Blue ears
Cyanotis axillaris

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A succulent herb. It is often creeping but can curve upwards. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 70 cm long. They form roots at the nodes. The leaves are sword shaped and 2-15 cm long by 4-12 mm wide. The base of the leaf clasps the stem. There are 2-6 flowers which do not have stalks and occur in the axils of leaves. They are blue-purple. The fruit is a capsule 6-7 mm long. The seed are brown and have several pits.

There are about 50 Cyanotis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in humid sandy places. It grows in open sites along streams and rice fields. It can grow in swamps and marshes. It grows up to 250 m altitude. It is damaged by frost or drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Andamans, Australia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Oceania

How it is used for food

The plants are pulled and threshed and the hulls removed from the seeds. The seeds are ground into flour. The seeds also are boiled and ground and mixed with other flours.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Alikbangon, Baghanulla, Damro, Golagandi, Itsaka, Kinkungluang, Myitcho, Narido, Nirpulli, Nirupalli, Phakplap-na, Qiao bao hua, Rau eo, Rau trai, Sabilau, Simchiru ara, Soltra, Soltraj, Tena arkha, Valukkeippul, Vichaka, Yaphophot-lek

Synonyms

Amischophacelus axillaris (Linnaeus) R. S. Rao & Kammathy; Commelina axillaris Linnaeus; Cyanotis disrumpens Hassk.; Tonningia axillaris (L.) Raf. Tradescantia axillaris L.; Zygomenes axillaris (L.) Salisb.;