Coromandel (Asystasia gangetica)

Rumput israel or coromandel (Asystasia gangetica) is a species of plants in Acanthaceae, perennials, vines and branching that are widely found on the edges of roads, shrubs and gardens, resistant to shade, used as fodder, especially cattle, goats and sheep, treatment, conservation of land and ornamental plants.

A. gangetica has a height of 88-95 cm, rectangular-shaped stem, brownish green or purplish green, taproot and can emerge from branches. Petiole has a length of 0.5-6 cm. Ellipse-shaped leaves, unifoliate, green or dark green, arranged facing each other and do not have stipules.

Leaves have a length of 8.5 cm, width 4.9 cm, area 69.42 cm3, length and width ratio is 1.8:1, heart-shaped base and taper front end, rough surface, flat edge, a main bone and 4 -6 lateral veins on each side.

Coromandel produces flowers after 4 weeks to 2 months. Compound flowers, lined up on one side with a length of up to 25 cm. Flower stalks have a length of up to 3 mm. Trumpet type, white with a bottom strand in purple or all purple, 1.8-2.2 cm long and 0.4-0.6 cm petal length.

The fruit has a length of 2.0-2.7 cm and a diameter of 0.4 cm. Fruit stalks have a length of 2.1-2.4 cm and each stalk has 4-5 fruit. Each fruit has 2-3 seeds, dark brown, uneven, 0.45 cm long, 0.35 cm wide and 0.05 cm thick.

Plants contain 18.4% forage dry matter, 19.73% protein and crude fiber 18.68%. Rumput israel is used traditionally to treat asthma, rheumatism, dry cough and digestive disorders. Pharmacological activities include bronchopasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-arthritis and antiviral dengue effects.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Asystasia
Species: Asystasia gangetica
Subspecies: Asystasia gangetica ssp. gangetica and Asystasia gangetica ssp. micrantha

A deep-sea isopod Bathyopsurus nybelini adapted to feed submerged Sargassum algae

NEWS - Incredible footage shows a marine species, Bathyopsurus nybelini , feeding on something that sinks from the ocean’s surface. Researchers using the submersible Alvin found the isopod swimming 3.7 miles down using its paddle-like legs to catch an unexpected food source: Sargassum. Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of Montana, SUNY Geneseo, Willamette University and the University of Rhode Island found the algae sinking, while the isopod waited and adapted specifically to find and feed on the sinking nutrient source. The Sargassum lives on the surface for photosynthesis. The discovery of a deep-sea animal that relies on food that sinks from the waters miles above underscores the close relationship between the surface and the deep. “It’s fascinating to see this beautiful animal actively interacting with sargassum, so deep in the ocean. This isopod is extremely rare; only a handful of specimens were collected during the groundbreaking Swedis...

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