Trailing glory-flower, Spanish shawl, Pink lady
Heterotis rotundifolia

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

It is an evergreen creeper. It forms roots at the nodes. The stems are pink. The leaves are oval and 1.2 cm long. They have 3 primary veins. The leaf stalk is red. The flowers occur singly and are at the ends of branches. The flowers have 5 violet to pink petals. The flowers are 2.5-4 cm wide. The flowers occur singly. The fruit is a berry about 10 mm across. There are many seeds about 1 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It needs regular moisture or wet conditions. It needs fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It needs an acid pH. It is best in full sunlight. It grows in wet locations throughout the forest zone in West Africa. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Uganda, USA, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a potherb and as a spice for sauces.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It easily forms roots from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Ebafo, Felebune, Febungi, Mandafnade, Rock rose

Synonyms

Dissotis prostrata (Thonn.) Hook. f.; ? Dissotis plumosa (D. Don) J. D. Hooker; Dissotis rotundifolia (Sm.) Triana; Melastoma prostratum Thonn.; ? Melastoma plumosum D. Don; Osbeckia rotundifolia Sm.;