Child's vegetable
Barleria opaca

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A straggling herb or shrub. It has a white coating. It sometimes forms roots at the nodes. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 8 cm long by 4 cm wide. They taper at both ends. The flowers are in groups of 1-3 in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit are spindle-shaped capsules. They are 1 cm long. There are 2 seeds.

There are over 250 Barleria species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows as an under-shrub in West Africa. It grows in the lowlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

It is a minor vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Kwahu, Mu

Synonyms

Justicia opaca Vahl;