Acanthaceae
149 species
Tropical herbs and shrubs with showy flowers; includes some ornamentals and medicinal plants.
Acanthopale aethiopica
Edible: ?
Acanthopale laxiflora
Edible: Vegetable, Leaves
Acanthus dioscoridis
Edible: Flower, Flowers - tea
Acanthus eminens
Edible: Flower nectar
Acanthus mollis
Bear's breech
Edible: Leaves
Acanthus montanus
Mountain thistle
Edible: Leaves, Plant - salt
Acanthus sennii
Ethiopian acanthus
Edible: Nectar
Andrographis paniculata
King of bitters
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable, Stem
Anisotes trisulcus
Edible: Flower nectar
Asystasia buettneri
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Asystasia calycina
Edible: Leaves
Asystasia dalzelliana
Violet asystasia
Edible: Leaves
Asystasia gangetica
Chinese violet
Edible: Leaves, Stems, Flowers, Vegetable
Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha
Ganges primrose
Edible: Leaves
Asystasia mysorensis
Mysore asystasia
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Asystasia schimperi
Atipa
Edible: Plant, Leaves
Asystasia vogeliana
Edible: Leaves
Asystasiella neesiana
Obul-oing, Paco
Edible: Leaves, Stem
Avicennia africana
Mangle boton, Black Mangrove, White Mangrove
Edible: Seeds
Avicennia alba
White mangrove
Edible: Fruit
Avicennia germinans
Black mangrove
Edible: Salt, Honey, Fruit sprouts, Caution
Avicennia marina
White mangrove, Grey Mangrove
Edible: Fruit, Seeds
Avicennia marina subsp. australasica
Grey mangrove, Manawa
Edible: Nuts, Fruit
Avicennia officinalis
New Zealand mangrove, White mangrove
Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Gum
Barleria acanthoides
Edible: Flowers, Nectar
Barleria bornuensis
Edible: Fruit
Barleria brownii
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Barleria cristata
Crested philippine violet
Edible: Leaves
Barleria eranthemoides
Edible: Flowers, Nectar
Barleria longissima
Edible: Flowers, Nectar
Barleria opaca
Child's vegetable
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Barleria ventricosa
Edible: Leaves
Blepharis edulis
Edible: Seeds, Leaves
Blepharis linariifolia
Edible: Seeds
Brillantaisia madagascariensis
Edible: Leaves
Brillantaisia owariensis
Giant Salvia
Edible: Leaves, Plant - salt
Brunoniella acaulis
Edible: Root
Brunoniella australis
Blue trumpet
Edible: Root, Caution
Calophanoides sp.
Edible: Leaves
Clinacanthus nutans
Sabah snake grass
Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea
Crabbea nana
Edible: Leaves
Crabbea velutina
Edible: Leaves
Crossandra mucronata
Edible: Fruit, Flower
Dicliptera cernua
Edible: Leaves
Dicliptera chinensis
Chinese foldwing
Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea
Dicliptera clinopodia
Edible: Leaves
Dicliptera falcata
Pinten
Edible: Leaves ?
Dicliptera laxata
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Dicliptera papuana
Kabanga
Edible: Leaves
Dicliptera roxburghiana
Edible: Leaves, Vegetables
Dicliptera verticillata
Edible: Leaves
Dinteracanthus diversifolius
Dipteracanthus longifolius
Surata
Edible: Leaves
Duosperma trachyphyllum
Edible: Leaves
Dyschoriste trichocalyx
Edible: Leaves
Eranthemum pulchellum
Blue sage
Edible: Leaves, Flowers
Eremomastax speciosa
Edible: Leaves, Caution, Vegetable
Gendarussa sp.
Lam peng
Edible: Shoots
Graptophyllum pictum
Caricature Plant
Edible: Leaves, Flowers - tea
Hygrophila costata
Edible: Leaves
Hygrophila erecta
Edible: Leaves, Flowers
Hygrophila phlomoides
Burma linseed
Edible: Leaves - flavouring
Hygrophila schulli
Marsh barbel
Edible: Leaves
Hygrophila spiciformis
Edible: Leaves, Wood ash
Hypoestes aristata
Ribbon bush
Edible: Leaves
Hypoestes cancellata
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Isoglossa lactea
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Isoglossa substrobilina
Edible: Leaves ?
Justicia anisophylla
Edible: Leaves
Justicia caerulea
Edible: Flowers
Justicia californica
Chuparosa, Pisily, Beloperone
Edible: Flower - nectar
Justicia calyculata
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Justicia engleriana
Edible: Leaves
Justicia exigua
Edible: Leaves
Justicia extensa
Edible: Leaves
Justicia heterocarpa
Edible: Leaves
Justicia heterocarpa subsp. vallicola
Edible: Leaves
Justicia ladanoides
Justicia
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Justicia nepeta
Wilde lusern
Edible: Fruit
Justicia nilgherrensis
Edible: Leaves
Justicia obtusa
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Justicia petiolaris
Edible: Leaves
Justicia pinguior
Edible: Leaves
Justicia procumbens
Edible: Leaves, Seed
Justicia schimperi
Edible: Leaves
Justicia schimperiana
Sensel
Edible: Nectar, Leaves - tea - medicinal
Justicia striata
Edible: Leaves
Justicia tenella
Edible: Leaves
Mackaya neesiana
Edible: Shoots, Leaves
Mendoncia gilgiana
Edible: Leaves
Mendoncia mollis
Edible: Fruit ?
Mendoncia sp.
Cipo taruma
Edible: Fruit
Monechma debile
Edible: Leaves, Roots, Tubers, Rhizomes
Peristrophe roxburghiana
Red silk-thread
Edible: Leaves
Phaulopsis imbricata
Himalayan ruellia
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Phlogacanthus curviflorus
Wild nongmangkha
Edible: Flowers
Phlogacanthus curviflorus var. menchanensis
Edible: Leaves, Flowers
Phlogacanthus gomezii
Edible: Flowers
Phlogacanthus pubinervius
Edible: Flowers
Phlogacanthus quadrangularis
Edible: Flowers
Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus
Nongmangkha
Edible: Flowers, Leaves
Phlogacanthus tubiflorus
Edible: Leaves, Flowers
Phlogacanthus wallichii
Edible: Flowers
Pseuderanthemum acuminatissimum
Edible: Leaves
Pseuderanthemum polyanthum
Edible: Flowers, Vegetable
Pseuderanthemum racemosum
Edible: Leaves
Pseuderanthemum reticulatum
Yellow-vein Eranthemum, Golden Pseuderanthemum
Edible: Leaves
Pseuderanthemum tunicatum
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Pseuderanthemum whartonianum
Ofenga
Edible: Leaves
Rhinacanthus calcaratus
Edible: Leaves
Rhinacanthus nasutus
Snake jasmine, Dainty spurs
Edible: Leaves, Stems, Leaves - tea, Flowers
Rostellularia procumbens
Carp scale
Edible: Leaves
Ruellia acaulis
Edible: Roots
Ruellia cordata
Edible: Leaves
Ruellia patula
Edible: Leaves
Ruellia praetermissa
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Ruellia tuberosa
Menow-weed, Minnie root, Spearpod
Edible: Roots
Rungia congoensis
Edible: Flavouring, Vegetable, Leaves, Spice
Rungia grandis
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Rungia klossii
Rungia, Moku, Tani, Kantaba, Aimbe
Edible: Leaves
Ruttya fruticosa
Edible: Flower nectar
Sanchezia parvibracteata
Small-bracted Sanchezia
Sclerochiton ilicifolius
Spiny white lips
Edible: Roots - sweetener
Staurogyne concinnula
Edible: Medicine, Leaves - tea
Staurogyne elongata
Cross flower
Edible: Leaves as condiment, Spice
Strobilanthes furcata
Barche
Edible: Leaves
Strobilanthes hamiltoniana
Chinese rain bell, Cone-flower
Edible: Leaves, Shoots
Strobilanthes helicta
Thaning-hamang
Edible: Leaves
Strobilanthes oligantha
Cone flower
Edible: Leaves
Strobilanthes scaber
Edible: Flowers
Strobilanthes wallichii
Kashmir acanthus
Edible: Leaves
Thunbergia alata
Black-eyed-Susan vine
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable, Seeds - flavouring
Thunbergia annua var. ruspolii
Edible: Leaves
Thunbergia aurea
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Thunbergia bogoroensis
Edible: Leaves
Thunbergia capensis
Edible: Leaves flavouring
Thunbergia dregeana
Edible: Leaves
Thunbergia grandiflora
Blue trumpet vine
Edible: Flowers - drink, Flowers, Leaves, Vegetable
Thunbergia lancifolia
Blue thunbergia
Edible: Leaves, Flowers - nectar, Vegetable
Thunbergia laurifolia
Edible: Leaves
Thunbergia lutea
Sikkim clock vine
Edible: Flowers
Thunbergia oblongifolia
Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
Thunbergia reticulata
Thunbergia similis
Thunbergia subalata
Edible: Vegetable
Trichanthera gigantea
Giant trichanthera
Edible: Leaves
Whitfieldia elongata
Edible: Fruit, Nuts, Nectar
ZZ Barleria prionitis
Edible: Medicine
ZZ Hygrophila ringens
Edible: Medicine