Acanthaceae FAMILY

Justicia insularis

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Justicia insularis is an annual to perennial plant growing up to 2 metres tall. The edible leaves are gathered from the wild for local use. They are sometimes sold in local markets in west Africa during the rainy season[ 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. ]. 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeTropical Africa - widespread but full extent unknown.

HabitatFound in a wide variety of habitats, from moist forests to dry savannah regions. It is also found in cultivated land, refuse heaps, grasslands and forest edges[ 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. ].