Rock Osbeckia is a much-branched subshrub, up to 1
m tall; young stem bluish, covered with stiff, prostrate hairs. Leaves
are 1.5-3.3 x 0.5-1.8 cm, elliptic to linear-lanceshaped, base
narrowed, tip pointed, hairy below on nerves, prominently 3-ribbed;
leaf-stalk up to 5 mm long. Flowers are borne in few-flowered clusters,
pentamerous, about 2 cm across at branch-ends. Calyx tube is 3-4 mm
long, nearly spherical with stalked star-shaped and simple bristles;
sepals 5, lanceshaped, pointed. Petals are pink, 6-7 x 3-4 mm, obovate.
Stamens are 10; anthers 4-5 mm long. Ovary 5-locular, with clustered
stiff hairs. Capsules are 6-7 x 4-5 mm, nearly spherical. Seeds are
minute, curved and minutely tubercled. Rock Osbeckia is found in
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
Identification credit: P. Prashob
Photographed in Meghamalai, Tamil Nadu & Kerala.
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The flower labeled Rock Osbeckia is ...