Hygrophila pilosa Burkill

pilosa: pilose, with long soft hairs

Decumbent, much-branched herb, up to 20 cm. Leaves ovate, glandular-pubescent, apex acute, base slightly cordate, sessile or very shortly pedicellate (1 mm). Flowers in axillary pedunculate clusters of 1-several flowers, subtended by bracts, which resemble the leaves. Calyx lobes 5, connate below, one spathulate, 5-6 mm and c.3 mm wide, the other 4 linear, slightly shorter. Corolla ± erect, c.1 cm; upper lip erect, pale purple to almost white, lower lip reflexed with 3 lobes, purple with orange-brown bulges at the throat. Stamens 4. Capsule linear, pubescent.

Occasional

Angola, Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe