Ruellia, Mexican petunia

An erect or ascending herb growing to about 1m tall. Stems take root where they touch the ground. Previously Ruellia tweediana, Ruellia malacosperma.

Weed Category:	Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
Weed:	Yes
Form or habit:	Herb
Family:	Acanthaceae
Leaf:	Simple Opposite Opposite, simple, linear to linear-ovate,100-300 x 10mm or less, dull dark green.
Flower conspicuous:	Conspicuous
Flower colour:	Purple, Violet
Flower description:	Violet to purple, trumpet-shaped, 25-40mm long, with five spreading petals; borne in axillary clusters.
Fruit conspicuous:	Conspicuous
Fruit colour:	Brown, Green
Fruit:
Fruit description:	Elongated capsules, to 25mm, maturing from green to light brown, containing about 20 brown flattened seeds, 2mm wide that are explosively expelled at maturity.
Habitat:
Distribution
Food source for:
Toxicity:	No toxicity known
Origin:	Mexico
Notes:	Spread by: garden waste; seed and plant fragments spread by water. Invades/threats: Creek lines including flood reach, and environmentally sensitive areas where it actively displaces native species and vegetation communities. Notes: garden escapee that spreads aggressively. Large infestations known in Myrtle, Bakers and Reliance Creeks. Able to grow in shade and thrive in damp conditions; produces copious quantities of seed which create a large seed bank in the soil making it difficult to control once established in creek lines or rainforest areas. Environmental weed.
Information sources:	Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition.