Acanthaceae

Sanchezia ovata Ruíz & Pav.

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Species Parent: Sanchezia Status: Invalid Reason: unverified

Morphological Description

Diagnosis: Herb or subshrub to 1.5 m tall. Flowers yellow subtended by red bracts.

Vegetative Morphology

Habit: Herb or subshrub to 2 m tall.

Leaves: Leaves simple, opposite; petioles to ca.5 cm long; lamina broadly ovate, to ca. 15 x 25 cm, coriaceous, the base acute, the apex short acuminate, the margins entire to crenate.

Reproductive Morphology

Inflorescence: Inflorescence of axillary fascicles of solitary flowers subtended by showy red bracts.

Flowers: Flowers to ca. 4 cm long; calyx subactinomorphic, weakly lobed; corolla narrowly tubular with five short lobes, yellow; fertile stamens 2, exerted from corolla; staminodes 2.

Fruit: Fruit an oblong capsule.

Seeds: Seeds flattened, orbicular, 6-8 per fruit.

Other

Notes: Hummingbirds are attracted to the plants by the bright red bracts subtending the yellow flowers.