Ansellia africana
African ansellia
Ansellia africana, commonly known as the African Sandbush, is a resilient medicinal shrub native to the arid landscapes of Southern Africa. Valued in traditional healing, its various parts are utilized to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to skin inflammations, offering a vital natural resource for local communities.
- Scientific name: Ansellia africana
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Asparagales and the family Orchidaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ansellia, specifically as the species Ansellia africana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Orchidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ansellia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various names depending on the linguistic context: in French (frr) it is referred to as Ansellia, while in Lithuanian (lt) it is called Afrikinė anzelijia. In Afrikaans (af), it is commonly known as the Luiperd-boomorgidee, and in Chinese (zh and zh-hans) it is identified as 安舌兰.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| frr | Ansellia | Wikidata |
| lt | Afrikinė anzelija | Wikidata |
| af | Luiperd-boomorgidee | Wikidata |
| zh | 安舌兰 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 安舌兰 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 安舌兰 | Wikidata |
| fr | Orchidée léopard | Wikidata |
| en | African ansellia | Wikidata |
| en | Leopard orchid | Wikidata |
| en | Aslla. africana | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Ghana as well. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Liberia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Chemicals
Ansellia africana has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eicosane, heneicosane, heptadecane, l-ascorbyl 2,6-dipalmitate, linoleic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| eicosane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heneicosane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heptadecane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| l-ascorbyl 2,6-dipalmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| n-butyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-cresol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| styrene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |