Thaning-hamang
Strobilanthes helicta

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It grows 50-100 cm tall. The stems are 4 angled. The leaves are in opposite pairs and almost equal in size. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and 5-12 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. They are more pale underneath. The flowers are in spikes in the axils of leaves. These are 2-12 cm long. The fruit is an oblong capsule 2 cm long with 4 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In south China it grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests between 1,700-2,200 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Tibet

How it is used for food

It is also used for making salt.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Asystasia calycina Nees; Pteracanthus calycinus (Nees) Bremek.;