Carpenter's grass
Justicia pectoralis

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50 cm tall. The young stems are angular and can have one row of hairs. The leaf blade is oval and 4-12 cm long by 0.5-2.5 cm wide. It tapers to the tip. The flowers are in a group at the ends of the branches. These are 5-16 cm long by 6 cm wide. The branches of the flower are alternate or opposite. The fruit is a capsule 6-9 mm long. It is hairy. There are 4 seeds.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guianas, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, South America, St Lucia, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chapantye

Synonyms

Dianthera pectoralis (Jacq.) J. F. Gmel.; Dianthera pectoralis (Jacq.) Murray; Ecbolium pectoralis (Jacq.) Kuntze; Justicia pectoralis var. latifolia Bremek.; Justicia stubelii Lindau; and others