Prickleheads

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