Odontonema
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Authority
Leonard, Emery C. 1958. The Acanthaceae of Colombia, III. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 31: 323-781.
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Family
Acanthaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
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Description - Herbs or shrubs; leaves often rather large, opposite, entire or undulate; flowers borne in narrow terminal panicles or racemes; calyx 5-parted, the segments subulate; corollas white, red, or yellow, the tube relatively slender, the throat only slightly enlarged, the limb 2-lipped, the lips subequal, the upper lip 2-lobed, the lower 3-lobed, the lobes usually rounded; stamens 2, the anther lobes parallel, narrow, blunt at base; staminodes 2; capsules clavate, the solid basal portion slender; seeds 4.
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Discussion
The genus consists of 40 species or more, limited to tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. Odontonema strictum (Nees) Kuntze (also known as Justicia coccinea) is often found in cultivation. It is frequently difficult to distinguish between Odontonema and Pseuderanthemum, especially if the specimens offer only immature flowers. The flowers of both genera possess two stamens and two staminodes. The corollas of Pseuderanthemum, however, are usually smaller with very small regular lobes, the tube very narrow, and the stamens included. Those of Odontonema are larger, often several centimeters long, the limb definitely 2-lipped, the lobes rather large and the stamens exserted or at least reaching the mouth of the corolla tube.