Barleria cristata L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Lamiales > Acanthaceae > Barleria > B. cristata

Description: Pubescent shrubs. Leaves elliptic, apex acute, base decurrent on the petiole pubescent, petiole 1 cm. Cymes axillary, dense; flowers pink, held in contracted 2–5-flowered unilateral cymes, or single-flowered in upper leaf axils; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, long, apex spine-tipped. ; bracts 1.2 cm, linear, ciliate; calyx conspicuous, initially green or tinged purple, turning scarious, lobes dissimilar, anterior and posterior lobes ovate-trullate, the former 14.5–19 × 6.5–8.5 mm, the latter somewhat longer, margins spinulose-toothed; lateral lobes lanceolate, 6–8 mm long, many nerved from base; corolla blue, mauve or white, tube cylindrical towards base, campanulate above attachment point of stamens, 31–43 mm long; limb of 5 lobes, abaxial lobe splitting from tube before remaining 4 lobes, each. Stamens 2, exserted, bithecous, thecae at equal height; staminodes 3, lateral pair with small antherodes. Capsule 14 mm, oblong.

Flowering and Fruiting: December to January

Uses: Ayurveda, Sowa-Rigpa, Siddha

Cultivation: Wild/cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org