Common name: Crested Philippine violet, Philippine violet • Hindi: Vajra danti वज्र दंती • Assamese: Jhinili • Tamil: செம்முள்ளி Semmulli • Telugu: Tellanilambari • Bengali: Janti • Oriya: Koilekha
Botanical name: Barleria cristata Family: Acanthaceae (Barleria family)
Barleria cristata is native to India and southeast Asia. Grows into a shapely
shrub with minimal pruning. The trumpet-shaped 2" long flowers openin in
terminal clusters in November and continue into mid-December. This is an
easy-to-grow shrub, about 3ft height, which can be used for a garden hedge or
tightly clipped into geometrical shapes. On the most common variety, the
tubular flowers are varying shades of mauve; there is also one with pure white
flowers and another with flowers striped in mauve and white. Barleria
involucrata is similar to B. cristata except that both leaves and blooms are
larger and the flower color is blue-lilac. B. prionitis is a spiny bush with
orange flowers. Barleria is easily propagated from cuttings planted in fall
directly in the ground. It requires some sun to flower profusely and
occasional pruning to promote bushy growth.
| Photographed in Delhi, Imphal and Mizoram. |
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