, the peduncles up to 4 cm. long, glabrous or pilosulous, obscurely quadrangular; bracts linear, 3 to 8 mm. long; pedicels 5 to 10 mm. long, puberulous or glabrate; calyx 15 to 28 mm. long, the tube very short, the segments narrowly linear or subulate, ciliate or glabrous, often spreading corolla, showy, mauve, 3 to 6 cm. long, sparingly puberulous, the throat narrowly campanulate, 15 mm. broad at mouth, the limb 2 to 4 cm. broad, the lobes suborbicular, 12 to 15 mm. wide, undulate or erose; stamens included; style 2 cm. long, glabrous, the stigma lobes unequal; capsules cylindric, 17 to 20 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, acute at apex, glabrous except the pilosulous callus; seeds 20 or more in each cavity, lenticular, 2 to 2.5 mm. in diameter, appearing glabrous when dry, mucilaginous-pilose when moistened.
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Discussion
In dry situations the plants seldom exceed 35 cm. in height, but in wet places they may reach the height of 1.5 meters (Metcalf 30019). Its bright mauve flowers make it a very attractive plant. During certain seasons an abundance of blossoms is produced, but at other times scarcely a fully developed corolla can be found. At these times the plant produces an almost pure crop of cleistogamous flowers.
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Common Names
yuca-e-puerco, yuca de puerco