Agathosma crenulata

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Agathosma crenulata
Agathosma crenulata 9787.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Agathosma
Species:
A. crenulata
Binomial name
Agathosma crenulata

Agathosma crenulata (previously Barosma crenulata) is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of southwestern South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1.5-2.5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, oval, 15–35 mm long and 7–18 mm broad. The flowers are white or pale pink, with five petals; the fruit is a five-parted capsule which splits open to release the seeds.

It is known by the common name oval leaf buchu and has historically been used as a flavoring agent and an herbal remedy.[ citation needed ] The very similar plant Agathosma betulina (previously Barosma betulina) is known as the round leaf buchu, and has been used for the same purposes.

The plant produces many sweet-smelling white flowers, which attract nectar-drinking insects. It then produces small green fruits. The leaves have traditionally been steeped in brandy, vinegar, and tea water, and are said to relieve gastrointestinal and urinary tract ailments.

Agathosma crenulata growing in fynbos in the Western Cape in South Africa Agathosma crenulata 9790.jpg
Agathosma crenulata growing in fynbos in the Western Cape in South Africa

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Agathosma is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, native to the southern part of Africa. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use despite their toxicity. In colloquial use however, the term is applied to a wider set of fragrant shrubs or substitutes.

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<i>Empleurum unicapsulare</i> Species of flowering plant

Empleurum unicapsulare or false buchu is a South African shrub of the family Rutaceae and occurs from the southwestern districts of the Cape Province to the Uitenhage area.

<i>Agathosma serratifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Agathosma gonaquensis</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremophila crenulata</i> Species of flowering plant

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Zieria bifida is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is only known from two areas near Nambour in Queensland. It is an open, straggly shrub with hairy branches, three-part leaves and small, white flowers in small groups, each flower with four petals and four stamens.

<i>Philotheca angustifolia</i> Species of plant

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<i>Zanthoxylum ovalifolium</i> Species of plant in the family Rutaceae

Zanthoxylum ovalifolium, commonly known as thorny yellowwood, oval-leaf yellow wood or little yellowwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae. It is a shrub or tree usually with trifoliate leaves, white, male and female flowers arranged in panicles in leaf axils or on the ends of branchlets and red, purple or brown follicles.

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