Strobilanthes scaber

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows almost 3 m high. It has a creeping rootstock. The stems have soft hairs. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3-6 cm long. They have rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers are yellow and in dense spikes. The fruit is a small capsule.

The leaves are used externally to reduce itching of the skin.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kimchat, Ku-thi, Sam-siphra

Synonyms

Hemigraphis aspera Boerl.; Ruellia aspera Nees; Ruellia scabra Wall.; Strobilanthes asper (Nees) Decne; and others