Common Name: Mexican bluebell, Mexican petunia, Desert petunia
Mexican bluebell is a sub-shrub native to Mexico and grows to a height of about 2 feet. It is often planted in house gardens and lawns in Coimbatore. The flower comes in attractive colors of Lavender and blue. The leaves are arranged in an opposite manner and are seen bunched at the end of the branches. The leaf lamella runs through the leaf stalk. The leaves are long and can measure around 6 cm. The leaves are elliptic-lanceolate in shape. The leaf margin is slightly dentate. The inflorescence is axillary-mostly seen single. The flower stalk and flower measure around 2.2 cm and 3.1 cm respectively. The calyx consists of five green sepal elements. The sepal elements measure around 1.5 cm and are lanceolate with an acuminate tip. The flower color can be lavender or blue; the petals have a crumpled look. The flowers are funnel shaped and bi-lipped. The flower encloses 4 stamens (didynamous) and a single style. The fruit was not located. The plant can be propagated by cuttings. Desert petunia is the larval host plant for Tinygrass blue, Peacock pansy, Chocolate pansy and lemon pansy (source www.ifoundbutterflies.org)
