FoI
Nail Dye   
Foto info
Nail Dye
N Native
Photo: Pravin Kawale
Common name: Nail Dye, Kodi-Murusu (Telugu), गोरांटी Goranti (Marathi)
Botanical name: Petalidium barlerioides      Family: Acanthaceae (Ruellia family)
Synonyms: Ruellia bracteata

Nail dye is a shrub which grows up to 1-1.5 m. It has many cylindrical and slightly tapering stems. Oppositely arranged oval leaves are 5-10 cm long, with serrated margin, rounded base and a pointed tip. White flowers occur solitary, mostly on lateral branches. The flower tube is 4 cm long, with 5 petals having a margin with rounded scallops. The flowers look like Barleria flowers.
Photographed in Maharashtra.
Identification credit: Navendu Pagé