IDENTIFICATION OF MINNIEROOT (Ruellia tuberosa)

MINNIEROOT (Ruellia tuberosa)

Ruellia tuberosa, also known as minnieroot, fever root, snapdragon root and sheep potato is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. Its native range is in Central America but presently it has become naturalized in many countries of tropical South and Southeast Asia.

Morphological character

Habitus: erect herbs with a height of ± 1 m and have many branches. Leaves: ovate; Punch tip; thin; flat leaf surface; green color; flat leaf edge; pinnate leaf bone; length ± 12 cm; width ± 5 cm; petiole length ± 2.5 cm. Trunk: Blunt rectangular; purplish green; the surface is covered with fine and short hairs. Flowers: length ± 4-5 cm; flower tube length ± 5-6 cm; the wilted flower crown will be released from the base of the flower. Crown of flowers: thin light purple; semicircular; amount of 5 strands which essentially merge to form a flower tube. Cut: White rather purple; totaling 1 piece; flattened pistil; pistil stems ± 3 cm in length. Stamen: White; totaling 4 pieces with a sari stick attached to the wall of the flower tube; the stalk is ± 0.5 cm in length. Sari head / white sari box with width: ± 1mm, length: ± 6mm. Pollen: White; large amounts; rather sticky. So that the pollination process through the help of insects (Entomogamy). Flower Petals: Green; total of 4 pieces; length ± 3 cm; Flower petals are still there until the fruit is ripe. Fruit: Tubular with a tapered tip; the length is ± 2-3 cm; young fruits are green while ripe fruits are brown. If the ripe fruit is exposed to water it will erupt and come loose and be thrown from the stem. The root; The form of taproots in the form of tubers.

Classification

Kingdom :         Plantae

Clade       :         Tracheophytes

Clade       :         Angiosperms

Clade       :         Eudicots

Clade       :         Asterids

Order       :         Lamiales

Family    :            Acanthaceae

Genus     :            Ruellia

Species    :           R. Tuberosa