Tropical violet (Asystasia gangetica)

Harvesting tender shoots of tropical violet.

Common Names
Tropical violet, tropical primrose (En); herbe le rail, mange-tout (Fr); caracola (Sp); 赤道櫻草 (Cn)

Plant Distribution
South Asia, tropical America, sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania

Edible Parts
Tender leaves and stems are eaten stir-fried or boiled.

Health Values
Beta-carotene: extremely high in leaves; vitamin E: high; riboflavin: medium; folic acid: low; ascorbic acid: high; calcium: medium; iron: high; protein: 3.7%. Leaves have anti-asthmatic properties.

Read more: Tropical violet, in Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World. 2009. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center.