Rhynchoglossum obliquum Blume

In recent treatments of Rhynchoglossum in China two varieties were recognized. However, the only character that separates them is lobing of the abaxial corolla lip, which varies from entire to deeply 3-lobed even on the same specimen. The entire-lipped variety was described from and previously reported only from Taiwan. Entire abaxial corolla lips have been observed in W Guangxi, SW Guizhou, SW Sichuan, S & W Yunnan, India, Philippines, and Thailand.

Annuals, not rhizomatous. Stems 18-100 cm, glabrous to sparsely puberulent. Petiole 0.5-1.5(-3.5) cm; leaf blade oblique, 1 side elliptic, other side ovate, 4-12 X 2-6 cm, adaxially glabrous, sometimes minutely sparsely puberulent, abaxially glabrous, base strongly oblique, cuneate to narrowly cordate on smaller side, cordate on other, margin entire to undulate, apex acuminate. Cymes 3-24 cm, 10-30-flowered, appressed puberulent, glabrescent; peduncle 2-5.5(-8) cm, glabrous. Calyx often tinged blue, 3-8 mm; lobes 1-3 mm. Corolla pale to dark purple or blue, 8-11 mm, inside puberulent near mouth; tube 5-6 X 1.5-2 mm; adaxial lip 1.5-2.5 mm; abaxial lip 3.5-5 mm, 3-lobed to undivided. Stamens 2; anthers 0.7-1 mm, thecae nearly parallel; staminodes 2, ca. 0.8 mm. Disc ca. 1 mm. Pistil ca. 6.5 mm, glabrous. Style 4-6 mm. Capsule 3-4.5 mm. Fl. Jul-Nov, fr. Aug-Nov.

Himalaya (Garhwal to NEFA), India, Ceylon, Burma, W. & S. China, Malaysia.

W Guangxi, SW Guizhou, SW Sichuan, Taiwan, E Xizang, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

800-2100 m

Forest margins, forests, caves, shaded cliffs; 100-2800 m.

Loxotis obliqua (Wallich) Bentham; Rhynchoglossum hologlossum Hayata; R. obliquum f. albiflorum Kuntze; R. obliquum f. coeruleum Kuntze; R. obliquum var. hologlossum (Hayata) W. T. Wang; R. obliquum var. parviflorum C. B. Clarke; R. zeylanicum W. J. Hooker; Wulfenia obliqua Wallich.