Strobilanthes cusia was already described and the name validly published by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck. Strobilanthes cusia is a species in the genus Strobilanthes which contains 250 species and belongs to the family of the Acanthaceae (Acanthus Family).
Strobilanthes cusia prefers a sunny to half shady site and can withstand temperatures only above 1,2º C. It grows best in sandy or pebbly, loamy soil that is dry to moderately moist. Strobilanthes cusia is native to India, north Myanmar and south China.
Seven compounds have been isolated from the whole plant of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) O. Ktze. Three of them are triterpenes (I-III), two are indole alkaloids (IV, V), two are quinazolinone alkaloids (VI, VII). The leaf of Strobilanthes cusia (Acanthaceae), popularly known as Da-Ching-Yeh, has been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is used for influenza, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, encephalitis B, viral pneumonia and mumps.