Common Name: Panicled fold wing. Tamil Name. Kara-k-kanciram
Panicled fold wing is an erect herb that grows to a height of about 3 feet and is commonly seen in fallow-lands and road-sides in Tamilnadu. The plant is much branched can spread across to two meters. The stem is six angled and has some white hairs on them, the branching nodes have a notable swelling and bend (knee bend). The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner. The leaf shape is ovate and grows to a length of about 4.5 cm, leaf near the apex of the plant are smaller. The leaf base is cuneate and apex acuminate, the leaf margin is entire. The inflorescence is the form of cymes which grow on opposite sides of the stem; each having about 3-4 flowers. The flowers are about 1.4 to 2 cm in length and are bi-lipped and pink in color. The stamens (two numbers) are prominently exposed on the flower. The fruit is in the form of an ellipsoid capsule containing four seeds. This plant is an important nectar plant for butterflies. In the plains of Palani hills, Tamilnadu, I encountered a white flowering variety of this plant.
