BARLERIA

Barleria L., Sp. Pl. 636. 1753; Gen Pl. ed. 5. 283. 1754; Nees in DC., Prodr. 11: 223. 1847; Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 2: 1091. 1876; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 482. 1885; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 19: 468; Malik & Ghafoor, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 44.

Shrubs, subshrubs or perennial herbs, with cystoliths, armed or not. Leaves opposite, entire, petiolate or sessile. Inflorescence axillary cymes, terminal spikes or flowers solitary. Bracts and bracteoles large or small or none. Calyx deeply 4-lobed, outer 2 lobes larger, often emarginate, bifid or deeply 2 lobed, inner two lobes small. Corolla funnelform, usually large; limb 5-lobed, lobes subequal, imbricate in bud. Stamens (2 or) 4 and didynamous, one pair usually greatly reduced and/or sterile; anther bithecous, thecae +/- equal in size, equally inserted, lacking basal appendage; staminodes 1 or 3, sometimes bearing very small anthers. Disc large, cupulate, half embracing the ovary, often with a toothed margin. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary 2-locular, 2 ovules per loculus, placentation axile; style long; stigma 2-fid or subentire. Capsule ovoid or oblong, substipitate or lacking a distinct stalk, 2- or 4-seeded. Seeds ovoid, compressed, usually hairy, retinacula curved, hardened.

303 species

Barleria cristata

Barleria cristata L., Sp. Pl. 2: 636.1737; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 482. 1885; Sims, Bot. Mag. 39: t. 1615. 1814; Nees in Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3:92.1832; Nees in DC, Prodr. 11: 229. 1847; Wight, Icon Ind. Or. t. 453.1841; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed. 1: 383. 1918 (Reprint 1973); ed. 3. 380. 1956; Cook, Fl. Pres. Bomb. 2: 460. 1906; Bamber, Punj. Pl. 168.1916; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 19: 468; Malik & Ghafoor, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 44.

Subshrubs to 2m tall, unarmed with appressed hairy twigs densely so at the nodes, stems terete, branched, pubescent. Leaves opposite; petioles 3-10 mm, hairy, sometimes absent; leaf blade elliptic to oblong, 3-12(-18) cm x 1-3.5(-6.7) cm, margin entire, attenuate at the base or cuneate and decurrent into petiole, apex acute to acuminate, both surfaces hairy, especially along veins, secondary veins 4-7 on each side of mid vein. Inflorescences axillary or terminal 1-5-flowered, short and dense cymes, shortly pedunculate. Bracts ca.1.0 cm long and similar in morphology with bracteoles; bracteoles variable, linear to linear-lanceolate,1.2-1.5(-1.7) cm x 1-1.5 mm, margin usually spiny (sometimes bristly pilose and becoming spinescent with age), scabrous, apex acuminate. Flowers white, 4.5-6.5 cm long. Calyx deeply 4-cleft; outer 2 lobes (unequal) much larger than the inner pair, ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm x 0.6-0.7cm, acuminate, pilose, reticulately veined, bristly toothed on margin; inner two lobes linear to linear-lanceolate, 7-8 mm x 1.5 mm, pointed, margin scarious. Corolla white, 4.5-6.5 cm long, funnelform, glandular-pubescent outside; tube basally narrowly cylindric, then gradually widened; limb 2-lipped, upper lip of 4 petals and lower lip of 1 petal, lobes oblong- ovate, ca. 1.5cm(-2cm) long, unequal. Stamens 4, didynamous; filaments pilose especially towards the base, larger filaments ca. 2cm (-4cm) and smaller filaments ca. 4 mm long; anthers ca. 3 mm long, oblong, dorsifixed; staminode 1, filament sparsely pilose. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary oblong-ellipsoid, glabrous; style ca. 2.5 (-5) cm long, glabrous; stigma slightly inflated. Capsule1.2-1.8 cm x 5-6 mm, glabrous, 4-seeded, mucronate. Seeds subglobose to ovoid, 4-5 mm x ca. 4 mm.

Flowering and Fruiting: February – April
Common Names: Philippine Violet, Bluebell Barleria, Crested Philippine Violet, Crested Purple Nail Dye; Jhinti, Neel Jhinti (Hindi)