Pulchranthus variegatus
Content
Description
Herbaceous or subshrub, 0.2-1.5 m tall. Stem terete to subquadrangular with red, exfoliating bark, densely pubescent on younger parts, less so on older parts. Petiole 3-13 mm long, glabrous; blade elliptic-lanceolate, 9-23.5 x 3-9 cm, margin crenate, acuminate-cuspidate at apex, attenuate to cuneate or slightly rounded at base, glabrous or scabrous on upper surface, glabrous on lower surface, except pilose primary vein. Inflorescence a compact, terminal raceme or panicle, 7-24 cm long; rachis densely pilose and with some glandular trichomes; bracts narrowly triangular, 2.5-3 x 0.5 mm; pedicels lacking to less than 1.5 mm long; bracteoles 1.5-2 mm long, margin ciliolate. Flowers 2-many per node; calyx lobes narrowly triangular, 2.5-4 x 0.5-1 mm, glandular puberulent; corolla pale lavender or white lilac with purple markings on limb, 10-17 mm long, glandular both within and without, tube white, 5-7 mm long, upper lip lavender with purple markings, lobes elliptic-oblong5-6 x 1.5-2 mm, lower lip with elliptic lobes of 5-6 x 2 mm at base, all lavender with purple markings, central lobe more densely so, all lobes glabrous; stamens exserted, filaments 7-8(-12) mm long, slightly pubescent basally, anthers 1.2-2 mm long, staminodes 0.5-1 mm long, glabrous except for a few trichomes at tip; style 12-13(-20) mm long, pubescent. Capsule tan colored, clavate, 15-20 mm long; seeds brown, lenticular, 3 x 3.5 mm, covered with trichome-like papillae.