Wilde lusern
Justicia nepeta

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A slender erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20-100 cm high. The leaves are in pairs and are well spaced. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped and 2 cm long by 5 mm wide. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. Flowers usually occur singly. The fruit are 6 mm long and pointed. They are slightly downy.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows between 100-1,850 m altitude in southern Africa. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Okaliamufita, Phuduhudu

Synonyms

Adhatoda divaricata Nees; Ecbolium villosum Kuntze; Justicia divaricata Willd. ex Nees; Justicia mossamedea S. Moore; Monechma angustissimum S. Moore; Monechma divaricatum (Nees) C. B. Clarke; Monechma fimbriatum C. B. Clarke; Monechma floridum C. B. Clarke; Monechma namaense (Schinz) C. B. Clarke Monechma nepeta (S. Moore) C. B. Clarke; Monechma nepetoides C. B. Clarke; Monechma terminale S. Moore; and others