Strobilanthes lanata

Strobilanthes lanata Nees, A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 11: 191 (1847) (syn: Phlebophyllum lanatum (Nees) Bremek.; Strobilanthes gossypinus T. Anders.);

India (SW-Ghats) as per Catalogue of Life;
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Erect shrubs, ca 1 m high; stems tetragonous, densely cottony-tomentose. Leaves opposite, ca 12 x 5 cm, broadly elliptic-ovate, acute or rounded at base, entire at margin, acute or acuminate with a twisted point at apex, coriaceous, glabrous above, sometimes silky when young or rarely when old leaves at base only, soft spreading floccose tawny woolly beneath; lateral nerves 10-13 pairs, parallel, curved upwards, impressed above, slightly raised beneath; petioles tetragonal, 2-5 cm long, dense-tomentose. Inflorescence spikes, axillary or terminal, usually single, rarely branched, uninterrupted, 4-8 cm long, with grey or tawny wool; bracts ovate or lanceolate, acute, ca 1.2 cm long, white-yellow-tomentose outside, glabrous and shining inside; bracteoles linear-oblong, ca 1 cm long, yellow-tomentose outside, glabrous inside. Calyx ca 1.2 cm long, divided ¾ downwards; tube ca 2 mm long; lobes linear, equal, ca 1 cm long, pubescent outside, glabrous and shining dark violet inside. Corolla infundibuliform, ca 3.5 cm long, pale blue; tube faintly curved, ca 7 mm long, gradually widening above, ca 2.8 cm long, 5-lobed; lobes orbicular, acute, ca 4 mm. Stamens 2; filaments ca 1.5 cm long, included, very hairy. Ovary ca 2 mm long, hairy above; style linear, ca 1.3 cm glabrous; stigma oblique. Capsules not reported.

Nilgiris: Acanthaceae for identification 311012MK03:

Please help me to identify this shrub found in high altitudes of Nilgiris, near montane forests. Is this Strobilanthus sp.?

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what a lovely shrub!!!

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MS/ID/FEB/2021/5 – Strobilanthes sps.

3 images.
ID the Strobilanthes species. Could be Strobilanthes lanata. Please confirm or suggest ID. Photographed in Coonoor (Nilgiri Hills). Date unknown. Received from a friend for ID.

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Yes!

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