Edible: Leaves, Flowers - tea
An evergreen shrub 2-3 m high. The leaves are up to 15 cm long and 6 cm wide and coloured. They can be green, silver, yellow or red. The leaves have markings like writing on them. The leaves occur opposite one another. The edges of the leaves can be irregular and wavy. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The flowers are reddish purple in clusters on the tops of plants. The flower clusters are 8 cm long and the flowers have an inflated throat. The lip of the flower is dark red. The fruit is a capsule which is often beaked. It is 3-4 cm long. There can be up to 4 seeds.
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the New Guinea region. It mostly occurs in coastal areas below 800 m altitude. It grows in sago swamps. They need a temperature above 13°C. The green form often grows naturally in forests on coral. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Badem, Bai tawng, Bai-ngoen-bai-thawng, Bai-ngun, Benalu, Daun ungu, Demung, Graptofilo, Handeleum, Igomor, Jamaican croton, Kalaadulsa, Kroton kamaika, Mamelegue, Mandara, Maradong-puti, Ngoc diep, Ponge gune, Puding, Tulak, Tulak kembang ungu, White adulsa, Wungu, Ysjudemaram
Synonyms:
Justicia picta L;
Graptophyllum hortense Nees;