Acanthaceae

149 edible 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

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

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

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

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 ?

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