Crested Cat Ears

Native to tropical Africa, Himalayas, Southern China, Indo-China, Malaysia, Indonesia. It is desirable plant due to its ornamental flowers and foliage. The plant is used as food (herb and spice). Leaves and stems are used as a vegetable in West Java (Indonesia). The species is also useful as a forage. It is locally abundant and hence listed as Least Concern Conservation Action of IUCN (2010).

Alikbangon (Tagalog-Philippines), Smau slaab tië (Cambodia), Kaab pii (Laos), Ya-huaraknoi (Thailand), B trach trai mồng (Vietnamese), Nabhali (India).

Found in dry, but also in humid regions, on roadsides, rocks or stones, grassy spots and sandy areas near the sea  up to 1,000 m altitude. Prefers moderate to little water. Plant and rootzone preference - tolerance: well-drained, poor infertile, saline/ salt spray soils, Shallow media (8 -10 cm), disease/pest resistant.

• Roots - fibrous.
• Stem - fleshy, a longitudinal row of hairs, juicy, prostrate and creeping, branching at irregular intervals.
• Leaves- fleshy, 2-8 x 0.8-2.5 cm, ovate-oblong, base rounded or cordate, apex obtuse or acute, sparsely ciliate on margins; sheath loose, to 8 mm long, hispid. cymes mostly terminal, recurved, 2-2.5 x 1-1.5 cm, solitary, peduncle 2-6 cm long. Bracts 2.5-5 x 1-2.2 cm, leaf-like; bracteoles 0.7-1 cm long, falcately ovate, sparsely ciliate on margins.
• Flower - bisexual, 6-7 mm across. Calyx tube 2 mm long, lobes 2-2.5 mm long, hirsute. Corolla pale blue to purple, 6 mm long. Staminal filaments bearded, violet. Ovary globose, hairy at apex.
• Fruit - brown explosive capsules, 2-3 mm long, subglobose. 
• Seeds - tiny seed, 1 mm, trigonous, with 2 large pits on either side.

Propagated by seed (generatively) and by stem cuttings. Very drought-tolerant, able to withstand at least 2 weeks without rain or watering. Spreads very quickly and may overtake nearby plants to form monoculture plot, prune to control aggressive growth. 

Flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids.

• Roots paste is used to treat swelling and snakebite.
• Antioxidant effect of leaves extract has been shown to promote healing of wounds.