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Useful Tropical Plants

Justicia tenella

(Nees) T.Anderson

Acanthaceae

+ Synonyms

Anisostachya tenella (Nees) Lindau

Justicia crenulata (Nees) Palacky

Rostellaria parviflora Benth.

Rostellaria tenella Nees

Rostellularia crenulata Nees

Rostellularia tenella Nees

Rungia baumannii Lindau

Common Name:

Justicia tenella
Flowering stems
Photograph by: Tariq Stévart
Creative Commons License
Justicia tenella Justicia tenella Justicia tenella

General Information

Justicia tenella is a herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant with spindly stems up to 40cm long that are usually decumbent. The plant often forms roots at its lower nodes[
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
A major leaf crop in northwest Benin, where the plant is commonly harvested from the wild and sold in local markets, especially in the rainy season. The plant is currently (2009) undergoing trials as a cultivated crop[
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Tropical Africa - widespread, but exact range unknown.

Habitat

Usually found along river banks in open situations and in forests, it is also found in fallows or as a weed in farms and home gardens[
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.30 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
]. Generally prepared as a sauce to accompany a main staple[
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings. Stems often form roots at their lower nodes and these can be used to form new plants.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Justicia+tenella>

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