Justicia heterocarpa subsp. dinteri (S.Moore) Hedrén

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb with a single unbranched to much-branched stem from a taproot; stems erect (rarely straggling) to 0.8(1) m long, when young puberulous or sparsely so and with long (1–2 mm) pilose hairs, with or without capitate glands.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sparsely puberulous or sparsely pubescent, densest on midrib and margins towards base, usually also with stalked capitate glands; petiole to 4.5 cm long; lamina ovate or elliptic, largest 3.7–9.3 × 1.4–4.5 cm; apex acuminate to subacute; base attenuate to truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2–4(6) in axils of upper leaves; bracts absent or lanceolate to suborbicular or reniform, to 0.8 cm long, sometimes with long (2(3) mm) glossy curly hairs, with or without stalked capitate glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous or densely so, usually with long pilose hairs to 2 mm long and stalked capitate glands; lobes 3–6.5(7.5) mm long, basal part white and spongiform in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale or dark mauve, rarely white, lower lip with distinct 'herring-bone' pattern, upper lip with dark veins, 4–7 mm long; tube 3–4.5 mm long, widening immediately above base, 1–2 mm longer than upper lip; upper lip 1.5–3 mm long, teeth to 1 mm; lower lip 3–5 × 3–6 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 1–2 mm long; thecae yellow, c.0.5 mm long, lower with acute appendage 0.2–0.3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 4–6 mm long, glabrous or sparsely puberulous in upper half; indehiscent fruits often present, 3–4 mm long, with 4 subentire to (usually) dissected wings.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c.1.5 mm long.

Distribution

Also in Tanzania, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.

Ecology

Riverine forest, woodland and grassland, mopane and Baikiaea woodland and forest, Acacia and Combretum woodland, weed; 450–1500 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread; not threatened.