Creeping blepharis
Blepharis maderaspatensis

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A wiry herb. It grows each year from seeds. It lies along the ground. Stems form roots at the nodes. The leaves are in 2 unequal pairs almost forming a ring. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3-5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They are white with pink or purple. The fruit is a capsule. It contains 2 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on bare ground including poor gravelly soils. In southern India it grows from sea level to 1,400 m altitude. It grows in forests and palm groves. It grows on limestone cliffs and rocks at about 800 m in southern China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The root tuber is edible and is used to quench thirst.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acanthus maderaspatensis L.;