Justicia espiritosantensis

Shrubs (0.6 −) 1.0 − 2.0 − (− 2.5) m high, young stems densely pubescent with yellowish trichomes. Leaves shortly petiolate, petioles (0.3 −) 0.5 − 1.0 (− 2.0) cm long, densely pilose, blades wide elliptic to elliptic, 19 − 35 × 6 − 14 cm, base long decurrent to abrupt decurrent, apex mostly shortly acuminate, pilose in both surfaces, especially abaxially, conspicuous cystoliths, densely pilose on the midrib, brochidodromous with prominent secondary veins, margin entire, slightly undulate, ciliate to densely ciliate with short trichomes. Inflorescence compound, composed of spicate secund units, nodes evident; branched up to 2 / 3 of the total length, basal branches opposite, secundiflorous, 4 - flowered, flowers sessile; distal portion with congest sessile flowers, with glomerate aspect, 13 − 30 cm long, peduncle 1.5 − 4 cm long, rachis 10.5 − 28 cm. Bracts narrowly spathulate to oblanceolate, ca. 0.5 cm long, slightly acuminated, externally pilose with pedunculated glandular trichomes, ciliate; bracteoles similar to the bracts in shape, but longer, up to 1.0 cm long. Flowers with calyx 5 - lobed, lobes subulate, ca. 0.3 cm long, ca. 0.1 cm wide at the base, pilose with eglandular trichomes; corolla white, cream, rose, pale lilac to greenish with purple or vinaceous maculae, ca. 1.3 cm long, tube ca. 0.6 cm long, throat ca. 0.2 cm long, superior lobe acute, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 cm, inferior 3 - lobed, lobes rounded, central lobe 0.2 - 0.25 × 0.1 cm, lateral lobes, ca. 0.1 × 0.1 cm; stamens 2, inserted near the midpoint of throat, filaments ca. 0.3 cm long, anthers bithecae, thecae to 0.15 cm long, vinaceous, the superior muticous, the inferior oblique, calcar ca. 0.5 mm long, hyaline; style and ovary pilose with minute eglandular trichomes. Capsule to 1.2 cm long, stipe to 0.6 cm long, head to 0.6 cm long, pilose. Seeds 4, discoid, to 0.2 cm, rugulose.