Rumput belang
Tradescantia zebrina var. zebrina

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb. The leaves are oval to oblong. The base of the leaf is at an angle. The leaves are succulent. They are red beneath and have red bands along the midrib of the pale green upper leaf surface. There is also often 2 silver white stripes long the leaf. The flowers are red. They unite to form a tube. The tube of the 3 sepals is longer than that of the 3 petals.

There are about 5 Zebrina species. Used as a medicine in Indonesia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows under shrubs. In Argentina it grows between 400-700 m above sea level. Adelaide Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Central America, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Indochina, Indonesia, Marquesas, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South America, St Helena, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is a cultivated plant and also grows wild. It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Leaves - drink, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Diao zhu mei, Jiao zhuo cao, Rumput belang, Sukulen belang, Zebrasta tradeskancija

Synonyms

Commelina zebrina C. B. Clarke [Invalid]; Cyanotis vittata Lindl.; Tradescantia pendula (Schinzl.) D. R. Hunt; Tradescantia tricolor C. B. Clarke; Zebrina pendula Schinzl.; Zebrina purpusii G. Bruckn.;