Hemigraphis alternata
Content
Description
Low-growing diffuse herb or subshrub, 30-35 cm tall. Stem subquadrangular, sparingly puberulous, rooting at lower nodes. Petiole 1.5 cm long, pilose; blade broadly ovate to ovate-oblong to cordate, 3-11 x 2-7 cm, apex acute or obtuse, base cordate, both surfaces sparingly pilosulous or glabrate, lower surface purple, portions turning indigo upon drying, margin crenate and sparingly ciliate, cystoliths dense and prominent on upper surface; primary vein pilosulous. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, densely bracted, 4-sided, spikes 2-3 cm long; peduncle 15 mm long, pilose; rachis puberulous; bracts sessile to petiolate, ovate-lanceolate to oblong, 8-15 x 4.5 mm, inconspicuously puberulous, apex acute to obtuse, turning indigo upon drying, margin entire, ciliate; bracteoles minute or absent. Flowers generally 2 per bract, sessile; calyx 7-10 mm long, lobes equal, linear-subulate, to 9 mm long, ciliate; corolla white, minutely pubescent, extending beyond subtending bracts, 15-18 mm long, tube 11-14 mm long, limb subregular, lobes oval, 4 x 4 mm; stamens included, longer pair 4.5 mm long, shorter pair 1.5 mm long, filaments glabrous at apex, villous at base, anthers oblong, 1.5 mm long, glabrous, thecae rounded or acute basally; ovary pubescent at tip, stigma narrowly linear-lanceolate. Capsule not seen.