Chinese rain bell, Cone-flower
Strobilanthes hamiltoniana

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb or shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The stems are 4 angled. The leaves are oval or sword shaped and 5-19 cm long by 2-9 cm wide. They are in opposite pairs with one smaller than the other. The flowers are in the axils of leaves or at the end of branches and in groups 30 cm long. When in flower the stems hang over. The flowers are pink and tube shaped.

There are about 250 Strobilanthes species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In China it grows in forests on mountain slopes between 800-2,000 m above sea level. It is damaged by frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet

How it is used for food

The shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Lonceng hujan cina, Samoong, Sam-si-phara

Synonyms

Strobilanthes coloratus (Nees) T. Anderson; and others