Ceanothus americanus
New jersey tea
Ceaonthus americanus, commonly known as damiana, is a perennial shrub native to Mexico and Central America. Traditionally revered in herbal medicine, its leaves are utilized to support reproductive health, alleviate anxiety, and act as a mild aphrodisiac. This aromatic plant remains a staple in holistic wellness and botanical studies.
- Scientific name: Ceanothus americanus
- Family: Rhamnaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement identifies it as a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales. It is ultimately categorized under the family Rhamnaceae and the genus Ceanothus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rhamnaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ceanothus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ceanothus americanus, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In Chinese, it is known as 美洲茶 (zh), 美洲茶 (zh-cn), 美洲茶 (zh-tw), and 美洲茶 (zh-hans), while in Norwegian, it is called Taskeblom (nb).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 美洲茶 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 美洲茶 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 美洲茶 | Wikidata |
| nb | Taskeblom | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 美洲茶 | Wikidata |
| ar | جذر أحمر / النبقيات | Wikidata |
| es | Ceanothus decumbens | Wikidata |
| es | Ceanothus dillenianus | Wikidata |
| es | Ceanothus ellipticus | Wikidata |
| es | Ceanothus glomeratus | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across parts of North America. In Eastern Canada, its range extends through the provinces of Ontario and Québec. Moving into the North-Central United States, the species can be found in Illinois. It is also widely distributed across the state of Iowa. Additionally, the plant maintains a presence within the borders of Kansas.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Minnesota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Nebraska | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Wisconsin | WCVP |
Chemicals
Ceanothus americanus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ceanothetric acid, ceanothic acid, maesopsin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ceanothetric acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ceanothic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| maesopsin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ceanothus americanus has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Actinomyces viscosus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Streptococcus mutans.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actinomyces viscosus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Porphyromonas gingivalis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prevotella intermedia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |