The genus Asystasia belongs to the family Acanthaceae and comprises
approximately 70 species found in the tropics.
The generis name Asystasia is derived from the Greek words “a” and “systasia” meaning
“not consistent”, in reference to the
flowers which are radially symmetrical.
The specific name gangetica refers to the Ganges river in
India.
Three taxa of Asystasia, the naming of which has been confused, occur in Malaya.
None is native.
1. A. nemorum Nees (syn. A.
intrusa Blume, non (Forssk.) Nees) from Java has only been collected
from Penang and Singapore.
2. A. gangetica (L.) T. Anderson is widespread and
is represented by two subspecies:
a. a large-flowered taxon, subsp. gangetica
(syn. A. coromandeliana Nees) which is a long-established
introduction from India, and
b. a small-flowered taxon, subsp. micrantha
(Nees) Ensermu ( A. intrusa syn. A (Forssk.) Nees) which is a recent introduction, probably from Africa.
R. Kiew & K. Vollesen, Asystasia
( Acanthaceae in Malaysia, Kew Bulletin, Vol 52. Bi.4 (1997), pp965-971
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