Rostellularia adscendens (R.Br.) R.M.Barker

Acanthaceae

Barker, R.M. (1986) Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 9: 250.

Pink Tongues

Occasionally grows into a small shrub but usually flowers and fruits as a herb.

Twigs longitudinally grooved and clothed in hairs. Leaves shortly petiolate, the petioles about 0.5-7 mm long. Leaf blades variable in size, about 0.6-2.7 x 0.2-1.5 cm.

Calyx 5-lobed (four large lobes and one small). Corolla about 4-7 mm long, +/- 2-lipped, the upper lip with one lobe and the lower lip with three small lobes at the apex, each with a thickened swelling. Anther sacs +/- separate from one another, +/- superposed and the lower anther sac tailed. Style sparsely hairy at least in the lower half. Stigma minutely 2-lobed. Ovary seated on a lobed cup-shaped disk.

Capsule about 3.2-6.5 mm long with 2/3-3/4 of the capsule enclosed by the calyx lobes. Capsule hairy on the outer surface at least towards the apex. Seeds four per fruit with one attached near the base and the others half way up the placenta in each locule. Testa papillate or rugose.

Cotyledons about 4 x 3.5 mm, petioles about 1 mm long. First pair of leaves elliptic to ovate, about 8-9 x 4 mm, apex apiculate to acute, base cuneate or attenuate. Petioles about 1 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade with 3 or 4 lateral veins on each side of the midrib. Stems longitudinally ribbed or grooved and minutely hairy. Stipule-like scars or raised ridges present on the stems and connecting the petioles of opposing leaves in each pair. Seed germination time 155 days.

Endemic to Australia, occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards to coastal central New South Wales. Also occurs in southern Northern Territory, northern South Australia and the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from 200-750 m. Grows in a variety of vegetation types but in CYP and NEQ is found in open forest, monsoon forest and vine thickets.

A widespread and very variable species with several named subspecies and varieties.

Food plant for the larval stages of the Blue Argus Butterfly. Sankowsky & Neilsen (2000).

Justicia adscendens R.Br., Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 476(1810), Type: Queensland, Thirsty Sound, 26 Aug. 1802, R. Brown s.n.; lecto: BM; iso: MEL. Justicia procumbens var. peploides (Nees) F.M.Bailey, The Queensland Flora 4: 1151(1901). Justicia procumbens var. typica Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928), Type: Die typische Form. Rostellularia adscendens var. pogonanthera (F.Muell.) R.M.Barker, Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 9: 264(1986). Rostellularia juncea (R.Br.) Nees, Prodromus 11: 376(1847). Rostellularia procumbens (L.) Nees, Prodromus 11: 371(1847). Rostellularia pogonanthera F.Muell., Linnaea 25: 431(1853), Type: Secus ripam lapidosam graminosam rivi Arkaba. Justicia procumbens var. latifolia Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928), Type: Queensland: Metal Mts. Bei Chillagoe (DOMIN II. 1910) Lecto: Domin 8410, Feb. 1910, PR. Fide Barker (1986). Justicia glaucoviolacea Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1159(1928), Type: Queensland, Walsh (River?) near Chillagoe, Feb. 1910, Domin 8421; lecto: PR. Fide Barker (1986). Iso: Domin 8422 & Domin 3126. Rostellularia media (R.Br.) Nees, Prodromus 11: 374(1847). Justicia procumbens var. juncea (R.Br.) Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928). Justicia procumbens var. hispida Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928), Type: Queensland: Savannenwalder bei Mareeba (DOMIN II. 1910). Lecto: Domin 8417, Feb. 1910, PR. Fide Barker (1986). Justicia procumbens var. bonneyana (F.Muell.) Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928). Justicia procumbens var. adscendens (R.Br.) Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1158(1928). Justicia procumbens L. var. procumbens, A Synopsis of the Queensland Flora : 369(1883). Justicia procumbens L., Species Plantarum 2: 15(1753), Type: Habitat in Zeylona. Justicia notha C.B.Clarke, Flora of British India 4: 537(1885), Type: INDIA?; Herb. Wight. Justicia juncea R.Br., Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 476(1810), Type: Northern Australia, R. Brown; holo: BM. Justicia clementii Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1159(1928), Type: Nordwest-Australien: zwischen Ashburton und De Gray River, E. CLEMENT. Holo: PR531032. Fide Barker (1986). Justicia media R.Br., Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 476(1810), Type: Possible holo: R. Brown 2947, 4.i.1803, Carpentaria [Mainland opp. Groote Eylandt. Fide Barker (1986).