Blue trumpet vine
Thunbergia grandiflora

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A woody vine. The stems can be 4 cm across. The young stems are hairy. It has underground runners. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaf blades are oval and 1-2 times as long as wide. They usually have lobes spread out like fingers on a hand. The flowering clusters can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. They hang in groups 2 m long. They are light blue.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to 1,400 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Fiji, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sikkim, Suriname, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable and eaten. The harvested leaves can be stored for 4-5 days. The flowers are fried with dry fish. They are also used for a tea drink.

Edible parts

Flowers - drink, flowers, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, air-layering, or cuttings of mature stems of the current year's growth.

Its other names

Local names

Bengal trumpet vine, Blue sky flower, Bunga tunbergia, Clockvine, Dengkhakhlu, Githa, Hmab ko tshob, Hugoule, Jyrmi-khnong, Kauri lota, Khakkhu, Kokua lota, Kukua-loti, Lao gua dan, Large-flowered thunbergia, Nong nonga, Nuolonglie, Pan-ye-sut-nwe, Skyflower skyvine, Va-ko, Za kuo luo kuo

Synonyms

Flemingia grandiflora Roxburgh ex Rottler;