Botanical name:Exacum anamallayanumFamily:Gentianaceae (Gentian family) Synonyms: Exacum atropurpureum var. anamallayanum
Anamalai Persian Violet is a perennial herb, 40-110
cm long. Stem branched, very woody at base, lower round. Leaves are
elliptic to broadly ovate, 4-8 cm long, 2-4 cm broad, pointed, 3-5
nerved, entire, leathery, stalkless, stem-clasping. Inflorescence
cymose, at branch-ends. Flowers are 5-merous, 3.5-4.5 cm long,
bell-shaped or tubular, deep blue; bracts stalkless, 1-2.5 cm long,
linear, pointed; flower-stalks 0.5-2.5 cm long, hairless. Calyx is
tubular, divided to halfway down into 5 sepals, tube 2-3 mm long;
sepals 5-7 mm long, ovate-lanceshaped, pointed. Flowers are marcescent,
nearly bell-shaped, 2.5-4 cm long; tube spherical, 0.8-1.1 cm long;
petals 5, obovate, 1.7-3.5 cm long, pointed. Stamens 5; filaments
linear, 2 mm long; anthers oblong, 7-10 mm long, hairy. Ovary
bicarpellary, stalkless, ovoid, 6.5-7.5 mm long; style thread-like,
1.2-1.6 cm long, winged, hairy; stigma capitate. Capsules are elliptic
to ovate, 1-1.5 x 0.6-0.7 cm, leathery. Anamalai Persian Violet is is
endemic to Southern Western Ghats.
Flowering: March-August.
Identification credit: Shahina Shanavas
Photographed in Munnar Silent Valley, Kerala.
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The flower labeled Anamalai Persian Violet is ...