Asystasia
(meaning not clear). ORD. Acanthaceae. Stove evergreen shrubs. Flowers disposed in axillary or terminal clusters; corolla somewhat funnel-shaped, five-lobed; calyx five-lobed, regular. Branches slender. They require a compost of peat and loam, with a little sand, and, to induce a vigorous growth, a little dry cow-dung may be applied. Propagated by cuttings of young shoots, placed in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in April, with a brisk bottom heat.
A. chelonioides (Chelonia-like).* fl. in terminal racemes, reddish purple, the border white. l. opposite, ovate-acute. h. 3ft. to 4ft India, 1871. a pretty dwarf sub-shrub.
A. coromandeliana (Coromandel). fl. deep lilac; racemes axillary, elongated, second, strict. July. l. opposite, cordate-ovate; branches diffuse. h. 4ft. India, 1845. SYN. Justicia gangetica.
A. macrophylla (large-leaved).* fl. bilabiate, bell-shaped, rosy purple outside, and almost pure white within; spikes terminal, erect, 1ft. long. June. l. very large, obovate-lanceolate. h. 8ft. to 20ft. Fernando Po, 1867. A. scandens (climbing).* fl. cream-coloured; tube of corolla widened and recurved above, lobes of limb crenately curved; racemes terminal, compact, thyrse-formed. July. l. obovate or ovate acute, glabrous. h. 6ft. Sierra Leone, 1845. This handsome stove climber requires a high, moist temperature after shifting. SYN. IIenfreya scandens.
A. violacea (violet).* fl. violet purple, striped with white, in terminal racemes. l. shortly-stalked, ovate-acuminate, deep green, minutely hairy on both surfaces. h. 1ft. to 2ft. India, 1870. A pretty dwarf plant.