Hygrophila erecta

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m tall. The stems are erect and 4 angled. The leaves are oval and 2-9 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The edges can be slightly wavy. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They are purplish-blue.

There are about 80 Hygrophila species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places below 1,000 m above sea level in southern China. In Yunnan. It grows in rice fields.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Guianas, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings planted into wet ground.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Hygrophila quadrivalvis Nees; Ruellia erecta Burm.f.;