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Crabbea

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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.

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]

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]

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.