| Chinese Violet | |
|---|---|
| Asystasia gangetica from Kalepolepo, Maui | |
| Asystasia gangetica micrantha from Amanzimtoti, South Africa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Genus: | Asystasia |
| Species: | A. gangetica |
| Binomial name | |
| Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.Anderson |
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| Synonyms | |
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Asystasia gangetica is a species of plant in the Acanthaceae family. It is commonly known as the Chinese Violet, Coromandel[2] or Creeping Foxglove[3]. In South Africa this plant may simply be called Asystasia.[4]
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This plant is a spreading herb or groundcover, reaching 600 mm in height[3][4] or up to 1 m if supported[5]. The stems root easily at the nodes.[3] The leaves are simple[3] and opposite[5]. The fruit is an explosive capsule which starts out green in colour, but dries to brown after opening.[5]
Widespread throughout the Old World Tropics, and introduced into tropical Americas[6] and Hawaii, where it has become naturalized[2]. Both subspecies of this plant have been introduced to Australia where A. g. micrantha is on the National Environmental Alert List and must be reported when found.[5] The original range of the subspecies is unclear,[5] but it is likely that A. g. gangetica was limited to Asia, and A. g. micrantha was limited to Africa.[3]
In some parts of Africa, the leaves are eaten as a vegetable and used as an herbal remedy in traditional African medicine.[7] The leaves are used in many parts of Nigeria for the management of asthma, and scientific investigation has shown some basis for this use.[8] It is also used as an ornamental plant.[3]
This is an important plant for honeybees, butterflies and other insects.[3][4] In southern Africa there are at least six species of butterfly that use A. g. micrantha as a larval foodplant; Junonia oenone, Junonia hierta, Junonia natalica, Junonia terea, Protogoniomorpha parhassus and Hypolimnas misippus.[9] The vigorous growth of A. g. micrantha in tropical regions[3] makes it a weed which can smother certain indigenous vegetation where it has been introduced.[5]