Giant Salvia
Brillantaisia owariensis

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 60-90 cm tall. The leaves are heart shaped and shiny. The leaf stalks have wings. The fruit are long cylinder shaped seed pods.

There are about 12 Brillantaisia species. They grow in the moist African tropics. It is also regarded as a medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They need warm, moist, humid conditions. In Nigeria it grows up to 1,970 m above sea level. It grows on the edges of forests and shady creek banks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Central Africa, Congo DR, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, plant - salt

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, cuttings or division.

Its other names

Local names

Agbolu-uku, Lemba lemba

Synonyms

Belantheria belvisiana Nees; Brillantaisia alata T. Anderson ex Oliv.; Brillantaisia bauchiensis Hutch. & Dalziel; Brillantaisia dewevrei De Wild. & T. Durand; Brillantaisia leonensis Burkill; Brillantaisia mahoni C. B. Clarke; Brillantaisia nitens Lindau; Brillantaisia nyanzarum Burkill; Brillantaisia patula T. Anderson; Brillantaisia salviiflora Lindau;