Crabbea

Summary

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
Crabbea nana
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Acanthostelma Bidgood & Brummitt
  • Golaea Chiov.

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]

  • Crabbea acaulis N.E.Br.
  • Crabbea albolutea Thulin
  • Crabbea cirsioides (Nees) Nees
  • Crabbea coerulea Vollesen
  • Crabbea glandulosa Vollesen
  • Crabbea kaessneri S.Moore
  • Crabbea longipes Mildbr.
  • Crabbea migiurtina (Chiov.) Thulin
  • Crabbea nana (Nees) Nees
  • Crabbea pinnatifida Thulin
  • Crabbea thymifolia (Chiov.) Thulin
  • Crabbea velutina S.Moore
  • Crabbea zambiana Vollesen

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Crabbea Harv". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Crabbea". Flora of Zimbabwe.
  3. ^ Bhat RB, Rubuluza T, Jäger AK (2002). "The Bio-diversity of traditional vegetables of the Transkei region in the Eastern Cape of South Africa". South African Journal of Botany. 68: 94–99. doi:10.1016/S0254-6299(16)30463-X.