Common Name: Green chiretta. Tamil Name: Nilavembu
Green Chiretta is native to the Indian Peninsular region and Sri Lanka, it grows to a height of about 1.5 feet. It is found as a sub-shrub in deciduous forest areas. The stem is green in color and square shaped with striations. Most part of the plant are glabrous. The distances between the leafing nodes can be as much as 9 cm. The stem near the leaf nodes have a ‘knee-bend’ like shape. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner; the leafs are sessile or near sessile. The leafs are elliptic-ovate in shape with a cuneate base and an acute apex; the leaf measure around 5.2 cm in length. The leaf lamella grows over the very small leaf stalk. The leaf margin is shallowly dentate. The inflorescence is in the form of a panicle of spikes. The spikes measure around 13.5 cm and bear many flowers which are arranged towards one side of the flowering branch. The calyx is green in color, five parted and have glandular hairs. The bracts are lanceolate and green in color. The bi-lipped flowers are white with several dark purple spots. The flower tube measure around 7 mm. Stamens are two in number and have dark anther ends and they stick out of the flower tube. The fruit is a compressed capsule which gland dotted and hairy.
