Common Name: Ceylon heliotrope.
Ceylon heliotrope is an erect sub-shrub of Tropical African origin that grows to a height of about a meter. This plant is commonly found many parts of Africa, Arabia and India. Not commonly seen in Tamilnadu. This plant was located in the dry slopes of Western Ghats in Coimbatore District. The entire plant is hairy to hispid. Some glandular hairs can also been on the stem of the plant. The simple leaves are sessile, hairy on both sides and measure in length around 4.2 cm. The leaves are linear-lanceolate in shape with an attenuate base; the leaf margin is hairy. The inflorescence is the form of a terminal or an axillary raceme which can grow to over 15 cm in length. The calyx consists of five sepal teeth and measure around 2 mm in length. The sessile five parted flower is tubular and greenish-cream in color. The flower measurers around 5-6 mm in length, the corolla elements are twisted and the tip of the corolla is turned upwards. The fruit was not located.
