Ruellia tuberosa L.

Description:

Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia.Ruellia tuberosa L. Acanthaceae. CN: Popping pod, Minnie root, Wayside tuberose, Cracker plant, Meadow weed, Menow weed. Waterkanon, Watrakanu, Iron root, Feverroot, Ruwel. Native to the Caribbeans, northern and western South America; elsewhere naturalized in the paleotropics and cultivated as ornamental. Low-growing perennial herb with tuberous roots, growing to a height of a foot or more. Leaves are opposite, elliptic, short petiole, abruptly narrowed at the base, with undulate margins and up to 12 cm long. Flowers are showy, with funnel-shaped, 5-lobed corolla, up to 5 cm across, and mauve or light bluish purple. Fruit is a pod with 7 to 8 seeds, bursting open and hurtling the seeds when it gets wet. Plant used in folk medicine in its native land to remedy various ailments.Synonym(s): - some are heterotypic.Ruellia picta Lodd. et al.Cryphiacanthus barbadensis NeesRuellia clandestina L.Ref and suggested reading:www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?32511www.stuartxchange.org/Ruellia.htmlwww.flowersofindia.in/catalog/slides/Minnie Root.htmlwww.tropilab.com/minnyroot.htmlplants.jstor.org/upwta/1_80species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ruellia_tuberosa