1171

 Artanema longifolium (L.) Vatke

Synonyms	:	Bahelia longifolia (L.) Kuntze
Family	:	SCROPHULARIACEAE
Local name	:	Vayalchulli
Flowering and fruiting period	:	August-December
Distribution	:	Indo-Malesia
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Moist deciduous forests and grasslands
Uses	:	The leaves can also be cooked and eaten as a leafy vegetable.
Key Botanical Characters: Undershrubs. Leaves opposite, to 20 x 8 cm, elliptic, acuminate, serrate, attenuate at base, glabrous; nerves to 6 pairs, distinct below; petiole short or absent. Racemes terminal, to 20 cm long; bracts leafy; bracteoles absent. Flowers sessile, to 25 mm long; calyx 12 mm long, campanulate, divided to the middle, lobes acuminate, glabrous; corolla 2.5 cm long, 2-lipped, deep violet, upper lip round or emarginate, lower lip 3-lobed, lobes orbicular; stamens 4, filaments of longer stamen curved or arched, with an orbicular basal appendage, anthers connate in pairs; ovary 2-furrowed, many-ovuled; style long, slender, stigma spathulate. Capsule 7 x 8 mm, depressed globose; seeds cylindrical, puberulus, brown.