Asystasia gangetica

Asystasia gangetica is a perennial herb growing up to 30 to 80 cm long.
It can climb up to 2 m with the support of other species.
It is a common under-storey species of the Tropical Dry Evergreen forest.

The stem of Asystasia gangetica is striated in its length.
They are straight, branching in regular angle.
The stems have a swollen base, red in colour at the base of the branching.

The leaves of Asystasia gangetica are simple, growing in opposite decussate arrangement. 
They are 2 to 6 cm long and 1.50 to 4 cm wide. 
The leaf shape is elliptic ovate with an entire margin. 
The base is heart-shaped and the tip is pointed or blunt. 
The upper side of the leaf is pubescent and pale, and the lower side is woolly. 
The petiole is about 1 to 2 cm long, red when young and pubescent.

The flowers of Asystasia gangetica are white in colour, sometimes with a pale purple tinge.
They are tube funnel-shaped and about 3 cm long in size.
The flowers are borne in a 7-8 lax spike like raceme, which can be up to 1.50 cm long. 
The lower flowers are 2 cm apart and get closer above.
The bracts are lanceolate, they are less than 0.50 cm in size. 
The calyx is acuminate with 5 thinly pubescent lobes.  
The sepal-cup is divided to the base into 5 linear-lance shaped sepals about 1 cm long, and has dense velvet hairs.

The fruits of Asystasia gangetica are capsules. 
The fruit is club-shaped, 1.50 cm long and 0.50 cm wide, apically pointed with seeds inside. 
It is green when unripe, turning brown at maturity.
The fruit is minutely pubescent, often with the protruding persistent stigma.
It opens widely in a reflexed curve when ready.

The seeds of Asystasia gangetica are enclosed in a club-shaped capsule. 
They are 4 to 6 in number in one capsule.
The seeds are angular with an irregular shape.
They are less than 5 mm wide, and brown in colour.