Asystasia gangetica

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
Synonyms
Asystasia parvula C.B.Clarke Asystasia querimbensis Klotzsch Asystasia pubescens Klotzsch Asystasia subhastata Klotzsch Asystasia quarterna Nees Asystasia scabrida Klotzsch Asystasia floribunda Klotzsch Asystasia coromandeliana Nees Justicia gangetica L. Asystasia acuminata Klotzsch Asystasia coromandeliana Nees var. micrantha Nees Asystasia multiflora Klotzsch Asystasia ansellioides C.B.Clarke var. lanceolata Fiori Asystasia podostachys Klotzsch[1]

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]

From Hyderabad, India

Description

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]

Subspecies

• A. g. gangetica, has larger (30–40 mm long) blue or mauve flowers.^[5]
• A. g. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu, has smaller (up to 25 mm long.^[5]) white flowers with purple markings on the lower lip.^[4]

Distribution

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]

Uses

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]

Ecological Significance

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]

Gallery

• 

  From Amanzimtoti, South Africa.

• 

  From Hyderabad, India.

• 

  From Hyderabad, India.

References

1. ^ Jstor Plant Science, Asystasia gangetica synonyms: http://plants.jstor.org/taxon/synonymy/Asystasia.gangetica, retrieved 28 July 2010
2. ^ ^{a b} Plants of Hawaii: Asystasia gangetica: http://www.hear.org/starr/images/species/?q=asystasia+gangetica&o=plants, retrieved 28 July 2010
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} South African National Biodiversity Institute: Asystasia gangetica: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/asystasiagan.htm, retrieved 28 July 2010
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. ISBN 0-620-21500-3.
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Weed Identification, Australia: http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&s=&ibra=all&card=H34, retrieved 28 July 2010.
6. ^ Jstor Plant Science, Asystasia gangetica: http://plants.jstor.org/taxon/Asystasia.gangetica, retrieved 28 July 2010.
7. ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
8. ^ . doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00227-7. 
9. ^ Williams, M. (1994). Butterflies of Southern Africa; A Field Guide. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.

External links

• PROTAbase on Asystasia gangetica
• Asystasia gangetica
• Asystasia gangetica