About Justicia spicigera Schltdl.
Muicle (Justicia spicigera Schltdl.) is a perennial shrub that grows in full sun or partial shade. It typically reaches a height of 2 to 5 feet, with leaves around 2 inches long, and produces bright orange flowers that attract hummingbirds. This plant prefers warm conditions, but can tolerate temperatures as low as approximately -3 °C (26 °F). When its leaves are boiled, muicle produces extracts in colors including purple, pink, green, and orange. Variations in pH alter the molecular structure and solubility of muicle extracts, so the resulting color changes depending on the pH of the preparation. Muicle leaves can be boiled in water to make tea. As the leaves boil, they dye the water a deep blue or indigo color, which is why the plant has also traditionally been used to make dye. It has been used as a traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, and is often used as a brightening agent for laundry.
