Common name: Spiny Lepidagathis • Marathi: काटे अडुळसा Kate adulsa
Botanical name: Lepidagathis cuspidata Family: Acanthaceae (Ruellia family)
Spiny Lepidagathis is an erect spiny shrub, growing to 1-3 ft high. Stems and
branches are quadrangular. Oppositely arranged oblong-lancelike leaves are
5-8 cm long. The base tapers into a leaf stalk 1-2 cm long. Upper leaves are
smaller, stalkless and with spiny tips. Stalkless flowers appear in spikes
5-10 cm long, at the end of branches. Bracts are 1 cm long and spiny pointed.
Flowers are creamish white and 2-lipped. Throat and the upper lip are marked
with brownish purple lines. Lower lip is 3-lobed. Flowering: December-January.
| Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra. |
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