| Rhynchoglossum notonianum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| South Indian Klugia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Gesneriaceae |
| Genus: | Rhynchoglossum |
| Species: | R. notonianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhynchoglossum notonianum (Wall.) B.L. Burtt [1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Rhynchoglossum notonianum, the South-Indian tongue-lip, [2] is an annual succulent herb plant in family Gesneriaceae, native to South India and Sri Lanka. [3] [4] It is characterized by a creeping growth habit and is covered with fine hairs, which on the stem are mostly confined to a single line on one side.
The leaves are alternately arranged, stalked, and either entire or slightly serrated along the margins. The bases of the leaves are unequally heart-shaped. Flowers are borne in racemes opposite the leaves and are notable for their rich, deep blue color, with all flowers oriented downward.
The calyx is five-cleft and five-angled, with the angles often appearing winged. The flowers, which are typically over 2.5 cm (1 inch) long, are distinctly two-lipped. The upper lip is small and two-toothed, while the lower lip is much larger, broad, and elliptic, bearing two cavities near the base. The plant has four stamens, and the ovary is enclosed in a fleshy cup.
Flowering occurs between August and November. This species occurs throughout Kerala, particularly in moist, shaded locations. It is also found in the Western Ghats and in Sri Lanka. [5]
