Elytraria imbricata
(Vahl) Pers.
Acanthaceae
Elytraria apargiifolia Nees
Elytraria fasciculata Kunth
Elytraria frondosa Kunth
Elytraria microstachya Oerst.
Elytraria pachystachya Oerst.
Elytraria ramosa Kunth
Elytraria scorpioides Roem. & Schult.
Elytraria squamosa (Jacq.) Lindau
Elytraria squamosa A.Chev.
Elytraria tridentata Vahl
Justicia imbricata Vahl
Tubiflora pachystachya (Oerst.) Kuntze
Tubiflora squamosa (Jacq.) Kuntze
Verbena squamosa Jacq.
Common Name:
General Information
Elytraria imbricata is a herbaceous perennial that varies in habit from a stemless plant with a rosette of leaves, to a plant with a stem that can be up to 60cm tall with the leaves all crowded at the tips[
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
Range
S. America - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; through Central America to Mexico, Texas and Arizona.
Habitat
Bushy slopes, in thickets, and in shrubby forests at low elevations[
]. Damp or dry thickets, open or shaded banks, ravines, roadsides, waste places; at elevations of 75 - 1,800 metres in Guatemala[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.25 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of tropical areas, where it is found at elevations from sea level to over 1,500 metres.
A common weed of waste ground in Central America[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
], it has been introduced into the Galapagos Islands, where it has become invasive[
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used in the treatment of dysentery[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
].
An infusion of the plant is a local remedy for bronchitis and coughs[
493- Title
- Flora of Yucatan
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The first flora that was attempted for this area in 1930, so it is obviously lacking information and the Botanical names can be out of date. Still, an excellent work and it records many plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The crushed leaves are said to cure pimples]369].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
