Justicia comata

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Justicia comata

Content

<<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Lobes>Dimensions

0.5-1.2 x 0.4-1 mm1
1. 005-002-006-004-002

<<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Lobes>Shape

ovate2
2. 005-002-006-004-001

<<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Lobes>Length

0.1 mm long3
3. 005-002-005-004-001

<<<<Flowers>Style>Stigma>Shape>Length

0.1 mm long4
4. 005-004-003-001-001

<<<Capsules>Body>Shape>Length

2-2.7 m long5
5. 006-005-001-001

<<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour>Dimensions

0.9-1.3 x 0.9-1.2 mm6
6. 006-007-003-001

<<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes>Dimensions

1.2-3 x 0.3-0.5 mm7
7. 005-001-003-002

<<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes>Hairs

glabrous to minutely hirtellous8
8. 005-001-003-003

<<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes>Shape

narrowly lanceolate to subulate9
9. 005-001-003-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Dimensions

1.8-4 x 3 mm10
10. 005-002-006-003

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Growth form

spreading11
11. 005-002-006-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Lobes

lobes , ;12
12. 005-002-006-004

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Shape

triangular13
13. 005-002-006-002

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube>Diameter

0.8-1.4 mm in diam.14
14. 005-002-004-003

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube>Length

1-2 mm long15
15. 005-002-004-002

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube>Shape

cylindric16
16. 005-002-004-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Dimensions

2-3 x 1-1.25 mm17
17. 005-002-005-003

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Growth form

erect18
18. 005-002-005-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Lobes

lobes ,19
19. 005-002-005-004

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Shape

ovate20
20. 005-002-005-002

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers>Colour

purple21
21. 005-003-003-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Filaments>Hairs

glabrous22
22. 005-003-002-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Thecae>Hairs

glabrous23
23. 005-003-004-002

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Thecae>Length

0.3-0.5 mm long24
24. 005-003-004-001

<<<Flowers>Style>Stigma>Shape

subcapitate, , minutely bilobed and rounded25
25. 005-004-003-001

<<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Shape>Dimensions

0.8-2.2(-5) x 0.3-0.5 mm26
26. 004-007-001-001

<<<Inflorescences>Branches>Shape>Length

to 4 mm long27
27. 004-005-002-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Margins>Hairs

both surfaces and margin glabrous to sparsely pubescent28
28. 003-003-003-003

<<<Petiole>Blade>Margins>Margin type

entire29
29. 003-003-003-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Margins>Shape

acuminate at apex, attenuate to truncate to cordate-auriculate at base30
30. 003-003-003-002

<<Capsules>Body>Shape

ovoid to subellipsoid to obovoid, , often with medial constriction31
31. 006-005-001

<<Capsules>Retinacula>Length

ca. 0.75 mm long32
32. 006-006-001

<<Capsules>Retinacula>Shape

narrowly cucullate33
33. 006-006-002

<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour

reddish brown, , surface covered with knoblike papillae34
34. 006-007-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Margins

margin fringed, minutely papillose.35
35. 006-007-004

<<Capsules>Seeds>Seed number

436
36. 006-007-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

lenticular37
37. 006-007-002

<<Capsules>Stipes>Length

1-1.7 mm long38
38. 006-004-001

<<Flowers>Calyx>Length

1.5-4 mm long39
39. 005-001-002

<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobe number

5-lobed40
40. 005-001-001

<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes

lobes , equal, , ;41
41. 005-001-003

<<Flowers>Corolla>Colour

white, lilac, light blue, purplish-white, often with maroon markings or nectar guides on lower lip42
42. 005-002-001

<<Flowers>Corolla>Hairs

glabrous or upper part of tube sparsely pubescent43
43. 005-002-003

<<Flowers>Corolla>Length

3-7 mm long44
44. 005-002-002

<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip

lower lip , , ,45
45. 005-002-006

<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube

tube , , ,46
46. 005-002-004

<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip

upper lip , , , emarginate,47
47. 005-002-005

<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers

anthers ,48
48. 005-003-003

<<Flowers>Stamens>Filaments

filaments ,49
49. 005-003-002

<<Flowers>Stamens>Relative distance

exserted ca. 2 mm beyond mouth of corolla tube50
50. 005-003-001

<<Flowers>Stamens>Thecae

thecae , unequal, subparallel to perpendicular, unequally inserted or superposed, ;51
51. 005-003-004

<<Flowers>Style>Hairs

glabrous52
52. 005-004-002

<<Flowers>Style>Relative distance

exserted ca. 3 mm beyond mouth of corolla tube53
53. 005-004-001

<<Flowers>Style>Stigma

stigma .54
54. 005-004-003

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Dimensions

0.7-3 x 0.2-0.5 mm55
55. 004-008-002

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Hairs

glabrous or sparingly hirtellous56
56. 004-008-003

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Shape

subulate to triangular-subulate57
57. 004-008-001

<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Hairs

glabrous58
58. 004-007-002

<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Shape

subulate to triangular-subulate, , sharply acute59
59. 004-007-001

<<Inflorescences>Branches>Hairs

minutely to densely hirtellous, often with longer, gland-tipped trichomes intermixed60
60. 004-005-003

<<Inflorescences>Branches>Shape

very slender and almost filiform, , ± angular61
61. 004-005-002

<<Inflorescences>Branches>Whorl number

3-762
62. 004-005-001

<<Inflorescences>Flowers>Flower number per axil

163
63. 004-006-001

<<Inflorescences>Panicles>Length

to 25 cm long64
64. 004-004-001

<<Inflorescences>Panicles>Width

12 cm wide at base65
65. 004-004-002

<<Inflorescences>Peduncle>Length

to 7 cm long66
66. 004-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Spikes>Position

terminal67
67. 004-003-001

<<Inflorescences>Spikes>Shape

paniculate inflorescence involving the entire plant68
68. 004-003-002

<<Juvenile stems>Hairs>Line number

269
69. 002-002-001

<<Petiole>Blade>Dimensions

2.5-6(-16) x 0.7-3.5(-4) cm70
70. 003-003-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Margins

margin , , ;71
71. 003-003-003

<<Petiole>Blade>Shape

narrowly ovate to lanceolate72
72. 003-003-001

<<Petiole>Primary and secondary veins>Secondary vein pair number

ca. 6 pairs73
73. 003-004-001

<Capsules>Body

body ,74
74. 006-005

<Capsules>Dimensions

3-5 x 2 x 1 mm75
75. 006-002

<Capsules>Hairs

sparingly hirtellous or glabrate76
76. 006-003

<Capsules>Retinacula

retinacula , ;77
77. 006-006

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , ,78
78. 006-007

<Capsules>Shape

clavate79
79. 006-001

<Capsules>Stipes

stipe ,80
80. 006-004

<Flowers>Calyx

calyx , ,81
81. 005-001

<Flowers>Corolla

corolla , , ,82
82. 005-002

<Flowers>Stamens

stamens ,83
83. 005-003

<Flowers>Style

style , ,84
84. 005-004

<Habit>Growth form

Erect to spreading or decumbent85
85. 001-001

<Habit>Height

to 1 m tall86
86. 001-002

<Habit>Lower nodes

often rooting at the lower nodes.87
87. 001-003

<Inflorescences>Bracteoles

bracteoles , , .88
88. 004-008

<Inflorescences>Bracts

bracts subtending flowers , , strongly costate;89
89. 004-007

<Inflorescences>Branches

branches of inflorescence in whorls of , , ,90
90. 004-005

<Inflorescences>Flowers

flowers secund, per axil of bract;91
91. 004-006

<Inflorescences>Panicles

panicles and ,92
92. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Peduncle

peduncle ,93
93. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Position

axillary and terminal94
94. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Spikes

spikes forming in aggregate or panicle or sometimes a ,95
95. 004-003

<Juvenile stems>Hairs

glabrous or sparsely pubescent, trichomes spreading or retrorse and disposed in lines96
96. 002-002

<Juvenile stems>Shape

subhexagonal to subquadrangular, ± grooved97
97. 002-001

<Petiole>Blade

blade , ,98
98. 003-003

<Petiole>Hairs

glabrous or rather sparingly hirtellous99
99. 003-002

<Petiole>Length

0 to 20 mm long100
100. 003-001

<Petiole>Primary and secondary veins

primary vein and secondary veins () obscure.101
101. 003-004

Capsules

Capsule , , ,102
102. 006

Common Name

English (Suriname): yaladu

Description

Erect to spreading or decumbent (annual ?) perennial, often somewhat aquatic, herb to 1 m tall; often rooting at the lower nodes. Young stem subhexagonal to subquadrangular, ± grooved, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, trichomes spreading or retrorse and disposed in 2 lines. Petiole 0 to 20 mm long, glabrous or rather sparingly hirtellous; blade narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 2.5-6(-16) x 0.7-3.5(-4) cm, margin entire, acuminate at apex, attenuate to truncate to cordate-auriculate at base, both surfaces and margin glabrous to sparsely pubescent; primary vein and secondary veins (ca. 6 pairs) obscure. Inflorescence axillary and terminal slender or branched spikes, these fascicled or the lowermost disposed in peduncled umbels, peduncle to 7 cm long, spikes forming in aggregate or terminal panicle or sometimes a paniculate inflorescence involving the entire plant, panicles to 25 cm long and 12 cm wide at base, branches of inflorescence in whorls of 3-7, very slender and almost filiform, to 4 mm long, ± angular, minutely to densely hirtellous, often with longer, gland-tipped trichomes intermixed, flowers secund, 1 per axil of bract; bracts subtending flowers subulate to triangular-subulate, 0.8-2.2(-5) x 0.3-0.5 mm, sharply acute, glabrous, strongly costate; bracteoles subulate to triangular-subulate, 0.7-3 x 0.2-0.5 mm, glabrous or sparingly hirtellous. Flowers sessile; calyx 5-lobed, 1.5-4 mm long, lobes narrowly lanceolate to subulate, equal, 1.2-3 x 0.3-0.5 mm, glabrous to minutely hirtellous; corolla white, lilac, light blue, purplish-white, often with maroon markings or nectar guides on lower lip, 3-7 mm long, glabrous or upper part of tube sparsely pubescent, tube cylindric, 1-2 mm long, 0.8-1.4 mm in diam., upper lip erect, ovate, 2-3 x 1-1.25 mm, emarginate, lobes 0.1 mm long, lower lip spreading, triangular, 1.8-4 x 3 mm, lobes ovate, 0.5-1.2 x 0.4-1 mm; stamens exserted ca. 2 mm beyond mouth of corolla tube, filaments glabrous, anthers purple, thecae 0.3-0.5 mm long, unequal, subparallel to perpendicular, unequally inserted or superposed, glabrous; style exserted ca. 3 mm beyond mouth of corolla tube, glabrous, stigma subcapitate, 0.1 mm long, minutely bilobed and rounded. Capsule clavate, 3-5 x 2 x 1 mm, sparingly hirtellous or glabrate, stipe 1-1.7 mm long, body ovoid to subellipsoid to obovoid, 2-2.7 m long, often with medial constriction, retinacula ca. 0.75 mm long, narrowly cucullate; seeds 4, lenticular, reddish brown, 0.9-1.3 x 0.9-1.2 mm, surface covered with knoblike papillae, margin fringed, minutely papillose.

Distribution

Guianas present, Southern America, northern Argentina present, southern Mexico present, tropical America present
Widely distributed throughout tropical America; ranging from southern Mexico and the West Indies, southward to northern Argentina; 453 collections studied of which 21 from the Guianas (GU: 7; SU: 9; FG: 5).

Flowers

Flowers sessile;103
103. 005

Habit

(annual ?) perennial, often somewhat aquatic, herb ;104
104. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, banks of Kabalebo R., Florschütz & Maas 2559 Suriname, Lindeman & Görts-van Rijn et al. 527 Guyana, Barima-Waini Region: Barima R. Head, Pipoly 8347 confluence of l’Itany (Haut Maroni) and Marouini Rs., Cremers 5001 Guyana, upper Rupununi R., de la Cruz 1450 de Granville et al. 9787

Inflorescences

Inflorescence slender or branched spikes, these fascicled or the lowermost disposed in peduncled umbels,105
105. 004

Juvenile stems

Young stem , .106
106. 002

Notes

As is to be expected of a species of such an extensive range, considerable variation in corolla color, pubescence of inflorescence and leaf blades shape and size is exhibited. Plants in wet situations, especially those growing in water, tend to produce long narrow leaf blades gradually narrowed to a subsessile base.

Petiole

Petiole , ;107
107. 003

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting .