Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Aquatic & Hydrophyte (Waterside / Marginal), Herbaceous Plant |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
Biogeography
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous plant with an erect growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are narrow and linear, with distinct purple veins. Leaf venation pinnate. |
| Flowers | Tubular or trumpet-shaped, solitary or borne in clusters, located terminally on the stems. Petals are pink and 5-lobed, round to obovate. |
| Fruit | Fruits are long, cyrindrical seed pods with pointed tips, maturing from green to light brown. |
| Etymology | The genus Ruellia is named after John de la Ruelle of Soissons, the author of De natura plantarum. The specific epithet simplex means undivided, entire, single. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site) |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Pruning | Requires only removing of old leaves. |
| Fertilizing | Do not require fertilizer. |
| Potential Problems | No. |
| Diseases | No. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped, Tubular |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Days |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1109 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2402 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
