Beneficial Plant Acknowledgment

 Jane Straight© Brazilian Plume Flower ~Justicia carnea

I’m enthused to present this stunning yet relatively unknown, shade loving, evergreen shrub with very showy pink flowers. 

As a practicing herbalist I had never heard of this plant.  My family business originally acquired it because of our interest in some of the other species of Justicia.  At least two of the others are known Ayahuasca admixture plants.  This, we thought, was a beautiful horticultural species.  Turns out it has an extensive history of serious medicinal use including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, analgesic, respiratory, and hepatoprotective properties.  It is well known in Nigeria as a blood tonic/booster for treating anemia.

When boiling water is poured over the leaves the resulting liquid turns crimson red.  Perhaps this attests to some relevance of the ancient theory of the ‘Doctrine of Signatures' of plants, whereby what a plant might exhibit externally (in this case crimson red brew) directly correlates to symptoms it might heal (anemia). 

Another beautiful gift from our Earth Mother.