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Ruellia rosea
| Family Name: | Acanthaceae |
| Synonyms: | Ruellia hirsutoglandulosa, Dipteracanthus hirsuto-glandulosus, Ophthalmacanthus roseus |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.7 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mexico |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A showy, scrambling, herbaceous shrub or groundcover with dramatic red flowers that are shaped like little trumpets with flaring lobes, accompanied by glossy, deep green leaves with prominent veins. |
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| Foliage | Leaves simple, entire, opposite, elliptic (in a form of an ellispe; narrow at the ends and broad near the center) to ovate (egg-shaped; oval), sessile (stalkless; attached directly by the base) or sub-sessile, about 7 cm long. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Stem: Stems herbaceous, slender, green, pubescent (covered with fine hairs). Flower: Flowers terminal, corymbose (corymb-like; a flat-topped or convex open flower cluster with the outer flowers opening first), red, trumpet-like, with flaring lobes, about 2.5 to 3 cm across, blooming at dawn, usually last for a day only. |
| Cultivation | Thrives in full sun or bright filtered light with rich, fertile soil that is water-retaining yet well-draining. Appreciates constant moisture even though it is relatively drought tolerant once established. Showy, red trumpet-like flowers only last for a day. Propagate by simple layering or sotfwood stem cuttings. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet 'Ruellia' is honoured after French physician and botanist Jean Ruelle (1474 ca. - 1537), of Soissons, author of a treatise titled “De Natura stirpium libri tres”, in which he reported all the botanical knowledge of the time. The species epithet 'rosea' means rose-coloured in Latin, in reference to its flowers. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
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| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1110 |
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| Species ID | 2403 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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