Bark
Smooth, greenish-brown bark on prominent four-angled (quadrangular) green stems that are completely hairless or slightly hairy at nodes.
Eranthemum pulchellum
Syn. Eranthemum nervosum
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
(LC)
Local name
- Blue Sage (English)
- Gulsham (Hindi)
- Nalla Neelaambari (Telugu)
Shrub type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Acanthaceae
2m
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Large, ovate, dark green leaves (10–20 cm long) with prominently raised, pale veins and cleanly scalloped or pointed margins.
Flower
Bright gentian-blue flowers (2–3 cm across) emerging from striking, overlapping green-and-white veined bracts arranged in dense spikes.
Fruit / Seeds
Small, oblong-linear capsules (1–1.5 cm long) that dry out and split to release four small, flat seeds.
Did you know?
The name Eranthemum pulchellum combines Greek roots meaning “love” and “flower” while pulchellum means “beautiful” in Latin.
Distribution
N. Pakistan to Indo-China, Cuba, Florida