English: Porcupine flower.
India: Vajradanti.
Family:
AcanthaceaeRegion: India, Southeast Asia; Africa, Australia.
Habitat: tropical and subtropical; open fields, forest edges, disturbed areas; prefers dry to semi-dry habitats; drought-tolerant, hardy; prefers full, tolerates partial shade; t thrive in poor, rocky soils; resilient in harsh conditions.
Uses: medicinal in Ayurveda; ornamental, spines provide a natural barrier in gardens or fields.
BotanyShrub; perennial, spiny; 60 cm to 1.5 meters tall.
Root: fibrous root system.
Leaves: simple; opposite; ovate; slightly toothed margin; dark green; leathery; 5 to 10 cm long.
Inflorescence: clustered, terminal or axillary spikes.
Flowers: tubular; in groups of 1 to 3 from the leaf axils; yellow; 3 to 4 cm long.
Corolla: five-lobed; bilabiate = two-lipped, lower lip slightly longer; blooming throughout the year, peaking during the rainy season.
Pollination: bees, butterflies.