山壳骨 shan ke gu

Justicia latifolia Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2: 4. 1791; Antheliacanthus micranthus Ridley; Eranthemum palatiferum (Wallich) Nees; J. palatifera Wallich; Pseuderanthemum palatiferum (Wallich) Radlkofer.

Herbs to 1 m tall, perennial. Stems 4-angled, pubescent. Petiole 1-2.5 mm; leaf blade elliptic, 11.5-12 × 3.5-6 cm, abaxially glabrous except villous on midvein, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 5 or 6 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, margin subentire to slightly undulate-crenulate, apex acuminate. Racemes to 30 cm; rachis pubescent, usually with 3-flowered clusters at nodes; bracts triangular, 4-6 × ca. 2 mm, pubescent; bracteoles similar to bracts. Pedicel 0.5-2 mm. Calyx 5-6 mm, outside pubescent; lobes linear, 4.5-5.5 × ca. 1 mm. Corolla light purple with purple dots on lower lip, 2-3 cm; tube linear, 1.5-2.5 cm; lobes 3-4 × ca. 3 mm. Style basally pubescent. Capsule ca. 2.5 cm, pubescent. Seeds ovate in outline, ca. 4 × 4 mm, rugose. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Aug-Sep.

Forests; 100-1600 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].