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Plant 1 Asystasia intrusia
Learn about Common Asystasia (*Asystasia intrusa*), a fast-growing ground cover native to India, the Malay Peninsula, and Africa, with tubular white flowers and explosive seed-dispersing fruits.
Common Asystasia
Asystasia intrusa
Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
Maximum Height | 0.5m |
Native Distribution | India, Malay Peninsula & Africa |
Description:
Plant Morphology
Growth Form: A soft and not woody creeping groundcover, commonly found growing as a weed rather than a garden plant. It has a sprawling or weakly climbing habit, and tends to grow into dense mats that smother neighbouring vegetation.
Foliage: Leaves are green, sparsely hairy, opposite, smooth-edged, and egg-shaped to broadly lanceolate in shape (8 cm long, 4 cm wide).
Flowers: The flowers are in small, one-sided racemes at the stem tips, with the flowers at the bottom of the raceme opening first. The individual flowers are tubular, white, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, and have 5 rounded lobes, purple, vein-ridged markings on the lower lip, and 4 stamens. This species is free-flowering.
Fruits: Explosively dehiscent fruits known as capsules are initially green, but becomes brown and dry after dehiscence (3.6 cm long). The fruit resembles an upside down cello and contains 4 whitish to brownish black, circular seeds which are flattened and beaked (5 mm long, 1 mm thick). Fruits contain 3 mm-long hooks which help to propel the seeds further away from the plant during explosive dehiscence.
Habitat: In Australia, this species is considered invasive and a serious threat to native ecosystems.
Cultivation: This fast-growing species grows best under semi-shade or full shade, but plants grown in full sun require sufficient moisture. It is tolerant of many soil types, but optimal growth occurs in well-drained, but moist soils that are rich in compost. Individuals should be spaced 0.45 - 0.6 m apart. This species can grow aggressively and should be restrained with pruning. Propagate by seed, stem cuttings or layering.
Etymology: The genus "Asystasia" means inconsistency, referring to radially symmetrical flowers in this genus which is uncommon in the family Acanthaceae. The species epithet "gangetica" was named after the Ganges River in India. This species was likely observed near the Ganges River.
Ethnobotanical Uses : Edible Plant Parts (Edible Leaves)