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Strobilanthes scabra Nees
| Family Name: | Acanthaceae |
| Common Name: | Black Face General, Pecah Kaca, Pecah Beling, Bayam Karang, Pecah Batu, Batu Jin, Keci Beling, 黑面将军 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1.2 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Assam, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Erect herbaceous plant, able to grow up to 1 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Dark green, shiny leaves are elliptic-oblong with a toothed leaf margin and rough texture (5-8 cm long, 2-5 cm wide). Leaves occur in pairs in opposite leaf arrangement. |
| Stems | Stem near the branch tips is distinctly 4-sided. Immature bark is purplish, gradually turning brown at maturity. |
| Flowers | Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers are arranged in a spike-like inflorescence with leafy bracts. They are seldom produced in cultivation. Flowers measure about 1.5 - 2 cm long. |
| Fruit | Fruit is spindle in shape and measure about 11 cm long. |
| Similar | This species resembles Strobilanthes cusia, but it has yellow flowers while those of S. cusia are purple. It can be distinguished from S. crispa based on the fact that bracts of S. scabra have glandular hairs, while those of S.crispa do not. |
| Etymology | Genus Strobilanthes is derived from two Greek words - "strobilos"which means cone and "anthos" which means flower, and refers to the plant's inflorescence. Species scabra means coarse, rough, and refers to the leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Medicinal: Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties In pre-clinical trials, Black Face General showed anti-cancer (Al-Henhena et al., 2015), anti-diabetic (Fadzelly et al., 2006), antioxidant (Al-Henhena et al., 2015) and cholesterol-lowering properties (Fadzelly et al., 2006) in animals. Traditional Medicinal Uses Research supports the traditional use of Black Face General to treat cancer and diabetes. Other traditional uses include treating jaundice, haemorrhoids and ulcers. It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Rough, Scaly |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate, Crenate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
| Flowering Period | Rarely |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1186 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2479 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
