Albizia antunesiana

Purple-leaved false-thorn

Albizia antunesiana, commonly known as the Antunes' Albizia, is a versatile medicinal tree native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, various parts of the plant are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from inflammation and skin conditions to digestive issues, showcasing its significant ethnobotanical importance.

  • Scientific name: Albizia antunesiana
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is further nested within the family Fabaceae. Specifically, it is identified under the genus Albizia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Albizia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Albizia antunesiana, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is referred to as 紫叶合欢 (zh), 紫叶合欢 (zh-cn), 紫葉合歡 (zh-tw), and 紫叶合欢 (zh-hans), all of which highlight its distinctive foliage. Additionally, in South Africa, it is commonly known by its Afrikaans name, Persblaarvalsdoring (af).
Language Common Name Source
zh 紫叶合欢 Wikidata
zh-cn 紫叶合欢 Wikidata
zh-tw 紫葉合歡 Wikidata
zh-hans 紫叶合欢 Wikidata
af Persblaarvalsdoring Wikidata
en Purple-leaved False-thorn Wikidata
en Purple-leaved Albizia Wikidata
zh 安氏合欢 Wikidata
zh 穆瑟那合欢 Wikidata
zh 紫叶假刺树 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions across the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is recorded in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, it can also be found in Tanzania. Furthermore, its distribution extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically within the borders of Angola. Together, these locations highlight a broad range spanning from West-Central to Southern Africa.

Region Area Source
West-Central Tropical Africa Burundi WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa Rwanda WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa DR Congo WCVP
East Tropical Africa Tanzania WCVP
South Tropical Africa Angola WCVP
South Tropical Africa Malawi WCVP
South Tropical Africa Mozambique WCVP
South Tropical Africa Zambia WCVP
South Tropical Africa Zimbabwe WCVP
Southern Africa Botswana WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Albizia antunesiana, possesses various anatomical features that are utilized in traditional medicine. The leaves are bipinnately compound, and a single leaf can often be found displaying a delicate, feathery texture. Below the surface, the extensive roots serve as a vital storage system for the tree, and the root itself is frequently harvested to prepare decoctions for treating various ailments.
Total parts
4
Scientific sources
4
Plant Part Sources Confidence
roots 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root 1 ★☆☆☆☆
leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆
leaf 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Albizia antunesiana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarin, triterpenoids.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
coumarin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
triterpenoids 1 ★☆☆☆☆