Dilip Walse Patil

Scientific Name : Justicia adhatoda L.

Category : Angiosperms

Status : Alive

Habit : An perennial shrub, with branched taproot system. Stem : Herbaceous, erect, branched, cylindrical, solid, swollen nodes, green to pale-green in colour. Leaves : Ramal and cauline, simple, exstipulate, opposite decussate, petiolate, lanceolate to ovate, entire, acute unicostate reticulate venation, pale green. Inflorescence : Axillary racemose spike. Flowers : Bracteate (leafy bracts), bracteolate (bracteoles leafy and enclose the bud), sub-sessile, complete, hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, pentamerous, hypogynous, large, white. Calyx made up of 5 sepals, polysepalous but slightly conate at the base, quincuncial, pale green in colour. Corolla made up of 5 petals, gamopetalous, bilipped, 2/3 bilabiate personate, consisting of a posterior curved lip of two petals and an anterior lip of three petals, anteriormost middle petal of the anterior lip is raised and strongly nerved, white, coronary outgrowths are present at the throat of the corolla. Androecium of 2 stamens, polyandrous, epipetalous, laterally placed, filaments thick and long, external anther lobe is higher than inner, dithecous, basifixed, introrse. Gynoecium bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior, bilocular, carpels medianly placed, one or two ovules in each locule, axile placentation, an ovular disc is present below the ovary, style simple, long hairy, stigma slightly bifid. Fruit : Capsule Seeds : Large, non-endospermic and provided with hooks (Jaculators). Flowering and Fruiting Time : December-June Significance : Leaves and roots are used in cough, asthama, bronchitis and rhematism.