Caricature Plant
Graptophyllum pictum

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub 2-3 m high. The leaves are up to 15 cm long and 6 cm wide and coloured. They can be green, silver, yellow or red. The leaves have markings like writing on them. The leaves occur opposite one another. The edges of the leaves can be irregular and wavy. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The flowers are reddish purple in clusters on the tops of plants. The flower clusters are 8 cm long and the flowers have an inflated throat. The lip of the flower is dark red. The fruit is a capsule which is often beaked. It is 3-4 cm long. There can be up to 4 seeds.

There are 10 Graptophyllum species. They are in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the New Guinea region. It mostly occurs in coastal areas below 800 m altitude. It grows in sago swamps. They need a temperature above 13°C. The green form often grows naturally in forests on coral. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Asia, Australia, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Hawaii, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marquesas, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers - tea

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings of young wood with a heel attached. Plants can be grown from seed. The temperature needs to be above 19-24°C. Picking out the tips increases the branching.

Its other names

Local names

Badem, Bai tawng, Bai-ngoen-bai-thawng, Bai-ngun, Benalu, Daun ungu, Demung, Graptofilo, Handeleum, Igomor, Jamaican croton, Kalaadulsa, Kroton kamaika, Mamelegue, Mandara, Maradong-puti, Ngoc diep, Ponge gune, Puding, Tulak, Tulak kembang ungu, White adulsa, Wungu, Ysjudemaram

Synonyms

Justicia picta L; Graptophyllum hortense Nees;