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Wall Osbeckia
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Wall Osbeckia
ative Photo: Pravin Kawale
Common name: Wall Osbeckia • Kannada: ಗಿಡ್ಡ ನೆಕ್ಕರೆ Gidda Nekkare, ಗಿಡ್ಡ ನೆಕ್ಕರಿಕ Gidda Nekkarika • Konkani: धाकटी नाकेरी Dhakti Nakeri • Malayalam: ചെറുകുളത്തി Cherukulathi • Marathi: गुलबेकी Gulbeki • Sanskrit: तिनीशः Tinisah • Tamil: செந்தும்பை Cen-Tumpai • Telugu: బురద అల్లి Burada Alli • Tulu: ದೈ ನೆಕ್ಕರೆ Dai Nekkare Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Osbeckia muralis    Family: Melastomataceae (Melastome family)
Synonyms: Osbeckia truncata var. kurzii, Osbeckia zeylanica Steud. ex Naud.

Wall Osbeckia is an annual herb, growing to 10-30 cm tall. The species name muralis means, found growing on walls. Stems are erect, covered with long stiff hairs. Oppositely arranged leaves are elliptic lance-shaped, 1-3 cm long, densely hairy on both sides. Leaves have 3 parallel nerves starting from the base, and are carried on 3 mm long stalks. Purple-pink flowers are borne in heads, with 2-4 leaves just under the head. Sepal tube is bell-shaped, 6-7 mm, covered with long bristly hairs. Flowers are funnel-shaped, with 4-5 petals. Fruit is oblong, 4-ribbed. Flowering: August-September.

Identification credit: Pravin Kawale Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra.

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