455

Ruellia tweediana Griseb.

Family	:	Acanthaceae
Local name	:	English-  Mexican petunia
Flowering and fruiting period	:	November-June
Distribution	:	Native of tropical America
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Grown as garden plant
Endemic/Exotic	:	Exotic
Uses	:	Ornamental purpose.
Key botanical characters:   Mexican-petunia is a perennial in zones 8 to 11 that stands up to 3 feet in height. Stems are green or purple and leaves are dark green, oppositely arranged and lance-shaped, roughly 6 to 12 inches long and ½ to ¾ inches wide. Veins are prominent on the underside of the leaf. Leaf margins are can be smooth or wavy. Flowers are trumpet shaped (1-1/2 to 3 inches in diameter), solitary or borne in clusters at the tips of the stems, and are attractive to butterflies, bees and other pollinators. In fertile forms, cylindrical fruit or capsules containing 4 to 28 seeds are produced. Capsules have explosive dehiscence and seeds are spread long distances. Seeds produce a gel-like substance when wet that enables them to stick to surfaces when they dry. Seeds generally have high germination rates, and can germinate in both light and dark conditions. Stands of Mexican-petunia can also spread via underground stems or rhizomes.