Common Name: Sparrow false Pimpernel. Zigzag flower Tamil Name: Thanni Poondu
Bonnaya is a genus under Linderniaceae family and consists in total about 14 species. They are mostly seen in Tropical and semi-tropical areas in Africa, Asia and Australia. They are adapted to grow in wet marshy habitats. Plants in this genus have a pair of staminodes (non-reproductive) and and a pair of stamens. They have pinnate leaf venation, leaf margin serrate, the flower has a 5 lobed calyx.The fruit is in the form of a capsule which split open to release the seeds.
B antipodal is seen in wet marshy areas adjoining western ghats. They grow close to the ground forming and spread around with the help of nodal rooting. The simple leaf is arranged in opposite manner and have a serrated margin. The leafs are oval in shape and measure around 2 cm in length. The flowers are solitary light blue in color with yellow colorations on the throat. The flowers are tubular, bisexual and zygomorphic in shape. The flower consists of 2 stamens and 2 staminodes. The flowers are bi-lipped; lower lip is three lobed and the upper lip 2 lobed. The flowers look beautiful and potentially can be developed as an ornamental plant.
