Malabar nut
Justicia adhatoda

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to about 2 m high. The leaves are dark green and glossy. The leaves are stalked. They are 7-18 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped and taper to the tip. The flowers do not have stalks. The flowers are white tinged with purple in the throat. The flowers are lobed. The flowers occur in spikes in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule. It has channels along it. There are 4 seeds.

There are about 420-600 Justicia species. The leaves are used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal it grow to about 2700 m altitude. It needs a temperature above 7°C. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Central America, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Panama, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The tender leaves and flowers are cooked as a vegetable. They are also eaten raw. The flowers are eaten fried. The harvested flowers can be stored for 5 days. The nectar of the flowers is sucked.

The leaves are sold in markets. They are commonly eaten in Bhutan.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, nectar, root

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds or cuttings of the branches.

Its other names

Local names

Adalodakam, Adhotoda, Adosa, Adusa, Arusha, Asur, Asuro, Baansa, Baikar, Baintsha, Baisingu, Bansa, Barsika, Barsikhe, Bashakha, Bashikha, Basinga, Baska tita, Bhekkar, Boga bahak, Devglameh, Hitingra-hpraw, Jantrashi, Jok-an-kelok, Kalo basak, Kawldai, Khateemu, Mauk-salum, Maya-gyi, My-yar-gyi, Nongmangkha, Pawatta, Rus, Sanied, Sinhapuri, Vasak, Vasaka, Vasakdog, Ye-magyi

Synonyms

Adhatoda adhatoda (L.) Huth [Invalid]; Adhatoda arborea Raf.; Adhatoda vasica Nees; Adhatoda zeylanica Medik.; Dianthera latifolia Salisb.; Ecbolium adhatoda (L.) Kuntze; Ecbolium latifolium (Benth. & Hook.f.) Kuntze; Gendarussa adhadota Steud.;