Rhinacantus nasutus (L.) Kurz
Family
Acanthaceae
Synonyms
Rhinacanthus communis Nees.
Vernacular Names
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Indonesia |
Daun burung (Malay, Ambon), tarebak (Sundanese), tereba jepang (Malay, Jakarta). |
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Philippines |
Parajito (Spanish), ibon-ibonan, tagak-tagak (Tagalog). |
|
Myanmar |
Anitia. |
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Laos |
Thong kan2sang. |
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Thailand |
Thong khan chang, thong phan chang, yaa man kai (Central). |
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Vietnam |
B[aj]ch h[aj]c, ki[ees]n c[of]. |
Geographical Distributions
Rhinacantus nasutus is probably native to Sri Lanka, India, Indo-China and southern China, but has been introduced long ago in Madagascar, tropical East Africa, Thailand and the Malaysian region (Peninsular Malaysia, Java, the Moluccas, the Philippines) where it is now widely naturalised and often common.
Description
Rhinacantus nasutus is an erect, branched shrub which can grow up to 2(-3) m tall. The stems are obtusely quadrangular and puberulent when young.
The leaves are arranged opposite, simple, ovate to lance-shaped or elliptical, measuring 3-10 cm x 1-5 cm, acute to attenuate at base, with entire margin, acute at apex and puberulent. The petiole is 0.5-2 cm long while stipules are absent.
The inflorescence is axillary and peduncled. The lax cymes are often combined into a leafy and terminal panicle and densely appressed pubescent. The flowers are subsessile. The sepal is 5-6 mm long and with 5 narrow lobes which are shortly connate at the base. The petal is 2-lipped, with narrowly cylindrical tube and green. The upper lip is with 2 teeth, measuring 8-10 mm x 2-3 mm and white while the lower lip is with 3 large lobes where the central one measures 10-14 mm x 9-13 mm, and white with red markings at the base. It has 2 stamens that are inserted near the petal tube apex. The anther cells are inserted at unequal level. Disk is present. The ovary is superior, 2-locular with 2 ovules in each cell, with 1 style and with a 2-fid stigma.
The fruit is club-shaped, loculicidal, with hairy capsule, measures 17-25 mm long and with sterile basal part.
The seeds are held up on well-developed hooks (retinacula), orbicular, flat and hairy.
Ecology / Cultivation
Rhinacantus nasutus is found in thickets, hedges and waste places up to 750 m altitude. It thrives best on moist, well-drained soils, but it is also found in much drier habitats such as rock crevices.
Line Drawing / Photograph
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References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.