Dicliptera verticillata

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It has many branches. It can be slightly erect or lie along the ground. The twigs are hairy on the angles. The leaf stalks are 2-3 cm long. The leaves are oval and 4-8 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are rounded at the base and taper to the tip. The flowers are pink spotted with purple. They are 5 mm long. They are in dense groups in the axils of leaves with bracts attached that wrap around the flower. The fruit is a narrowly oval capsule 4 mm long and with 4 seeds. The seeds are 1 mm across. They have lines on them.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, India, Middle East, Pakistan, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Adhatoda hyssopifolia Medik.; Dianthera verticillata Forssk.; Diapedium cuspidatum Kuntze; Diapedium umbellatum (Juss.) Kuntze; Diapedium verticillatum (Forssk.) Kuntze; Dicliptera maculata var. senegambica Nees; Dicliptera micranthes Nees; Dicliptera ocymoides (Lam.) Juss.; Dicliptera senegambica (Nees) Benoist; Dicliptera senegambica R. Benoist E; Dicliptera umbellata (Vahl) Juss.; Hypoestes umbellata F. Dietr.; Justicia cuspidata Vahl [Illegitimate]; Justicia ocymoides Lam.; Justicia patula E. Mey. ex Nees; Justicia umbellata Vahl;