Mackaya indica (Nees) Ensermu

Family Description

Herbs or shrubs, rarely climbers (Thunbergia). Leaves opposite, decussate, simple, without stipules; cystoliths commonly present on leaves and other vegetative parts, appearing as white streaks. Flowers usually in cymes, racemes or spikes but sometimes solitary or in axillary whorls, bisexual, often zygomorphic. Bracts and usually bracteoles present, bracts often prominent and concealing calyx, sometimes arranged in 3-4 levels especially in those genera with axillary inflorescences. Calyx 4-5 lobed, lobes usually similar in genera with 5 lobes but often dissimilar in those with 4 lobes such as Barleria; much reduced in Thunbergia. Corolla usually 5-lobed but often 2-lipped with lower lip 3-lobed and upper lip notched or (in Acanthus) absent. Stamens attached to corolla, usually 4 in two dissimilar pairs, sometimes 2 with second pair reduced to staminodes; anthers 1-2-celled, sometimes spurred at base, cells at same level or one below the other; pollen very varied in appearance and often distinctive for a particular genus. Ovary superior, 2-celled; ovules 2-numerous. Style 1; stigma 2-lobed, posterior lobe often reduced and apparently absent. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, usually cylindrical or clavate in shale (globose and beaked in Thunbergia); seeds usually borne on short hook-like retiacula which eject the seed when ripe capsule opens. seeds usually flattened, lens-shaped, glabrous or hairy, sometimes with elastic mucilagenous.A tropical family well represented in the warm subtropical valleys and foothills. Most species flower in the dry winter season.

Genus Description

Small shrubs similar to Pseuderanthemum in having racemose inflorescence and flowers with 2 fertile stamens only but differing by its distinctive, curved, ventricose corolla.

Species description

Shrub 1-2.5m. Strem erect, brown, glabrous. Leaves elliptic, 3-21 x 1.5-8cm, shortly acuminate, cuneate at base, glabrous, paler beneath, often deciduous on higher altitude plants at flowering time; petiole 0.5-6cm. Inflorescence of lax terminal and axillary racemes, those in leaf axils shorter and always solitary; racemes 1-19cm, flowers usually in opposite pairs, internodes up to 1.5cm below, less above; rhachis glabrous or puberulent; pedicles 0-5mm. Bracts linear-triangular, c 2mm. Calyx c 4mm, puberulent, lobes lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla white or pink with darker red veins, 2.5-3cm, finely glandular-pubescent, tube ventricose from near base, 5-lobed but weakly 2-lipped. Stamens included, anthers muticous. Style persistent long after the corolla falls. Capsule 2.5-3cm, glabrous.