Ruellia tweediana Griseb.

  • Authority

    Wasshausen, Dieter C. & Wood, John R. I. 2004. Acanthaceae of Bolivia. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 49: 1-152.

  • Family

    Acanthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ruellia tweediana Griseb.

  • Type

    Type: Argentina, Entre Ríos, without locality, Tweedies.n. (lectotype K, designated by Ezcurra 1993:812). Cryphiacanthus angustifolius Nees, in DC, Prodr. 11:199. 1847, non Ruellia angustifolia Sw., 1788. -Ruellia spectabilis Britton, Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 7:192. 1893, non Nicholson, 1886. - Ruellia tweediana Griseb. ex Fernald, Rhodora 47:13, pi. 840. 1945, nom. superfl. Arrhostoxyion microphyllum Nees, in Mart., FL Bras. 9:61. 1847. - Ruellia micmphylla(Nees) Lindau, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19, Beibl. 48:16. 1894, non Cavanilles, 1801. - Ruellia ignorantiae Herter, Rev. Sudamer. Bot. 4: 193. 1937. Type: Uruguay, Montevideo, Sellow s.n. (holotype B, destroyed). Ruellia coerulea Morong, Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 7:193. 1893. Type: Paraguay, Pilcomayo River, 1888-1890, Morong 1013 (holotype NY; isotypes MO, US-944122).

  • Description

    Description - Sparsely branched erect herb 30-120 cm from a basal rhizome; leaves shortly petiolate, blades ovate or elliptic to narrowly oblong or lanceolate, 5-12 x 0.3-1.5 cm, glabrous, margin entire; inflorescence of axillary, pedunculate, few-flowered cymes; bracteoles small, linear, glabrous; calyx of chasmogamous flowers 0.7-1.5 cm, lobes linear-lanceolate, glandular-puberulous; chasmogamous corollas tilted, blue or whitish, 30-40 mm long, tube 5-10 mm long, throat obconic, lobes suborbicular; capsule narrowly elliptic or oblong; seeds 16-24.

    Phenology - Flowers principally at the beginning of the rainy season in September to November but sporadically at other times.