Justicia schimperiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Justicia schimperiana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
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.
