Hypoestes Sol. ex R.Br.

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs; cystoliths present; stems sub-angular, sulcate or ridged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite-decussate, petiolate, pairs equal or anisophyllous, usually evergreen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary and/or terminal, comprising a series of monochasial cymules, arrangement of cymules variously fasciculate, umbellate, spiciform, strobiliform or cylindrical, sometimes compounded into verticillate or paniculate thyrses; main axis bracts paired, equal to highly unequal, free or basally fused, sometimes foliaceous; cymule bracts paired, equal to unequal, free or fused for up to – their length; bracteoles paired, equal to ± unequal, free, narrower than cymule bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx divided almost to base or with a distinct tube, 4- or 5-lobed, lobes subequal to ± unequal in length, often hyaline.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers protandrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bilabiate, variously white, pink or purple, usually with darker guidelines; limb resupinate, tube twisted through 180°, cylindrical below twist, weakly to strongly expanded from above twist to mouth; lip held in upper position recurved distally, 3-lobed or with only median lobe well-developed, palate longer than lobes; lip held in lower position unlobed, apex acute, obtuse or shallowly emarginate, recurved distally.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2; filaments attached at corolla mouth, exserted, initially straight, becoming divergently reflexed and bending out of corolla in female phase; anthers monothecous, thecae ellipsoid; staminodes absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk cupular with V-shaped slit, 2-awned.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary oblong-ovoid, glabrous, bilocular, 2 ovules per locule; style filiform; stigma bifid, exserted from corolla tube, held below anthers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule clavate, shortly stipitate, placental base inelastic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds held on retinacula, lenticular or compressed-ellipsoid, with a hilar excavation, smooth or tuberculate.

Distribution

Genus confined to the Old World tropics and subtropics from Africa to Australia, with the highest diversity on Madagascar where a revision is sorely needed.