THE LABIATE FAMILY 



103 



Hygrophila spinosa {Kan. Kfive miillii: Tarn. Nirmulli), a 

 spinous annual plant growing in marshy places. The thorns 

 represent metamorphosed branches. 



Acanthus ilicifolms {Kan. Holeculli), a blue-flowered plant 

 with holly-like spinous leaves. Xerophytic like the Mangrove 

 plant. 



Justicia procumheiis {Kan. Nelabevu), a small weed with rose 

 flowers, growling in the grass during the monsoon. 



Strobilanthes, a genus represented by many species, grega- 

 riously living in the ghauts, with knotty and smooth stems, brittle 

 like glass, flowering only after about seven years and then dying. 



Thunbergia grandiflora, 

 a beautiful climber with 

 large, blue flower-bells, often 

 grown in gardens. 



Meyenia erecta, another 

 garden plant wuth long-tubed, 

 blue flowers. 



Xndro^rsLiphxs paniculata 

 {Kan. Ura-kiryatu; Mai. 

 Nilavepu) a valuable medicine 

 plant. 



Justicia gendarussa {Kan. 

 Karinekki; Tani. Karunoccij, 

 Asystasia violacea, Lepida- 

 gathis prostrata {Kan. Ajji- 



mullu), Rlingia parviflora ^'S'- O^.-Xhe Xil Plant {Sesamum imlicum). 



are also common. 



The Sesamum family {Pedaliacece) is a small family allied to the 

 Acanthaceae. It is represented by the Gringily or Til Plant {Sesamum 

 indicum), commonly grown for the oil of its seeds. 



24. The Labiate Family 



(Labiatae). 



Mostly aromatic plants with square stems, decussate leaves, and 

 bilabiate flowers. Stamens generally four : two longer and two short- 

 er (didynamous). Style one, inserted between the lobes of the ovary, 



