1084 ACANTHACEAE 
Leaves of the main stem mostly less than 6 cm. long: eastern 
species. 7. R. hybrida. 
Leaves of the mainstem mostly over 6 cm. long: Texan species. 8. R. Drummondiana. 
B. Calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate or broadly linear, scarcely longer than the 
capsule. 9. R. strepens. 
1. Ruellia tuberòsa L. Foliage finely hirsute or canescent. Stems erect, from some- 
what tuberous-thickened roots, 2-6 dm. tall, branching: leaf-blades thickish, oblong to 
ovate, 3-8 cm. long, undulate-crisped, gradually or abruptly narrowed into margined 
petioles which are shorter than the blades: cymes on erect or ascending peduncles : bracts 
small and narrow: calyx bristly ; lobes narrowly linear, 10-12 mm. long or sometimes 2 
em. long: corolla blue or rarely white, 4-6 cm. long; tube about 3 mm. in diameter, 
rather abruptly dilated into the shorter throat; limb 3-4 em. long: capsules 1.5-1.7 mm. 
long, puberulent. 
In valleys, Texas. Also in tropical America. 
2. Ruellia pedunculata Torr. Foilage mainly puberulent. Stems erect, 3-6 dm. 
tall, with wide-spreading branches: leaf-blades oblong-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 2-10 
cm. long, acute or acutish, undulate ; petioles 4-10 mm. long: peduncles spreading, bear- 
ing 2 leaf-like bracts near the end: calyx puberulent ; lobes subulate-filiform, 1-1.5 cm. 
long: corolla blue or pale; tube about 2 mm. thick, as long as the funnelform throat or 
longer; limb 3-4 cm. broad : capsules 1.5-2 cm. long. 
In dry woods, Missouri to Louisiana and Texas. Spring to fall. 
3. Ruellia noctiflora (Nees) A. Gray. Foliage minutely pubescent. Stems erect, 
1-3 dm. tall or diffusely branched : leaf-blades oblong, sometimes narrowly so or oblong- 
lanceolate, rather obtuse, undulate, sessile: calyx softly pubesent; lobes linear-filiform, 
2.5-3.5 cm. long: corolla white or bluish ; tube about 2 mm. thick, 5-6 cm. long, several 
times longer than the comparatively short funnelform throat; limb 4-5 cm. broad: cap- 
sules spindle-shaped, 2.5 cm. long, puberulent. 
In low sandy pine lands, Georgia and Florida to Mississippi. Spring and summer. 
4. Ruellia hümilis Nutt. Foliage finely hirsute or villous-hirsute. Stems very 
short, 1-3 em. long, or almost wanting, simple or sparingly branched: leaves few ; blades 
spatulate to oblong or oval, 3-10 cm. long, mostly obtuse, sessile or short-petioled : pedicels 
very short : calyx bristly ; lobes linear-subulate, 1.5-2 cm. long: corolla blue or nearly 
white, 4 cm. long ; tube somewhat longer than the broadly dilated throat; limb 3-4 cm. 
broad : capsules nearly oblong, fully 1.5 em. long. 
In sandy soil, Georgia and Florida to Mississippi. Spring to fall. 
5. Ruellia cilidsa Pursh. Foliage hirsute to the corolla, which also is sometimes 
finely hirsute. Stems erect, 2-6 dm. tall, more or less branched: leaf-blades oval, ovate 
or oblong, 2-5 cm. long, acute or obtusish, undulate, ciliate, sessile or essentially so: calyx 
bristly ; lobes filiform-subulate, 1.5-2 em. long: corolla blue, 5-7 em. long ; tube about 
as long as the throat ; limb 3-4 cm. broad ; lobes suborbicular, about as long as the throat : 
capsules oblong, 1-1.5 em. long, glabrous or nearly so. 
In dry soil, New Jersey to Michigan, Kansas, Florida and Texas. Spring to fall. 
6. Ruellia parvifldra (Nees) Britton. Foliage sparingly pubescent, but green. 
Stems erect, 2-6 dm. tall, simple or sometimes ‘sparingly branched : leaf-blades oblong to 
oblong-lanceolate, 3-10 em. long, obtuse or acutish, undulate, rather acuminately narrow 
at the base, manifestly petioled: pedicels very short: calyx bristly ; lobes linear-filiforms 
1.5-2 em. long: corolla blue, 4-5 cm. long ; tube somewhat longer than the throat ; lim 
2-3 cm. broad : capsules oblong above the stipe-like base, barely 1.5 cm. long. 
In sandy soil, Maryland to Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spring and summer. 
7. Ruellia hybrida Pursh. Foliage finely and closely grayish-pubescent. ipe 
2-5 dm. tall, erect or diffuse, the branches at least, spreading: leaf-blades ovate to 0 a 
2.5-5 cm. long, obtuse or acutish, undulate or sinuate, conspicuously pale-nerved segura , 
short-petioled : calyx minutely bristly or canescent-bristly ; lobes linear-filiform, 1—- 
cm. long: corolla 2-4 em. long; limb 2-3 em. wide: capsules less than 1.5 cm. long. 
In sandy or dry soil, Florida. Spring and summer. 
8. Ruellia Drummondiàna (Nees) A. Gray. Foliage finely gray ish pubesc 
erect, 5-9 dm. tall, simple or sparingly branched: leaf-blades ovate to oblong : calyx 
5-18 cm. long, acute or short-acuminate, repand, narrowed into manifest ae nes "tabo 
canescent ; lobes bristle-like, 2-2.5 cm. long : corolla blue or pale, 2.5-3.5 cm. e ; 
somewhat longer than the throat; limb 2.5-3 cm. broad : capsules over 1.5 cm. long. 
In dry soil, Texas. Spring to fall. : Stems 
9. Ruella strépens L. Foliage bright green, glabrous or finely p acute 
erect, 2-12 dm. tall, simple or branched : leaf-blades ovate to oblong, ü-15 cm. 2008, 
ent. Stems 
lanceolate, 
