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Ruellia prostrata

Poir. (1804)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Ruellia

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Prostrate perennial herbs.

Stems:

Roots: Rooting at the nodes.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades ovate, 2–10 cm long, (0.9)–1.5–4.5 cm wide. Surfaces sparsely strigose, especially on upper surface. Margins entire. Petioles 5–30 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the leaf axils. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Each subtended by oblanceolate to ovate bracts 15–23 mm long. Calyx lobes 5, linear, 6–10 mm long. Corolla 5-lobed, large and showy, violet blue to occasionally nearly white, 2.4–3.2 cm long, the lobes slightly spreading. Stamens 4, in pairs, inserted on the corolla alternate with the lobes, sometimes 1 or more reduced to staminodes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovule placentation axile; style filiform, simple.

Fruit: Capsules with two cells; usually dehiscing explosively; clavate; 1.5–2 cm long; densely puberulent. Seeds 4–20; On small hooked stalks (modified funiculus) that ejects the seeds from the capsule; embryos usually large; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 34; 44

Habitat: A weed of urban areas.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to Java. This species previously was misidentified in Hawai‘i as Ruellia repens L., which differs from R. prostrata in its narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves and capsules only 1.2-1.5 cm. long.

Bibliography

Name Published In: J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 6: 349 (1804)

Other References

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Wagner et al. 1990:174 (O); Oppenheimer 2003:4 (Mo, WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Makapuu, along the road to the lighthouse PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Whistler, W.A. s.n. Oahu BISH 1/1/1984
2 Ruellia prostrata Poir. W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina Growing at edge of paved driveway. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H120107 Maui BISH 12/31/2001
3 Ruellia prostrata Poir. east maui, makawao district, olinda Volunteering in yard. Associated vegetation: Eucalyptus spp., Pennisetum clandestinum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. martz, k. collector number: 011012-1 Maui BISH 10/12/2001
4 Ruellia prostrata Poir. hamakua marsh, kailua, mauka (mountainside) of hamakua drive Low groundcover upland from marsh under scattered Prosopis, Citharexylum spinosum, Schinus. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN imada, c.t. engilis, a.; yuen, a.; dr.duk collector number: 92-2 Oahu BISH 4/4/1992
5 Ruellia prostrata Poir. waialua Roadside w. Asystasia, Thespesia, Terminalia and Paspalum fimbriatum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h110137 Molokai BISH 11/18/2001
6 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Honolulu; foot of Alewa Ht PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/31/1946
7 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Waialua Roadside w. Asystasia, Thespesia, Terminalia and Paspalum fimbriatum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H110137 Molokai BISH 11/18/2001
8 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Foster Botanic Garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1291 Oahu US 8/5/1985
9 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Waialua. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H110137 Molokai PTBG 11/18/2001
10 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Lahaina. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H50110 Maui PTBG 5/13/2001
11 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Lahaina. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H120107 Maui PTBG 12/31/2001
12 Ruellia prostrata Poir. e of farrington hwy., keaau, waianae district PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. nagata 2039 Oahu US 2/17/1980
13 Ruellia prostrata Poir. honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. nagata 831 Oahu US 5/7/1971
14 Ruellia prostrata Poir. E of Farrington Hwy., Keaau, Waianae District PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K. M. 2039 Oahu US 2/17/1980
15 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K. M. 831 Oahu US 5/7/1971
16 Ruellia prostrata Poir. foster botanic garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN j. lau 1291 Oahu US 8/5/1985
17 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Manoa Valley, Honolulu; between curb and sidewalk along Dole St. between Kanewai Park and bridge Growing in lawn area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 1220 Oahu BISH 3/4/1974
18 Ruellia prostrata Poir. W Maui, Lahaina District Growing in neglected lawn area with Calyptocarpus, Ipomoea, Leucaena, Chamaesyce, Chloris, Eragrostis. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H70209 Maui BISH 7/28/2002
19 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Honolulu, Foster Botanic Garden Growing in a well watered, frequently mowed grass lawn in partial shade. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1291 Oahu BISH 8/5/1985
20 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way Persistent creeping weed. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 12/17/1944
21 Ruellia prostrata Poir. brigham young university-hawaii campus Pine plantings along ridge top with Grevillea, Psidium, Lantana, and with understory dominated by Melinis. Along side of access road also kikuyu, Setaria, and Plantago lanceolata. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN mackelprang, j. collector number: 786 Kauai BISH 4/1/1977
22 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Waialua Roadside w. Asystasia, Thespesia, Terminalia and Paspalum fimbriatum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H110137 Molokai BISH 11/18/2001
23 Ruellia prostrata Poir. honolulu: manoa valley; lyon arboretum. in holding area of greenhouse Volunteer. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 831 Oahu BISH 5/7/1971
24 Ruellia prostrata Poir. w maui, lahaina district Growing in neglected lawn area with Calyptocarpus, Ipomoea, Leucaena, Chamaesyce, Chloris, Eragrostis. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h70209 Maui BISH 7/28/2002
25 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Hamakua Marsh, Kailua, mauka (mountainside) of Hamakua Drive Low groundcover upland from marsh under scattered Prosopis, Citharexylum spinosum, Schinus. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. 92-2 Oahu BISH 4/4/1992
26 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Brigham Young University-Hawaii campus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Mackelprang, J. 786 Oahu BISH 4/1/1977
27 Ruellia prostrata Poir. East Maui, Makawao District, Olinda Volunteering in yard. Associated vegetation: Eucalyptus spp., Pennisetum clandestinum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. Martz, K. Collector Number: 011012-1 Maui BISH 10/12/2001
28 Ruellia prostrata Poir. W Maui, Lahaina District Growing in neglected lawn area with Calyptocarpus, Ipomoea, Leucaena, Chamaesyce, Chloris, Eragrostis. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H70209 Maui BISH 7/28/2002
29 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Keaau, Waianae District; just E of Farrington Hwy Growing in deep shade of Leucaena leucocephala. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 2039 Oahu BISH 2/17/1980
30 Ruellia prostrata Poir. manoa valley, honolulu; between curb and sidewalk along dole st. between kanewai park and bridge Growing in lawn area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 1220 Oahu BISH 3/4/1974
31 Ruellia prostrata Poir. makapuu, along the road to the lighthouse PRESERVED_SPECIMEN whistler, w.a. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 1/1/1984
32 Ruellia prostrata Poir. honolulu, 42 coelho way Persistent creeping weed. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 12/17/1944
33 Ruellia prostrata Poir. East Maui, Makawao District, Olinda Volunteering in yard. Associated vegetation: Eucalyptus spp., Pennisetum clandestinum. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 011012-1 Maui BISH 10/12/2001
34 Ruellia prostrata Poir. W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina Growing at edge of paved driveway. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H120107 Maui BISH 12/31/2001
35 Ruellia prostrata Poir. honolulu, foster botanic garden Athyrium, Dryopteris, Astelia, Cheirodendron, Metrosideros PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 1291 Maui BISH 8/5/1985
36 Ruellia prostrata Poir. W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina, at Campbell Park In lawn w. Calyptocarpus, Chamaesyce, Erigeron, Eragrostis. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H50110 Maui BISH 5/13/2001
37 Ruellia prostrata Poir. keaau, waianae district; just e of farrington hwy Growing in deep shade of Leucaena leucocephala. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 2039 Oahu BISH 2/17/1980
38 Ruellia prostrata Poir. w maui, lahaina district, lahaina, at campbell park In lawn w. Calyptocarpus, Chamaesyce, Erigeron, Eragrostis. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h50110 Maui BISH 5/13/2001
39 Ruellia prostrata Poir. Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Lyon Arboretum. In holding area of greenhouse Volunteer. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 831 Oahu BISH 5/7/1971
40 Ruellia prostrata Poir. honolulu; foot of alewa ht PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/31/1946
41 Ruellia prostrata Poir. w maui, lahaina district, lahaina PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h120107 Hawaii BISH 12/31/2001
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