Common Name: Heyne’s Gomphostemma.
Heyne’s Gomphostemma is a sub-shrub growing on evergreen forest areas of Western Ghats. It grows to a height of about 2 feet. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite and decussate manner; the leaf margins are crenate. The plant has a squarish stem and is hairy all over. The leafs are elliptic-ovate in shape with an acute base and apex. The leaves stalk and leaf measure around 1.5 cm and 14 cm in length respectively. The leaf surfaces on both sides are hairy; on the lower side of the leaf the leaf veins are exposed. The inflorescence is in a terminal raceme, the flowers are arranged inside bracts compactly and are yellow in color. The flowers are bi-lipped and the flower tube measures around 1 cm. The fruit is in the form of a nutlet. The plant is probably endemic to South Western Ghats. This plant was photographed from Achankoil hills in Kerala in the month of December (2023). The plant has medicinal properties and used in traditinal Indian systems of medicine.
