Asystasia intrusa (Forssk.) Blume

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Photo: Brian Rode
Ngamiland Concession 22 - Vumbura, Okavango Delta

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Synonyms:	Asystasia coromandeliana Nees Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu Asystasia pinguifolia T. Edwards Justicia gangetica L.
Common names:	Chinese violet (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect or scrambling perennial, up to c. 1 m. Leaves opposite, ovate, occasionally finely hairy; margin entire. Flowers in a terminal, often one-sided raceme, white to pale mauve-blue with purple markings in the lower lip.
Notes:	This was long known under the name Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha. That species occurs in tropical Asia and the Pacific. It is a slightly more shrubby herb with larger purple flowers. It is sometimes used as an cultivated ornamental plant in tropical Africa but only rarely known as an escape.
Derivation of specific name:	intrusa: intrusive, referring to the often weedy habit of this species.
Habitat:	In a variety of habitats, often in light shade.
Flowering time:	Any time, mostly Nov - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands and tropical Arabia.
Botswana distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Junonia oenone oenone (Food plant) Junonia natalitica natalitica (Food plant) Salamis parhassus (Food plant) Hypolimnas misippus (Food plant) Junonia hierta cebrene (Food plant) Junonia terea elgiva (Food plant) Salamis anacardii nebulosa (Food plant) Astictopterus stellata mineni (Larval food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 18 October 2015
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Pages 188 - 189. As Asystasia gangetica (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 138 - 139. as Asystasia gangetica (Includes a picture). Champluvier, D. (1985). Acanthaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 436. as Asystasia gangetica (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. as Asystasia gangetica gangetica Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 18. As Asystasia gangetica Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2010). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Pages 457 - 460. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha (Includes a picture). Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 126 - 128. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 324. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha (Includes a picture). Kelbessa, E. (1994). A Revision of Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders (Acanthaceae) Proceedings of the XIIIth Plenary Meeting AETFAT, Malawi 1 Pages 333 - 346. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 13. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. gangetica Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 12. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 17. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 23. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 33. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 193. as Asystasia gangetica Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 87. as Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha

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Flora of Burundi: Asystasia intrusa
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Flora of the DRC: Asystasia intrusa
Flora of Malawi: Asystasia intrusa
Flora of Mozambique: Asystasia intrusa
Flora of Rwanda: Asystasia intrusa
Flora of Zambia: Asystasia intrusa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Asystasia intrusa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asystasia intrusa
African Plant Database: Asystasia intrusa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asystasia intrusa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asystasia intrusa
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IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asystasia intrusa
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Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asystasia intrusa
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Tropicos: Asystasia intrusa
Wikipedia: Asystasia intrusa