Lobostemon fruticosus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Boraginales |
Family: | Boraginaceae |
Genus: | Lobostemon |
Species: | L. fruticosus |
Binomial name | |
Lobostemon fruticosus (L.) H.Buek | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Lobostemon fruticosus, also known as the eightday healthbush or pyjamabush, is a species of medicinal plant endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is considered to be ecologically and economically important but is declining due to overexploitation.
This shrub grows 50–80 cm (20–31 in) high. [2] [3] It has many long branches emerging from the base. [4] The lower stems are woody while the younger branches towards the tips are soft and are red in colour. [2] The stalkless leaves are narrow and oval shaped, ending in pointed tips. [2] Both the herbaceous stems and the leaves are covered in white hairs. [2] [4]
Flowers are present between May and December. [3] The bell-shaped flowers range from pink to blue in colour and are borne in compound cymes. [3] [4] The colour is variable, but typically the inside and back are pink, washing into blue tips. [4] The young flowering axis is compact with the flower buds loosely arranged to form a globose unit. They spread slightly in the fruiting stage. [2] The stamens are dissimilar in length and typically do not protrude past the rest of the flower. [2] The staminal scales are ridge-like and do not have lateral lobes. [3] They are inserted well below the throat of the corolla tube, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) above the base of the corolla tube [2]
The seeds are four little nutlets with spiny tips. [4]
It is easily confused with Lobostemon curvifolius but differs in several small ways. Both long and short hairs are present (compared to uniform hairs), the flowers are smaller (18–23 mm (0.71–0.91 in) compared to 25–28 mm (0.98–1.10 in)) and the leaves are a slightly different shape. [2]
This species is largely confined to the west of the Cape Fold Mountains, where it is found between Namaqualand and the Cape Peninsula. There are, however, also plants in Worcester. Plants are found on sandstone slopes or sandy or shale flats. [2] [3] It is common in Renosterveld due to its preference for shale-derived soils, but agricultural activities have largely confined the species to road verges. [2]
The eightday healthbush is often found growing in large groups of individuals. This species is frequently pollinated by bees. [4] Seeds, however, are often of poor quality and germination rates can be low. [5] Like other Lobostemon species, it is a resprouter and can regrow after a fire. [2]
This species is important in traditional medicine and was used by the KhoiKhoi, the settlers and the Malay people for a variety of conditions. [4] It was mainly used to treat external wounds (including burns and ulcers) and skin conditions. [4] [6] [7] This plant was also commonly used to treat blood poisoning and was at least occasionally to treat stomachaches. [7] A tea made of the leaves of this species was also used as a cure for ringworm in both humans and other animals. [4]
The leaves were applied as a general use plaster. They would, for example, be chewed or pounded into a paste and applied to the injury. [5] The leaves have been shown to have antibacterial properties. They have been shown to be effective against several pathogens, including Bacillus subtilis , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi . The leaves and twigs also have anti-inflammatory properties. A total of 13 compounds have been isolated, all of which were found to be significantly anti-inflammatory. [8] The concentrations of these compounds seem to vary by region and tend to be highest in the Western Cape. [8]
This plant has also since been shown to have anti-cancer properties and induce apoptosis in lung cancer. [9] It was also found to have similar effects on pancreatic cancer. [10]
This plant was also used in combination with other species. The fresh leaves and branch tips were, for example, used with Psoralea decumbens and Hermannia hyssopifolia to make an ointment to treat erysipelas. The leaves and flowers were also fried in butter with the leaves of Melianthus major and Melianthus comosus and the bulbs of Cyanella lutea to make an ointment for wounds. It was also mixed with Melianthus comosus and Galenia africana to form a watery lotion which was used to treat syphilis. [4]
While the conservation status of this species has not formally been assessed, it is believed to be declining. [5] [11] Populations have become fewer and more scattered. [5] This is likely due to overexploitation for medicinal use. Not only are plants removed, but natural regeneration was found to be lower due to the overexploitation of the leaves affecting the root system before flowering and poor seed germination. [5] Stem cuttings are generally found to have a greater success in terms of the recruitment of new plants, although these would simply be clones of the parent plant and as such would not contribute to the genetic diversity of the species.
Although the wild populations of this species seem to be declining, it remains a popular garden plant. This is the only Lobostemon species to be popularly grown as the others can be difficult and unpredictable. While it can be grown from seeds, these are usually difficult to get ahold of. [4] Cuttings of resprouting, non-flowering stems in spring and autumn seem to work best for propagation, although this depends on the substrate that the plant is being planted in. Cuttings planted peat perform best in Autumn, while those planted in sand-polystyrene perform best in spring. [12] The application of plant growth regulators further improve the chance of successful propagation. [12] While many cultivated plants are available, wild plants still dominate the traditional medicine market. [12]
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Melianthus comosus, the honey flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Francoaceae. It is native to the mostly dry regions of southern Africa. The attractive multi-stemmed shrubs are popular garden subjects. The Afrikaans name kruidjie-roer-my-nie (herb-touch-me-not) alludes to the unpleasant smell that results from bruising of any part of the plant. The vegetative parts are very toxic, as with other Melianthus species, and extracts of the leaves and stem have anti-bacterial properties.
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Lobostemon is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. The majority of species are limited to the winter rainfall area of the country, from Springbok to Mossel Bay. In Afrikaans these species are known as agtdaegeneesbos, or loosely translated, bush that will heal in eight days. As this name suggests, many species have medicinal properties. This is best known from Lobostemon fruticosus, which is used for treating wounds, blood poisoning, ringworm, skin diseases and syphilis.
Lobostemon montanus, the turquoise bush bugloss, mountain lobostemon or agtdaegeneesbos, is a South African species belonging to the forget-me-not family.
Lobostemon argenteus, or the silver healthbush, blue rocket bugloss or disselblaarluibos, is a species in the forget-me-not family that is endemic to South Africa.
Lobostemon belliformis, the Gouriqua lobostemon or beaut healthbush, is a critically endangered species in the forget-me-not family. It is known from a single locality on the Riversdale Plain in South Africa.
Lobostemon curvifolius, the largeflower healthbush, is a species of the forget-me-not family from South Africa.
Lobostemon decorus, the Rooiberg healthbush, is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa.
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Asparagus africanus, also known as African asparagus, bush asparagus, wild asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, ornamental asparagus and sparrow grass, is an African species of plant that is found in a variety of habitats. It has multiple medicinal properties and is used to treat various ailments.
Chlorocyathus lobulata is a species of plant in the Apocynaceae family. It is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Hendrik J. T. Venter and Rudolf L. Verhoeven, the botanists who first formally described the species named it, using the synonym Raphionacme lobulata, after the distinctive lobes of the corona of its flowers.