J.Stanlet Gardiner, 112c

Species

Justicia gardineri Turr.

Original Distribution

Seychelles

Habitat

Native to tropical to warm temperate regions of the Americas

Extinction Data

Seychelles Red Data Book – 1997

Description

The Acanthaceae are mostly herbs or shrubs comprising about 250 genera and 2,500 species, including twining forms. The leaves are simple, opposite and decussate; stipules are lacking. The flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic, and usually are associated with conspicuous, often brightly colored bracts. The calyx is usually deeply 4-5 lobed or sometimes is highly reduced with more numerous minute teeth. The corolla is sympetalous, usually 5-merous, mostly zygomorphic, and commonly 2 lipped. The androecium usually consists of 4 didynamous stamens or only 2 stamens adnate to the corolla tube or epigynous zone, alternate with the lobes. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of 2 carpels, a single style, and a superior ovary with 2 locules, each with usually 2-10 axile ovules in one or two collateral vertical tiers. An annular nectary disk is usually found around the base of the ovary. The fruit is commonly an elastically dehiscent loculicidal capsule. The seed stalk or funiculus of each seed is modified into a hook shaped jaculator or retinaculum that functions in flinging out the seeds during dehiscence. -- Gerald Carr

Number of Specimens at Kew

Specimen Type (Y/N)

Kew Herbcat Barcode Number

K000378504

Collector

J.Stanlet Gardiner FRS

Collector Number

112c

Date Collected

1908

Information Sources

Friedmann, F. (1994). Flore des Seychelles – Dicotylédones – ORSTOM, Paris. Gerlach, J. (ed.) Seychelles Red Data Book – 1997. The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles.