Justicia schimperiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

← Juniperus procera

Bekele-Tesemma, Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia, 2007 Justicia schimperiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Kigelia africana →

Justicia schimperiana (Adhatoda schimperiana) Acanthaceae Indigenous

Common names

• Agewgna: Lili
• Amargna: Sensel
• Gumuzgna: Achir
• Guragigna: Sensel
• Kembatgna: Gilbana
• Oromugna: Dumuga, Tumuga
• Sahogna: Simiza
• Sidamigna: Choke
• Tigrigna: Suda

Ecology

A common shrub growing in moist montane forest, usually near streams and rivers, in evergreen scrub on hill slopes, forest clearings, coffee plantations, waste ground or planted as hedges around homesteads in Dry and Moist Weyna Dega and Moist Dega agroclimatic zones in Tigray, Gonder, Gojam, Ilubabor, Kefa, Sidamo, Shoa and Harerge, 1,300–2,800 m.

Uses

Firewood, live fence.

Description

A leafy shrub up to 4 m, the stem brittle and breaks easily.

• LEAVES: Simple and opposite, long oval to 13 x 4 cm, tip pointed, narrowed to a short stalk.
• FLOWERS: In conspicuous terminal heads on long stalks seen clearly above the leaves, each small flower lies inside a green-yellow leafy bract 1.5 cm long, its edge clear and membraneous, flowers white or yellow-white, tubular to 3 cm long, two-lipped with dark purple throat or lines on the lip.
• FRUIT: A capsule, narrowed at the base, containing 4 seeds, surface rough.

Propagation

Usually propagated by cuttings. Seedlings can also be raised.

Seed

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Management Firming as hedge for tight fence.

Remarks

The wood is commonly used for baking ‘injera’, made of the Ethiopian staple tef.