S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER
Spermacoce articularis L. f.
Erect-procumbent perennial herb; stem woody at base, ± rounded or sharply-obscurely quadrangular, pubescent, angles often scabridulous. Leaves 2-3 x 0.8-1.2 cm, elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse-acute, hispid above, glabrous or hispid on nerves beneath, margin flexuous or flat, with 3-5 pairs of lateral nerves; stipules densely pubescent, c. 2 mm long, bristled. Inflorescence axillary, few-flowered. Flowers sessile. Calyx 4-lobed, lobes linear-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm long. Corolla pink, blue or whitish, campanulate-infundibuliform; tube 8-12 mm long, throat hairy; lobes elliptic, acute, hairy, c. 2 mm long. Stamens inserted at the throat of corolla-tube; anthers oblong. Ovary 2-loculed, 2 ovules in each locule; style equalling the corolla-tube, filiform; stigma. 2-lobed, papillose. Capsule 3-3.5 mm long, densely hairy at base, ovoid or ellipsoid. Seeds brown, oblong-ellipsoid with a ventral groove, 2.5-3 x 1 mm, testa minutely reticulate or granulate.
A variable species; can be differentiated into 2 varieties.
