Marsh Barbel or Neera Mulliya is a perennial evergreen shrub that Native to Sri Lanka and India. It is a Popular leaf vegetable and also used in Ayurveda as a medicinal remedy. The plant can be naturally grow in wet zone or dry zone near the water bodies or marsh lands as well as cultivate for a leaf vegetable.The plant sometime called in Sinhalese as "Katuikiliya" but users should not be confuse with plant Acanthus ilicifolius which is also refereed "Katuikiliya" in Sinhalese.
| Common Classification | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Marsh Barbel, Talimkhana, Gokula kanta, |
| Scientific Name | Hygrophila auriculata |
| Sinhalese Name | Neera Mulliya,Katuikilya |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Family | Acanthaceae |
| Genus | Hygrophila |
| Species | H.auriculata |
| Synonym | Asteracantha longifolia, Barleria spinosa, Hygrophila schulli |
| Ecology | |
| Category | Weed Herb Vegetable |
| Growth Habit | Small - Shrub |
| Duration | Perennial |
| Status - Native | Indigenous |
| Status (Controlling) | Natural |
| Propriety | |
| Culinary / Edible | Yes |
| Use as Herb | Yes |
| Other Use | n/a |
| Poisoned / Toxin | No |
| Identification | |
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