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Asystasia crispata

Asystasia crispata Benth., Linnaea 24: 647 1851. (Syn: Asystasia coromandeliana Wight; Ruellia chelonoides Wall.);
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India (SW-Ghats) as per Catalogue of Life;
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Images by Prabhu Kumar K M, Identified by Vijayasankar Raman (Inserted by J.M.Garg)
Identification:
This plant I am collected from Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu.
I collect this from wild.
I feel this Asystasia is a garden escape. Any guess?

Could this be a Strobilanthes sp. may be lawsonii.

It is Asystasia for sure; most probably Asystasia crispata.
http://plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=130596&language=English

Of course a species of Asystasia.

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FOR ID :: Strobilanthes sp. :: The Nilgiris :: Jan 31, 2026 · 12:12 PM IST:

FOR ID ::
Strobilanthes sp.
The Nilgiris :: Jan 31, 2026 · 12:12 PM IST
Kodamulal, about 1829 m asl

Asystasia chelonoides Nees ??

Many thanks, …, for pointing to the correct genus.
Yes, the species you suggested seems to be the best match.

I will label the observation and wait for validation.

Please check gangetica also.

Thanks, …, I am familiar with gangetica and its varieties. But must say, I am not fully familiar with chelonoides, so will wait for validation.

I think looks different from images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-chelonoides/
To me it appears close to images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-crispata/
https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/FloraPeninsular/herbsheet.php?id=41&cat=7


I think it must be A. chelonoides.
In the posted plant, I see the red-ticked features as per keys in the An Excursion Flora of Central Tamilnadu, India By K. M. Matthew

Feature Asystasia crispata Asystasia chelonoides
Leaf Margin crenulate / crispate entire
✓
Leaf Base rounded to broadly acute gradually narrowed
✓
Raceme usually paired usually solitary
(not sure)
I have added two cropped photos to the observation:
Leaf margin is not entire.
Does not match with images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-chelonoides/
Ok, … Many thanks for resurfacing the post for validation.
I will label this observation as Asystasia crispata as per your thoughts.
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It will be good if the following observations are individually validated in their own eFI posts:
Feb 1, 2026 · 9:41 AM IST
Already validated as Asystasia chelonoides by … in eFloraofIndia and Tabish in iNaturalist Feb 1, 2026 · 11:13 AM IST
Not yet validated in eFloraofIndia OR in iNaturalist.

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FOR VALIDATION :: ¿ Asystasia chelonoides Nees ? :: The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 9:41 AM IST:  7 images.

FOR VALIDATION ::
¿ Asystasia chelonoides Nees ?
The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 9:41 AM IST
Marappalam, about 1257 m asl

Yes.

I think looks different from images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-chelonoides/
To me it appears close to images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-crispata/
https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/FloraPeninsular/herbsheet.php?id=41&cat=7

Many thanks … for your thoughts.
For this particular observation, I have … validation in iNaturalist.
We will wait to know his thoughts about considering the ID of Asystasia crispata.

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Asystasia chelonoides Nees :: The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 11:13 AM IST: 7 images.

Asystasia chelonoides Nees
The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 11:13 AM IST
Marappalam, about 1163 m asl
Asystasia chelonoides Nees
Many thanks to … for validating the ID in iNaturalist.

I will go for
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/asystasia-crispata/

I have suggested the ID of Asystasia crispata in iNaturalist.

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/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PICT0041.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PICT0037.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PICT0036.JPG
Plant for ID – Elagiri hills-5 : Attachments (3). 9 posts by 9 authors.
Another plant for id from Elagiri hills.

Strobilanthus ?

Some Asystasia sp.

Looks like Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. And. of Acanthaceae.
But please provide more details.

… to me it does not look like A. gangetica.
Will wait for comments.

It could be Asystasia chelonoides (Acanthaceae).
There are two varieties reported; chelonoides and quadrangularis.
Since I dont have reference with key or description I am not able to tell you which variety.

Recently … has stated in another thread (Is it Asystasia ? ID25062013) as

“A.chelonoides is now A.chelonoides Nees var.variabilis [Nees in DC] Almeida [comb.Nov.]. It is a separate species.”

Illustration at FOC shows A.chelonoides Nees as a syn. of A. nemorum.
… has also raised similar issues at

In view of the above, pl. identify the posted species.

Asystasia crispata Benth.
https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/herbsheet.php?id=1178&cat=13

Yes

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References:
Updated on July 12, 2026

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