Blue pussyleaf
Nelsonia canescens

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb which grows from seed each year. It grows 10 cm high and spreads 50-100 cm wide. The young growth is densely hairy. The stems lie along the ground. They form roots at the nodes. The leaves are 6 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. The lowest leaves are the largest. They are greyish-green with a pointed tip. The flower spikes are 1-6 cm long by 1 cm wide. They can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers are 0.5 cm long. They are white. The capsules are 0.5 cm long.

There are about 5 Nelsonia species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is often along rivers and on the banks of swamps. It grows on sandy soils or on clay loams. They are sensitive to cold. In southern China it grows in wet places in open forests between 400-2,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, East Africa, French Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The plant is used as a salt substitute. It is also cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, young flowers, leaves - salt;

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by stems with roots.

Its other names

Local names

Depe-farro, Kononi ka dolo, Nhicicumblaium, N'tobetobe, Prithvipal, Sal-di-baka

Synonyms

Dianthera tomentosa Roxb. ex C.B.Clarke; Hemigraphis brunelloides (Lam.) Bremek.; Justicia bengalensis Spreng.; Justicia brunelloides Lam.; Justicia canescens Lam.; Justicia hirsuta Vahl; Justicia lamiifolia Roxb.; Justicia nummulariifolia Vahl; Justicia origanoides Vahl; Justicia pusilla Pohl ex Nees; Justicia vestita Roem. & Schult.; Nelsonia albicans Kunth; Nelsonia brunelloides (Lam.) Kuntze; Nelsonia brunelloides var. canescens (Lam.) Kuntze; Nelsonia campestris R.Br.; Nelsonia campestris var. vestita (Roem. & Schult.) C.B. Clarke; Nelsonia canescens var. canescens; Nelsonia hirsuta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.; Nelsonia lamiifolia (Roxb.) Spreng.; Nelsonia nummulariaefolia (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.; Nelsonia origanoides (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.; Nelsonia pohlii Nees; Nelsonia senegalensis Oerst.; Nelsonia tomentosa A. Dietr.; Nelsonia villosa Oerst.; Origanum lanatum Bojer ex Nees; Rhaphidospora vestita G.Don; Ruellia eriostachya Bojer ex Nees; Zahlbrucknera repens Pohl ex Nees;