Crabbea

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

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.

As of 2020, there are 13 accepted species in the genus:


 * 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