Dicliptera srisailamica

About Dicliptera srisailamica:

• It is a new plant species belonging to the Acanthaceae family.
• It is named after the temple town of Srisailam.
• It was found in rare patches along stream banks and rocky edges near waterfalls.
• Features
  • The plant is an erect herb, reaching up to 90 cm, with four-angled stems covered in fine, deflexed hairs when young.
  • Its leaves are ovate, with prominent veins and smooth margins.
  • The plant blooms with small, pink, bi-lipped flowers arranged in clusters, commonly seen from October to January.
  • It has short, downturned hairs on the stem and distinctive bracts around the flowers.
  • The capsules containing the seeds are also covered in simple hairs.
• It adds to the diversity of this plant family, which is represented globally by 223 known species. In India, the Dicliptera genus includes 27 species, eight of which are endemic to the country.
• Andhra Pradesh alone is home to seven recorded species of Dicliptera, contributing significantly to the flora of the Eastern Ghats.
• This discovery adds to the diversity of India's flora, as Dicliptera is known for its tropical and subtropical presence worldwide.