Acanthaceae

Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha

Common Names: Chinese violet

Plant Form: Mat-forming creeper. Size: Usually 50 cm but can scramble to 3 m height. Stem: Sparsely hairy, develop roots where nodes contact soil. Leaves: Bright green, paler underneath, Flowers: Bell shaped, white to pinkish with two distinctive purple blotches on inside. Fruit and Seeds: Up to 3 cm long, green then browning with age, explosively split in half and release 4 seeds per fruit. Hooked seed supports visible after they have split open. Habitat: Neglected land, old gardens, fencelines, vacant blocks. Distinguishing Features: Distinct as a species but hard to distinguish from other subspecies of Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica). Impacts: Competes with crop species causing lost productivity, smothers native vegetation.