Asystasia gangetica
Encyclopedia
Asystasia gangetica is a species of plant in the Acanthaceae
family. It is commonly known as the Chinese Violet, Coromandel or Creeping Foxglove. In South Africa
this plant may simply be called Asystasia.
or groundcover
, reaching 600 mm in height or up to 1 m if supported. The stems root easily at the nodes. The leaves are simple and opposite. The fruit is an explosive capsule which starts out green in colour, but dries to brown after opening.
Tropics
, and introduced into tropical Americas
and Hawaii
, where it has become naturalized. 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. The original range of the subspecies is unclear, but it is likely that A. g. gangetica was limited to Asia, and A. g. micrantha was limited to Africa.
. The leaves are used in many parts of Nigeria
for the management of asthma
, and scientific investigation has shown some basis for this use. It is also used as an ornamental plant
.
and other insects. 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
. The vigorous growth of A. g. micrantha in tropical regions makes it a weed which can smother certain indigenous
vegetation where it has been introduced.
Acanthaceae
The family Acanthaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species....
family. It is commonly known as the Chinese Violet, Coromandel or Creeping Foxglove. In South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
this plant may simply be called Asystasia.
Description
This plant is a spreading herbHerb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
or groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...
, reaching 600 mm in height or up to 1 m if supported. The stems root easily at the nodes. The leaves are simple and opposite. The fruit is an explosive capsule which starts out green in colour, but dries to brown after opening.
Subspecies
- A. g. gangetica, has larger (30–40 mm long) blue or mauve flowers.
- A. g. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu, has smaller (up to 25 mm long.) white flowers with purple markings on the lower lip.
Distribution
Widespread throughout the Old WorldOld World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
Tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
, and introduced into tropical Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where it has become naturalized. Both subspecies of this plant have been introduced to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where A. g. micrantha is on the National Environmental Alert List and must be reported when found. The original range of the subspecies is unclear, but it is likely that A. g. gangetica was limited to Asia, and A. g. micrantha was limited to Africa.
Uses
In some parts of Africa, the leaves are eaten as a vegetable and used as an herbal remedy in traditional African medicineTraditional African medicine
Traditional African medicine is a holistic discipline involving indigenous herbalism and African spirituality, typically involving diviners, midwives, and herbalists...
. The leaves are used in many parts of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
for the management of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, and scientific investigation has shown some basis for this use. It is also used as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
.
Ecological Significance
This is an important plant for honeybees, butterfliesButterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
and other insects. In southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
there are at least six species of butterfly that use A. g. micrantha as a larval foodplant; Junonia oenone
Junonia oenone
Junonia oenone is Nymphalid butterfly native to Africa. It is known as the Blue Pansy in southern Africa, however the name Blue Pansy is used in India to describe Junonia orithya, and the name Dark Blue Pansy may be used to distinguish Junonia oenone.-Subspecies:* Junonia oenone oenone from...
, Junonia hierta
Junonia hierta
The Yellow Pansy, Junonia hierta, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in the Palaeotropics. It is usually seen in open scrub and grassland habitats.-Description:The male upperside is bright yellow...
, Junonia natalica
Junonia natalica
The Natal Pansy or Brown Pansy is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in the Afrotropic ecozone.The wingspan is 45–50 mm in males and 48–55 mm in females....
, Junonia terea
Junonia terea
The Soldier Pansy or Soldier Commodore is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in the Afrotropic ecozone.The wingspan is 50–55 mm in males and 52–60 mm in females....
, Protogoniomorpha parhassus
Protogoniomorpha parhassus
The Forest Mother-of-Pearl or Common Mother-of-Pearl is a species of Nymphalidae butterfly found in forested areas of Africa.-Subspecies:*P. p. parhassus Forest Mother-of-pearl from Tropical Africa.*P. p...
and Hypolimnas misippus
Hypolimnas misippus
The Danaid Eggfly, Mimic, or Diadem is a widespread species of nymphalid butterfly. It is well known for polymorphism and mimicry. Males are blackish with distinctive white spots that are fringed in blue...
. The vigorous growth of A. g. micrantha in tropical regions makes it a weed which can smother certain indigenous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
vegetation where it has been introduced.