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Stemodia verticillata
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Family:
SCROPHULARIACEAE
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Citation: Stemodia verticillata (Mill.) Sprague, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1921: 211. 1921; Ramach. et al., Journ. Econ. Tax. Bot. 5: 939. 1984; Sivar. & Babu, Journ. Econ. Tax. Bot. 5: 942. 1984; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 320. 1988; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 540. 1990; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 511. 2009.
Erinus verticillatus Mill., Gard. Dict. (ed.8) no.5. 1768.
Stemodia parviflora Ait.f., Hort. Kew (ed. 2) 2: 52. 1810.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Annual herb. Stem tufted, erect, up to 14 cm high, much branched, densely hirsute. Lower leaves opposite, upper ones in verticils of 3, broadly ovate, 0.7-1.5 x 0.4-1.4 cm, truncate at base, subacute at apex, coarsely crenate-serrate, penninerved, punctate above, scabrid along nerves beneath; petioles 3-10 mm long, densely and minutely glandular-hispid. Flowers axillary, solitary. Pedicels 1 mm long. Calyx lobes subequal, linear-lanceolate, 2.5-3.5 x 0.6 mm, acuminate at apex, minutely glandular-hispid without. Corolla 5.5 mm long; tube cylindric, 3-4 mm long, minutely glandular pilose without, pale green, with longitudinal dull purple lines; upper lip 2- lobed at apex, with clavate hairs at base; lower lip 2 mm across, with obovate-orbicular lobes, midlobe broader than lateral ones. Filaments glabrous, anterior pair 1.5-2 mm long, posterior pair shorter; posterior anther-cells unequally paired. Style short; stigma bent. Capsule orbicular, 2.5-3 x 3 mm, biconvex, shorter than calyx, glabrous, 4-valved; seeds cuneiform, 0.5 mm long, truncate at both ends, longitudinally ribbed, reticulate in between ribs, dark brown.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
March-April
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District(s):
Alappuzha, Kannur, Malappuram, Thrissur
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Banks of rivers, streams, etc.
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Distribution:
Native of Tropical America; now Pantropical
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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):
Violet
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Weed:
Yes
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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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:
Peechi, Begur, Calicut University, S.L. Puram
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