Justicia gendarussa

Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.

Family     : Acanthaceae

Common Name : കരുനൊച്ചി (Mal)

नीली नरगंधी(Hin)

                                Asian Water-willow(Eng)

Willow-Leaf Justicia is an erect, branched, smooth undershrub 0.8-1.5 m tall. The leaves are lance-shaped, 7-14 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, and pointed at the ends. The rather small flowers are borne in 4-12 cm long spikes, at the end of branches or in leaf axils.

Shrubs, branches dark purple, terete, smooth. Leaves opposite, 7-10 x 2 cm, linear or oblong-lanceolate, apex acute or obtuse, base acute, chartaceous, glabrous, lateral nerves 5-7 pairs, bluish; petiole 2-3 mm long. Spikes terminal, to 8 cm long, narrow; bracts linear, 4 mm long. Calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, 5 mm long. Corolla white with purple streaks, 1.5 cm long. Ovary and style puberulus. Capsule 12 mm long, glabrous.