Torenia thouarsii

Family: Scrophulariaceae

What it is like

A slender straggling herb. It grows 40 cm high. It can form roots at the nodes. The leaves are 12-20 mm long by 8-15 mm wide. The flowers are white or pink. They can occur singly or as 2-6 together. The fruit is a capsule 7-10 mm long and 3 mm wide. The seeds are pale yellow.

There are 50 Torenia species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassland and marshes. It grows from sea level to 1,750 m.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Botswana, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Congo, Costa Rica, East Africa, Gabon, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Nortenia thouarsii Cham. & Schltdl.; Torenia parviflora Buch.-Ham et Benth.;