Ruellia brittoniana Leonard
-
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
-
Description
Species Description - Subshrub to 1 m tall; stems obtusely quadrangular, glabrous except for a few hairs at nodes; nodes collapsing in dry specimens. Leaves ascending; blades 6-20 x 0.5-2 cm, linear or narrowly elliptic, chartaceous, glabrous, with prominent veins running along margins, upper surface with minute linear cystoliths transversely oriented, the apex and base long acuminate, the margins entire or wavy and revolute; petioles 0.5-2.5 cm long, slender. Flowers produced in short, axillary cymes; bracts linear, 1.5-2 cm long. Calyx with 5 equal, lanceolate sepals 1-1.3 cm long; corolla lilac or light blue, 3-4.5 cm long, with 5, rounded lobes. Capsule 2.3- 3 cm long, club-shaped, apiculate at apex. Seeds ca. 2.5 mm wide, lenticular, light brown.
-
Discussion
Cryphiacanthus angustifolius Nees in A. DC, Prodr. 11: 199. 1847, in part, non Ruellia angustifolia Sw. Ruellia spectabilis Britton, Ann. N e w York Acad. Sci. 7: 192. 1893, non Nicholson, 1886.
Ruellia tweedeana sensu I. Velez, 1950 & H. Alain Liogier, 1982.
-
Distribution
Uncommon, growing as an escape around settlements. Bordeaux Mountain (A3244), Lameshur (W774). Native to Mexico, cultivated throughout the West Indies, and often escaped.
West Indies| México Mexico North America|