Bean, Revision of Anisomeles 
333 
The overall shape of the fruiting calyx is 
very often cylindrical (Fig. 7F), or at times 
narrowly campanulate, but in the Asian 
species, A. indica, it is obconical (Fig. 7G). 
The shape may be quantified by using the 
ratio of the length versus the width (measured 
as the maximum distance across calyx lobe 
apices on dried material). The external surface 
of the calyx is more or less smooth, apart from 
the 5 or 10 rather faint longitudinal ribs, and 
the external indumentum tends to reflect 
that of the stems and leaves, and is often 
diagnostic. The inner surface of the calyx is 
often glabrous, but there is frequently a zone 
of long dense hairs distal from the nutlets. 
The calyx lobes are very often acute i.e. 
tapering evenly to the apex, but in a few 
species, most notably A. malabarica , they are 
acuminate to attenuate, and the lobes have 
a long and slender apex. The inner surface 
of the calyx lobes is notable for the network 
of anastomosing raised veins, including 
an intramarginal vein that runs close to the 
margin but not confluent with it. Between the 
margin and this intramarginal vein are found 
the calyx ‘fringe’ hairs; densely clustered 
erect eglandular multicellular hairs. The 
fringe hairs are highly diagnostic, because 
they are, with very few exceptions, consistent 
in length and pattern for any given species 
(Figs. 8, 9,10,11). In some species the length 
of the fringe hairs is ± constant from calyx 
lobe sinus to calyx lobe apex, while in other 
species the hair length decreases from sinus 
to apex. 
Taxonomy 
Anisomeles R.Br., Prodr. 503 (1810), nom. 
cons, prop.. Bean (2015). Lectotype: A. 
moschata R.Br., chosen by Subramanyam & 
Henry (1969). 
Epimeredi Adans., Fam. PI. (Adanson) 
192 (1763), nom. cons. rej. Lectotype: E. 
malabaricus (R.Br.) Rothm., chosen by 
Subramanyam & Henry (1969). 
Perennial herbs or shrubs, with erect, 
procumbent or prostrate stems arising from 
a woody rootstock, usually aromatic. Sessile 
glands present on nearly all plant parts. 
Stems square in cross-section; indumentum 
of unbranched multicellular, eglandular 
hairs (short or long, curved or straight) 
and/or short erect unicellular gland-tipped 
hairs. Leaves petiolate, opposite, decussate, 
margins crenate to dentate; the cauline leaves 
transforming abruptly or gradually to the 
floral bracts of the verticil. Inflorescences 
terminal, spicate, indeterminate, of several 
verticils at the apex of each branch; lowest 
verticil borne in axil of cauline leaves, all other 
verticils subtended by floral bracts. Verticils 
few to many flowered, congested or lax; 
branching of cymes initially often dichasial, 
then monochasial, with a single flower at 
each node, bracteoles persistent. Flowers 
bisexual. Calyx gamosepalous, symmetric, 
lengthening after anthesis, then somewhat 
swollen at the proximal end; tube obconical 
to narrowly campanulate or cylindrical, outer 
surface with 5 or 10 longitudinal ribs, inner 
surface frequently with dense multicellular 
hairs on medial section; lobes 5, acute, 
acuminate or attenuate, equal; outer surface 
more or less smooth, inner surface with 
several raised anastomosing veins, including 
an intramarginal vein, and with a fringe 
of straight multicellular hairs between the 
intramarginal vein and the inner margin. 
Corolla zygomorphic, 2-lipped, upper lip 
entire, hooded, white; lower lip 3-lobed, 
median lobe large, reflexed, broadening 
distally and usually emarginate or bipartite. 
Stamens 4, all fertile; staminal filaments 
raised, adjacent to upper corolla lip, coherent 
near apex, with many spreading multicellular 
hairs distally or medially. Anterior anthers 
transversely 2-celled, cells parallel; posterior 
anthers transversely 1-celled. Style gynobasic, 
glabrous; stigma branches 2, unequal. Nutlets 
brown to black, smooth, glossy, with a small 
basal scar. 
26 species in southern Asia, Malesia and 
Australia, 23 species occurring in Australia 
(20 endemic). 
Etymology 
From the Greek anisos meaning unequal, and 
melos meaning ‘a limb, or a part’, presumably 
in reference to the corolla, in which the upper 
lip is far smaller than the lower lip. 
