Ruellia prostrata Poir.

Rare in our area but common in India especially after rains.

A much branched, prostrate to procumbent, herb with long internodes, twigs 4-angled, up to 50 cm long (pubescent when young). Leaves with 6-18 mm long hairy petiole; Lamina ovate-elliptic to deltoid, 1.5-7.5 x 1.2-4.5 sparsely hairy to almost glabrous, entire, ± acute at the apex. Flowers pale-purple to violete, 2.5-3 cm long, solitary axillary; bracteoles leafy, elliptic, 8-10 mm x 4-5 mm. Calyx lobes linear-subulate, 6-7 mm long ciliate, acute. Corolla sparsely hairy outside, tube infundibuliform, 1.5-2 cm long, limb lobes semi-orbicular, 1-1.5 cm x 8-10 mm, rounded. Staminal filaments glabrous, anthers oblong, c. 2.5 mm long. Ovary oblong, c. 3 mm pubescent; style up to 2 cm long, hairy. Capsule oblong, 1.8-2 cm long, hairy, 16-20-seeded. Seeds flat, orbicular, 3-4 mm across, marginally hairy.

Distribution: Endemic to Indo-Pakistan subcontinent.

Fl. Per.: June-March.