Botanical name: Swertia raveendrae    Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian family)

Kanara Blue Swertia is an annual hairless herb, 13-38 cm tall. The species is named in honour of Prof. K. Raveendrakumar from Department of Botany, Sri Vyasa N.S.S. College, Wadakanchery. Flowers are borne in dense cymes in leaf-axils or at branch-end panicles, 1-3-flowered. Flowers are dark purple with blue veins; tube 0.5-1.5 mm long; petals obovate, 0.8-1.5 x 0.4-0.6 cm; tip blunt-pointed; gland 1 at the base of each flower lobe, ovate, watch pocket shaped; hairs white, inserted on a green scaly base, 0.5-6 mm long. Stamens are 4; filaments 1.2-3.5 mm long, white, dilated at base, anthers brown. Sepals are 4, ovate-oblong, 5-10 x 0.5-1.5 mm, 3-veined, divided almost to the base; tip pointed. Bracts are ovate-elliptic, 3-10 x 2-5 mm; flower-stalks 0.5-1.8 cm long. Stems are 4-angular, winged, wings 0.1-0.2 mm broad. Leaves are stalkless, blades heart-shaped-round, 2-2.5 x 1.2-1.8 cm; tip blunt; base soemwhat stem-clasping, with 3-5 secondary veins each side. Capsules are oblong, 5-10 x 1-2.5 mm. Kanara Blue Swertia is found among grasses in rocky areas in parts of South India. Flowering: September-December.

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The flower labeled Kanara Blue Swertia is ...