Kabanga
Dicliptera papuana

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A herb up to 1 m high. It is somewhat similar to Rungia klossii but taller and with longer leaves. The stems have grooves along them. The leaves are produced opposite each other. They are oblong and taper at both ends. Leaves can be smooth or finely hairy. The flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves. The flower clusters have 2 wing like bracts below them. Flowers are blue. They occur in pairs. The fruit capsule is small with 2 cells and with 2 seeds in each cell. The seed are round and with pits on the surface.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows wild in the highlands especially along creeks. It is also cultivated. It grows between at least 700 m and 2600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Pacific, Papua New Guinea

How it is used for food

Leaf tips are eaten cooked.

A less popular green cultivated in some areas, harvested from the wild in others and not used in other areas. It is less popular than Rungia.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings. Normally a group of stalks are planted together to produce a clumpy bush.

The young leaf tips are picked at regular intervals.

Its other names

Local names

Garu baio, Karamu, Kisomp, Konsjola ma, Omok

Synonyms

May be renamed Hemigraphis