喀西爵床 ka xi jue chuang

Basionym: Rostellaria mollissima Nees in Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 101. 1832; Justicia khasiana C. B. Clarke; J. procumbens Linnaeus var. latispica C. B. Clarke; Rostellularia khasiana (C. B. Clarke) J. L. Ellis; R. khasiana var. latispica (C. B. Clarke) C. Y. Wu ex C. C. Hu; R. mollissima (Nees) Nees.

Herbs 60-100 cm tall. Stems 4-angled, erect, hispid. Leaves sessile; leaf blade oblong to broadly ovate, 3-4.5 × 0.3-0.5 cm, both surfaces hispid, secondary veins 4-6 on each side of midvein, base broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse. Spikes 2.5-4 cm, hispid; bracts linear-oblong, ca. 8 × 2-3 mm, hispid; bracteoles linear, ca. 6 mm. Calyx ca. 8 mm, outside hispid, 4-lobed almost to base; lobes linear, margin ciliate. Corolla purplish red, 0.8-1.2 cm; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed; upper lip erect, apex emarginate. Staminal filaments ca. 6 mm, sparsely hirsute; anther thecae superposed, lower one white spurred at base. Ovary hirsute at tip; style ca. 8 mm, basal portion hirsute. Capsule ellipsoid, ca. 8 mm, pubescent. Seeds minutely reticulate. 2n = 18.

Trailsides; 2100-2700 m. Yunnan [India].

"Justicia mollissima" was published as a nomen nudum (Wallich, Numer. List, no. 2445. 1830). The earliest name for this species is Rostellaria mollissima, dating from 1832. Nees’ name has not been transferred previously to Justicia.