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Box-Leaf Bush-Violet
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Box-Leaf Bush-Violet
ative Photo: S. Kasim
Common name: Box-Leaf Bush-Violet • Kannada: ಗಂಡುಚೊಟ್ಟೆಮುಳ್ಳು Gandu chotte mullu, ಕರೀಚುಳ್ಳಿ Karichulli, ಗುಬ್ಬಿಮುಳ್ಳು Gubbi mullu, ತೇರಣ Terana, ಕುರವ Kurava, ಕುರವಕ Kuravaka • Malayalam: Caraschulli, Karaculli, Karicculli • Sanskrit: Iksura • Tamil: Kattimullu, Rosmullippuntu • Telugu: Erramullugoranta, Nalla mullugoranta, Peda mullugoranta
Botanical name: Barleria buxifolia    Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)

Box-Leaf Bush-Violet is a shrub 5-6 ft tall, with strong spines under the leaves. Flowers are purple-blue, produced in whorls towards the upper part of the stem. The species name buxifolia means leaves like Boxwood tree. Leaves are 8-16 mm long, ovate or obovate, tip blunt with a sharp point. Leaves are nearly stalkless, with hairs on both sides scattered, white, short. Spines below the leaves are 6-6 mm long, simple and straight. Flowers arise mostly solitary, purple blue. Bracts are 6-8 mm long, reduced to simple spines. Flower-tube is 1.8–2.5 cm long, slightly widened upwards. Box-Leaf Bush-Violet is endemic to Peninsular India.

Identification credit: S. Kasim, Navendu Pāgé Photographed in Palladam & Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

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