Adenia gummifera
Green-stem
Adenia gummifera, commonly known as the gum adenia, is a fascinating succulent climber native to arid regions of Africa. Characterized by its unique tuberous roots and distinctive climbing habit, this medicinal plant is traditionally valued for its bioactive compounds, which are studied for their diverse therapeutic and pharmacological potential.
- Scientific name: Adenia gummifera
- Family: Passifloraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales and the family Passifloraceae, it is classified under the genus Adenia. Specifically, the species is identified as Adenia gummifera.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Passifloraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Adenia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Adenia gummifera, is referred to by various names across different languages and regions. In English, it is commonly called Green-stem or Snake climber. In Chinese, its names vary by region, being known as 胶脂蒴莲 in mainland China (zh-cn), 膠脂蒴蓮 in Taiwan (zh-tw), and 胶脂蒴莲 in general Chinese contexts (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 胶脂蒴莲 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 胶脂蒴莲 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 膠脂蒴蓮 | Wikidata |
| en | Green-stem | Wikidata |
| en | Snake climber | Wikidata |
| af | Slangklimop | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the various regions of Northeast and East Tropical Africa. Within Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in the territories of Ethiopia and Somalia. Its range extends southward into East Tropical Africa, where it is present in Kenya. Additionally, the species inhabits the landscape of Tanzania. Finally, its geographical presence is also documented within the borders of Uganda.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Adenia gummifera, is a medicinal species where specific anatomical components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The stem serves as a structural foundation for the plant's growth, while the rootbarks are particularly valued in traditional medicinal practices for their bioactive compounds.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rootbarks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Adenia gummifera has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonols, iron, proanthocyanidins.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Adenia gummifera has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include depression.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |