Common Name:

General Information

Justicia heterocarpa is an erect, hairy, annual plant, often much branched and spreading, growing up to 60cm tall. It usually roots at the lower nodes[].
The edible leaves are gathered from the wild for local consumption. They are sometimes sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East Africa from southern Egypt to S. Africa; Arabian Peninsula to India.

Habitat

Dry grassland, bushland, Brachystegia woodland, wooded grassland, rocky hillsides, often under shade, in a variety of soils, at elevations from 300 - 2,000 metres[],

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is often regarded as a troublesome weed on farms within its native range[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. The leaves are chopped and cooked alone or with other vegetables; pounded groundnuts or coconut milk are added and the whole is then served with a staple food such as rice[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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