Black-eyed-Susan vine
Thunbergia alata

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

An evergreen twining climber. It keeps growing from year to year but is often grown as an annual plant. It grows 2.5 m high but is shorter if grown as an annual. The stems are slender, weak and twining. It winds to the right. The leaves are oval or triangular shaped with teeth along the edge. The are mid green colour. Leaves are 8 cm long with angular lobes at the base of the leaf. The leaf stalks have narrow wings. The flower has a long tube but spreads out at the top. The flowers are produced singly in the axils of the leaves. Many flowers are produced. Flowers are 3-4 cm across. They are usually bright orange-yellow. They can have a chocolate coloured centre. The petals can be white. Fruit are round 2-celled capsules. There can be 1-2 seeds in each cell. The seeds are irregularly ribbed on the back.

There are about 200 Thunbergia species. It is sometimes used as a ground cover in plantations.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs naturally in tropical Africa. It needs a temperature above 7°C. It is damaged by drought and frost. It does best with a well-drained soil and a protected sunny position. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it rrows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Brazil, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Niue, Pacific, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Samoa, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Tonga, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Caution: The leaves can contain poisonous compounds. The seeds have been used as flavouring in relishes and chutneys.

The leaves are only recorded as eaten in a few places. They are also used as a drink for diarrhoea.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, seeds - flavouring

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or cuttings. The seed are sown 6 mm deep. The seedlings can be transplanted. Plants should be spaced 30 cm apart. It is grown as an annual plant in temperate climates.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Akar ulan, Gisaayuura, Karkakubu, Krilata tunbergija, Matamavu

Synonyms

Endomelas alata (Bojer ex Sims) Raf.; Thunbergia aurantiaca Paton; ?