Starthorn
Hygrophila auriculata

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is stout and grows 1.5 m high. The stems are 4 sided. The leaves are opposite and sword shaped. They are 15 cm long and 3 cm wide. The leaves have rings of strong spines. The flowers are blue to red and in stalkless clusters in the axils of leaves. There are leafy bracts and spines between the flowers. The fruit are 2 celled capsules. They are long and thin. The seeds are disk shaped and hairy along their edges.

There are about 80-100 Hygrophila species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places and often in brackish water near estuaries. It grows in wetlands. It usually grows in drier zones.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a potherb. They are cooked with other vegetables. The dried leaves are used for a tea drink. A vegetable salt is prepared from the ashes. The seeds are soaked overnight and then eaten in the morning. The leaves and stems can be sun-dried.

It has low palatability. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Herb, leaves - salt, leaves, vegetable, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

It is mainly collected in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Atwe, Chimvuno, Gokhul janum, Isanyanga, Kanta kalia, Kate kodasa, Katu-ikiriya, Khonkomea, Kiusoma, Koelikhia, Koila ara, Koila khari, Koil khara, Kokilaksha, Kolosana, Kulekhara, Kuliakhara, Le-padu, Lobote, Luegmela, Mayam ara, Neera mulliya, Neerugubbi, Neremulli, Nirmalli, Nirmulli, Nyangogo, Su-padaung, Talimakhama, Water wisteria

Synonyms

Asteracantha auriculata Nees; Asteracantha longifolia Nees; Asteracantha macracantha Hichst. ex A. Rich.; Barleria auriculata Schumach.; Barleria glabrata Vahl ex Nees; Barleria hexacantha Betol. Barleria hexacantha Moris; Barleria longifolia L.; Hygrophila spinosa T. Anderson; Ruellia longifolia Nees; Tenoria undulata Dehnh.;