Barleria cristata

Philippine violet
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Barleria
Species: B. cristata
Binomial name
Barleria cristata
at Ananthagiri Hills, in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Barleria cristata (Philippine violet, bluebell barleria or crested Philippine violet), is a plant of the Acanthaceae family.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to a wide area ranging from Southern China to India and Myanmar.

Cultivated as an ornamental plant in villages and gardens, it has become naturalized in Hawaii, where it grows in dry habitats. In Fiji, where it is known as "tombithi" and in Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), the shrub grows also as a ruderal species along roadsides and disturbed areas from near sea level to about 100 m.[1]

Description

It grows as a shrub 60 –100 cm tall. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface. They are elliptic to narrowly ovate. The flowers are about 5 cm long, funnel-shaped in violet, pink, or white color. The fruits are about 1.5 cm long ellipsoid capsules. Thy become glabrous and glossy at maturity.

Different views and aspects

Uses

Known as อังกาบ, this plant is used in Thailand as a traditional herbal remedy. It allegedly acts as a tonic, diuretic and blood purifier.

In Tamil Nadu in South India, it is known as December Poo or December Flower as it blooms in December and is normally strung into garlands of flowers for women to wear in their hair.

References

  1. ↑ Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


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