Status:
valid
Authors:
Hiern
Source:
tro
Year:
1877
Citation Micro:
Vidensk. Meddel. Naturhist. Foren. Kjøbenhavn 1877: 73 (1877)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001044223
Common Names
- Ruellia rasa
- Smooth Ruellia
- Wild Petunia
Description
Ruellia rasa (also called Smooth Ruellia, among many other common names) is a shrub native to Central and South America. It has a woody stem and can reach up to 2 m in height. Its leaves are ovate and up to 5 cm long, and its flowers are purple or blue. It is found in tropical forests and savannas.
Uses & Benefits
Ruellia rasa is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscapes. It is also used as a medicinal plant to treat fever, headache, and other ailments.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
Ruellia rasa has white or pale pink flowers with five petals and a yellow center. The seeds are small, black, and round. The seedlings are small and have a single stem with small, oval-shaped leaves.
Cultivation and Propagation
Ruellia rasa is a perennial herb that grows in a clump and can reach up to 1 m in height. It is native to Mexico and Central America. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Propagation is done by seed, cuttings, or division. Seeds should be sown in spring or summer in a light, sandy soil. Cuttings should be taken in spring or summer and rooted in a light, sandy soil. Division should be done in spring or summer.
Where to Find Ruellia rasa
Ruellia rasa is native to Mexico and Central America. It is found in dry, open areas, usually in rocky soils. It can be found in nurseries and online.
Species in the Ruellia genus
Ruellia rufipila,
Ruellia saeri,
Ruellia rusbyi,
Ruellia rubiginosa,
Ruellia sceptrum-marianum,
Ruellia schnellii,
Ruellia salmeronensis,
Ruellia sarukhaniana,
Ruellia saulensis,
Ruellia pulverulenta,
Ruellia pumila,
Ruellia primuloides,
Ruellia pringlei,
Ruellia prostrata,
Ruellia pulcherrima,
Ruellia pseudopatula,
Ruellia pterocaulon,
Ruellia puberula,
Ruellia reitzii,
Ruellia steyermarkii,
Ruellia sprucei,
Ruellia squarrosa,
Ruellia tetrastichantha,
Ruellia subsessilis,
Ruellia terminalis,
Ruellia suffruticosa,
Ruellia siamensis,
Ruellia silvaecola,
Ruellia sororia,
Ruellia simplex,
Ruellia shaferiana,
Ruellia praetermissa,
Ruellia luzoniensis,
Ruellia magniflora,
Ruellia malabarica,
Ruellia primulacea,
Ruellia malaca,
Ruellia macarenensis,
Ruellia macrophylla,
Ruellia ischnopoda,
Ruellia kerrii,
Ruellia intermedia,
Ruellia jussieuoides,
Ruellia lithophila,
Ruellia jaliscana,
Ruellia inundata,
Ruellia insignis,
Ruellia kleinii,
Ruellia lepidota,
Ruellia liesneri,
Species in the Acanthaceae family
Acanthopale macrocarpa,
Acanthopale confertiflora,
Acanthopale decempedalis,
Acanthopale laxiflora,
Acanthopale madagascariensis,
Acanthopale pubescens,
Acanthopale aethiogermanica,
Acanthopale breviceps,
Acanthopale cuneifolia,
Acanthopale ramiflora,
Acanthopale perrieri,
Acanthopale humblotii,
Acanthopsis carduifolia,
Acanthopsis disperma,
Acanthopsis glauca,
Acanthopsis hoffmannseggiana,
Acanthopsis horrida,
Acanthopsis scullyi,
Acanthopsis spathularis,
Acanthopsis disperma,
Acanthopsis tuba,
Acanthopsis ludoviciana,
Acanthopsis adamanticola,
Acanthopsis dispermoides,
Acanthopsis erosa,
Acanthopsis dregeana,
Acanthopsis tetragona,
Acanthopsis glandulopalmata,
Acanthopsis insueta,
Acanthopsis nitida,
Acanthopsis pagodiformis,
Acanthopsis glabra,
Acanthopsis villosa,
Acanthus austromontanus,
Acanthus greuterianus,
Acanthus kulalensis,
Acanthus arboreus,
Acanthus carduaceus,
Acanthus caroli-alexandri,
Acanthus caudatus,
Acanthus dioscoridis,
Acanthus ebracteatus,
Acanthus eminens,
Acanthus flexicaulis,
Acanthus gaed,
Acanthus guineensis,
Acanthus hirsutus,
Acanthus hungaricus,
Acanthus ilicifolius,
Acanthus latisepalus,