Crabbea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crabbea |
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| Crabbea nana | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Subfamily: | Acanthoideae |
| Tribe: | Barlerieae |
| Genus: | Crabbea Harv. |
| Synonyms | |
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Crabbea is a group of flowering plants that grow naturally in eastern and southern Africa. These plants are usually small, low-growing herbs that live for many years. Their flowers have five petals and are surrounded by spiky, leaf-like parts called bracts.
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About Crabbea Plants
Crabbea plants are known for their unique look. They don't grow very tall, often staying close to the ground. They are also perennial, which means they live for more than two years, often coming back year after year.
What Crabbea Looks Like
The flowers of Crabbea plants are quite interesting. They have five petals, which is a common number for many flowers. What makes them special are the bracts that surround the flowers. Bracts are like modified leaves, and in Crabbea, they are often prickly.
How People Use Crabbea
Some types of Crabbea plants have small leaves that are used by the Xhosa people in Africa. They use these leaves to make a traditional food called imifino. This dish is made from boiled leaf vegetables.
Sometimes, the leaves are also used as a condiment or a relish. This means they are added to other foods, like grains, to give them extra flavor. The Xhosa people have a common name for these plants, which is krakrisa.
Different Kinds of Crabbea
As of 2020, scientists have identified 13 different types, or species, of Crabbea plants. Each species has its own unique features, but they all belong to the same Crabbea group.
Here are the accepted species:
- Crabbea acaulis
- Crabbea albolutea
- Crabbea cirsioides
- Crabbea coerulea
- Crabbea glandulosa
- Crabbea kaessneri
- Crabbea longipes
- Crabbea migiurtina
- Crabbea nana
- Crabbea pinnatifida
- Crabbea thymifolia
- Crabbea velutina
- Crabbea zambiana
