7 a. Justicia discolor subsp. discolor

Diagnosis.

Closely related to Justicia discolor subsp. filisepala but more robust, the leaves discolorous, purple abaxially, lanceolate or ovate, acuminate, firm in texture, 1.5–9.5 × 0.6–4 cm, mostly more than 3 times as long as broad (not discolorous or purple abaxially, elliptic, obtuse, thick in texture, 2–5 (– 6) × 1–4 cm, c. twice as long as broad), inflorescence imbricate above, the flower pairs c. 8 mm apart below, (not up to 22 mm apart in fruit); calyx lobes linear (not filiform).

Illustration.

Figs 9 – 10.

Etymology.

The name “ discolor ” refers to the leaves which are characteristically green on the upper surface but purple on the lower surface.

Phenology.

Flowering from May to August with a single record from December.

Habitat.

Rainforest, “ bosque alto ”, 300– 900 m.

Distribution.

Endemic to Amazonian Peru, widespread but scattered in occurrence. Fig. 54.

Material examined.

Peru • Huánuco: Prov. Leoncio Prado, E of Las Palmas, 15 km S of Tingo María, 900 m, 20 June 1982, D. C. Wasshausen & O. Tovar 1275 (K, US) ; • ibid., Dist. Luyando, Tulumayo, July 1938, C. A. Ridoutt s. n. (USM 10003) ; • ibid., Dist. Rupa-Rupa, Jacintillo, left margin of Río Monzón, 18 July 1978, J. Schunke Vigo 10373 (MO, US) ; • ibid., Tingo María, 9°18'S, 75°59'W, 700–780 m, 9 Dec. 1981, T. Plowman et al. 11251 (F, US) ; • ibid., Fundo El Encanto, 700 m, 15 Aug. 1943, C. A. Ridoutt USM 13149 (USM) . Prov. Puerto Inca [Pachitea], Dist. Honoria, carretera Miel de Abejas (1 km arriba de Tornavista) a 3 km del Campamento, 300–400 m, 19 May 1967, J. Schunke V. 1969 (F) ; • ibid., Dist. Codo de Pozuzo, Carretera Pozuzo-Codo del Pozuzo, 28 Aug. 2019, I. Azevedo & R. Villanueva 162 (HOXA) . • Junín: Prov. Satipo, the type; • ibid. 17 Aug. 1960, F. Woytkowski 5824 (MO, US) . • Madre de Dios: Prov. Manu, Manu Park, Cocha Cashu uplands, 11°45'S, 71°0'W, 400 m, 28 July 1986, P. Nuñez 5521 (CUZ, MO) ; • ibid. 11°45'S, 71°00'W, 19 Aug. 1986, P. Nuñez 5848 (MO, USM); Prov. Tahuamanu, 8 km del Fundo Noaya, hacia la Quebrada Putirija, 29 May 1978, F. Encarnación 1156 (US) . • San Martin: Prov. Mariscal Cáceres, Dist. [Dept.] Uchiza, Cachiyacu de Lepuna, 450–500 m, 10 July 1974, J. Schunke V. 7298 (F, MO, USM) . • Ucayali: Prov. Coronel Portillo, Ivita, km 59 Carretera Federico Basadre, 17 July 1974, F. Encarnación 432 (US) . Prov. Padre Abad, Dist. Padre Abad, Catarata Santa Rosa, 9°09'S 75°45'W, 882 m, 8 Aug. 2023, R. Villanueva et al. 976 (HOXA) .

Note.

Usually recognisable even when sterile by the discolorous leaves.