Crabbea

Crabbea is a genus of flowering plants native to eastern and southern Africa.^[1] They are generally low-growing perennial herbs. The five-petaled flowers are surrounded by prickly bracts.^[2]

Crabbea
Crabbea nana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Subfamily:	Acanthoideae
Tribe:	Barlerieae
Genus:	Crabbea Harv. (1842), nom. cons.
Synonyms[1]
Acanthostelma Bidgood & Brummitt Golaea Chiov.

The small leaves of some species of Crabbea are used as part of a Xhosa food called imifino (boiled leaf vegetables), or as a condiment or relish to accompany grains. A Xhosa common name for these plants is krakrisa.^[3]

As of 2020, there are 13 accepted species in the genus:^[1]

• Crabbea acaulis N.E.Br.
• Crabbea albolutea Thulin
• Crabbea cirsioides (Nees) Nees
• Crabbea coerulea Vollesen
• Crabbea glandulosa Vollesen
• Crabbea kaessneri S.Moore
• Crabbea longipes Mildbr.
• Crabbea migiurtina (Chiov.) Thulin
• Crabbea nana (Nees) Nees
• Crabbea pinnatifida Thulin
• Crabbea thymifolia (Chiov.) Thulin
• Crabbea velutina S.Moore
• Crabbea zambiana Vollesen