Brachylaena ramiflora
Brachylaena ramiflora, commonly known as the Silver Tree, is a versatile medicinal plant native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its striking silvery foliage, it holds significant ethnobotanical value. Traditional healers utilize its leaves and bark to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues, skin inflammations, and gastrointestinal discomforts.
- Scientific name: Brachylaena ramiflora
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Brachylaena.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Brachylaena | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Brachylaena ramiflora, is referred to by several different common names in Madagascar. Depending on the local dialect or specific regional usage, it is identified as Merana, Hazotokana, Merankazotokana, Herana, or Kisaka.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| mg | Merana | Wikidata |
| mg | Hazotokana | Wikidata |
| mg | Merankazotokana | Wikidata |
| mg | Herana | Wikidata |
| mg | Kisaka | Wikidata |
| mg | Mananitra | Wikidata |
| mg | Meramaitso | Wikidata |
| mg | Mananotra | Wikidata |
| mg | Mangilakely | Wikidata |
| mg | Piro | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution centered within the Western Indian Ocean region. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated in the island nations of this tropical area. Specifically, it can be found growing natively in the Comoros archipelago. Furthermore, the species is also widely distributed across the large island of Madagascar. These locations define the core ecological range where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Brachylaena ramiflora, utilizes various anatomical structures for its biological functions, with specific interest often placed on its medicinal properties. Among its various components, the twigs serve as important structural elements that support the foliage and facilitate the transport of nutrients throughout the woody branches. In traditional medicinal practices, these twigs are sometimes harvested and processed to extract bioactive compounds that contribute to the plant's overall therapeutic potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Brachylaena ramiflora has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include alpha-amyrin palmitate, beta-amyrin acetate, beta-amyrin palmitate, hopenyl palmitate, kairatenyl palmitate.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| alpha-amyrin palmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-amyrin acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-amyrin palmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hopenyl palmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kairatenyl palmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |