ACANTHACEAE

Asystasia mysorensis

Wildflowers

Local Context

Often acts as a pioneer species in disturbed areas like roadsides and can be seen at Jack's Causeway, the SCS Dam and many other spots across the estate. Its distribution runs all the way from South Africa to India.

Identification

Growth: Erect or straggling annual herb up to 1 m tall.
Flowers: White or creamy-white, sometimes with greenish-yellow spots or pink tints, shaped like a short tube widening into an indistinctly two-lipped mouth.
Leaves: Egg-shaped to elliptic up to 11 cm long.
Texture: Leaves and flower spikes are often covered in fine or stiff hairs.
Fruit: Capsule up to 2.5 cm long containing rough, bumpy seeds.

Did You Know?

While many gardeners in other parts of the world treat Asystasia species as weeds or ornamental groundcovers, in countries like Kenya and Tanzania, A. mysorensis is a prized wild leafy vegetable. It is exceptionally high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene, often surpassing common globally consumed vegetables like regular spinach. Its high Vitamin C content is specifically noted for helping the body absorb iron from starchy staples like rice or ugali.

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