Chinese violet
Asystasia gangetica

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

An erect herb. It can clamber over other objects. It can keep growing from year to year. It can also be grown each year from seed. It grows 60-100 cm high. The leaves are oval or heart shaped. They are 3-6 cm long. The flowers are bell shaped. They have lobes which flare out. They are light violet with a light yellow throat. They can be all yellow. They occur in spikes. The flowers are 3-5 cm wide. The fruit is a capsule that splits open. It is cylinder shaped and 2.5 cm long.

There are about 40-70 Asystasia species. It can become a serious weed.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near Chennai in India. It grows naturally in India and Malaysia and probably East Africa. It prefers moderate moisture but can tolerate dry periods. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It grows in the lowlands. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Pacific, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a pot-herb or stir-fried. They are added to fish and meat stews. The leaves are also dried and stored.

It is a popular leafy green in Kenya and Uganda. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, layering of the stems or cuttings.

It is fast growing. The leaves are harvested by plucking.

Its other names

Local names

Aconge, Acongwe wang-gweno, Acwe, Anamala, Akoussimekpe, Atchelekman, Atolleta, Azeman, Avokombiby, Candindjaon, Coromandel, Degnuman, Ecoto, Enkosida, Futsure, Futswe, Ganges primrose, Ganges-violet, Hedul, Huyet bo, Isihobo, Kianjoro, Lanjokobi, Lavana-valli, Liman, Lobiri, Mampody vady, Medday keerai, Mella, Midchy keeray, Mungera tappeta, Namu, Nasubgwi, Odipa ikong, Oak oumsrab, Omigalin, Owuru, Pobunga, Redampa, Tala-kushe, Temba, Tikini, Torbol, Tropical primrose, Tropical violet, Umegarin, Upputhali, Yefe

Synonyms

Asystasia coromandelina Wight ex Nees; Asystasia podostachys Klotzsch; Asystasia violacea Dalz. non C.B.Clarke; Justicia gangetica L.;