Exacum anamallayanum - Anamalai Persian Violet

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.