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Justicia adhatoda
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Family:
ACANTHACEAE
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Citation: Justicia adhatoda L., Sp. Pl. 15. 1753; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 283. 1985; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 303. 1989; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 340. 1988; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 585. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 348. 1994; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 274. 1995; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 505. 1997; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 383. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 541. 2009.
Adhatoda zeylanica Medic., Hist. & Commen. Acad. Elect. Sci. Theod.-Palat. 6: 393. 1790; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 298. 1984; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 340. 1990; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 217. 1982.
Adhatoda vasica Nees in Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 103. 1832; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 540. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1082(758). 1924.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Aadalodakam, Pothadalotakam, Vasica
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Tamil name(s):
Vasa
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English name(s):
Vasa, Vasaka, Malabar nut, Adhatoda
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Description:
Evergreen, much-branched perennial shrubs with a strong, odour, 1.2-6 m tall. Leaves simple, opposite, 5-30 cm long, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, apex acute, margins entire, hairy, light green above, dark beneath, leathery; petiole 1-2.5 cm long. Flowers in compact, axillary, pedunculate spikes; peduncles 3-10 cm long; bracts 2 x 1 cm, elliptic, subacute, 6-7 nerved; bracteoles 2 x 0.4 cm, oblong-lanceolate, 1-nerved. Calyx lobes 1 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved. Corolla white with red or yellow-barred throats; uppe rlip 2 x 1 cm, curved, obtuse, notched; lower as long as the upper lip. Stamens 2, anther cells not tailed; filaments hary at the base. Ovary pubescent; ovules 2 in each cell; style hairy towards the base. Fruits (capsules) clavate, longitudinally channelled, 1.9-2.2 x 0.8 cm wide, pubescent; seeds globular, glabrous.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
In the plains, often planted
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Distribution:
Indo-Malesia
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Pazhassi, Karimbam, Kumbla, Olavakkot, Aroor, Karulai, Kulathupuzha
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