Crabbea is a genus of flowering plants native to eastern and southern Africa.[1] They are generally low-growing perennial herbs. The five-petaled flowers are surrounded by prickly bracts.[2]
Crabbea | |
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Crabbea nana | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Acanthaceae |
Subfamily: | Acanthoideae |
Tribe: | Barlerieae |
Genus: | Crabbea Harv. (1842), nom. cons. |
Synonyms[1] | |
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The small leaves of some species of Crabbea are used as part of a Xhosa food called imifino (boiled leaf vegetables), or as a condiment or relish to accompany grains. A Xhosa common name for these plants is krakrisa.[3]
As of 2020, there are 13 accepted species in the genus:[1]