Justicia tenella

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are spindly and 40 cm long. It can keep growing for a few years. It often forms roots at the lower nodes. Probably now Anisostachya tenella (Nees) Lindau;

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It often grows along rivers and in moist forest. It grows in savannah and palm groves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a vegetable.

It is a major leafy vegetable in NW Benin. It is sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Atchelikema, Dimouniontchoro, Djagudjagu, Dogbo-ountakoui, Kourokountonu, Kurokuntonu, Kurokuro, Parbatukpekperiya, Tiletoussi, Tinoukounti

Synonyms

Anisostachya tenella (Nees) Lindau; Ecbolium tenellum (T. Anderson) Kuntze; Justicia crenulata (Nees) Palacky; Rostellaria parviflora Benth.; Rostellaria tenella Nees; Rostellularia crenulata Nees; Rostellularia parviflora Benth.; Rostellularia tenella Nees; Rungia baumannii Lindau; Strobilanthes crenulata Bojer ex Nees;