Practical
Plants

Justicia procumbens

an annual member of the Justicia genus in the family Acanthaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - boiled[1]. Seed - cooked. It is usually made into a flour[1].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is alterative, anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge and laxative[2][5]. A decoction or an infusion is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, backache, flatulence and many skin conditions[4][5][6]. The juice of the leaves is used in ophthalmia[5][6]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of curvature and diseases of the bone[5]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of coughs where blood is being coughed up[6].

Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Skin

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas to China, Japan and Korea.
Habitat
Cultivated fields and waste ground in lowland C. and S. Japan[7]. River valleys in damp shady places in China[2][3]. Moist open places, 700 - 2500 metres in Nepal[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be successful in Britain, though it should succeed if grown as a half-hardy annual.

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  4. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  5. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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