Crossandra Salisb.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, yellow, orange or red, limb and top of tube split on the back and forming a single 5-lobed lower lip

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, included; anthers 1-celled, finely bearded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2-celled with 2 ovules per cell; style with obliquely trumpet-shaped stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ellipsoid, 4-seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds flattened, covered by fringed scales and sticky when wet.

Distribution

Some 50 species in tropical Africa, Madagascar, south-western part of the Arabian Peninsula, and in southern Asia.

Morphology General Habit

Herbs, subshrubs or shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or seemingly in whorls of 4, usually narrowed from below middle into a long attenuate base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in dense terminal or axillary spikes; bracts in 4 rows, persistent, often with pungent tip, the margin entire, toothed, spinulose or setose, the lower bracts sterile, smaller than the fertile ones; bracteoles 2, narrow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx deeply 5-lobed; lobes unequal, the upper 2-toothed, broader than the others and often enveloping them

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2013). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 8 (5) Acanthaceae Part 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs, subshrubs or shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or in pseudo-whorls of 4, often gradually narrowed from below middle into a long-decurrent base, usually entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers single, in dense sessile or pedunculate, terminal or axillary spiciform cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts imbricate, in 4 rows, persistent, papery to coriaceous, with a straight or recurved often pungent tip or 3-lobed at apex, margin entire, toothed or spinulose; lowermost sterile and smaller, often distant

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles 2, usually linear to lanceolate and acuminate to cuspidate, usually herbaceous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glumaceous, divided to base in 5 unequal sepals, thickened and horny at base; dorsal sepal 2-veined and 2-toothed, broader than and often enveloping the rest, ventral and lateral 1-veined and 1-toothed, lateral usually smaller than ventral-Corolla white, yellow, orange or light to bright red, puberulous outside; tube linear, widened above stamens and with band of hairs at stamen insertion; limb and top of tube split dorsally to give a single 5-lobed lower lip; lobes oblong, obtuse, middle broadest and often emarginate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, usually inserted ± 1/3 way down tube, subsessile; anthers included, 1-thecous, oblong, usually rounded to finely apiculate, finely bearded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2-locular with 2 ovules per locule, glabrous or minutely hairy near top; style usually glabrous, gibbous or not below the obliquely trumpet-mouthed or obscurely 2-lobed stigma, which is same height as anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 4-seeded, ellipsoid, sessile, glumaceous, glabrous and shiny

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed discoid, obliquely ovoid, covered by large appressed laciniate scales.

Distribution

A genus of 52 species, mainly in tropical Africa and Madagascar with one species extending to India and one endemic to Arabia.