Chrysopogon aciculatus
Golden beardgrass, lovegrass, mackie's pest, needle grass, seed grass, spear grass
Chrysopogon aciculatus, commonly known as needle-leaf chrysopogon, is a resilient medicinal herb valued in traditional healing practices. Renowned for its unique bioactive properties, this plant is frequently utilized to treat various ailments, including inflammatory conditions and digestive issues, offering a natural approach to holistic wellness and herbal therapy.
- Scientific name: Chrysopogon aciculatus
- Family: Poaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, specifically as a member of the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Chrysopogon, with its specific species name being aciculatus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Poales | WCVP |
| Family | Poaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Chrysopogon | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Chrysopogon aculeatus, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In China, it is referred to as 竹节草 (zh), while in the Philippines, it is commonly called Sulput (pam). In the Malayalam language, it is known as കുറുക്കൻ പുല്ല് (ml), and in Tonga, it is identified as Matapekepeka (to). Additionally, in Thailand, the plant is widely recognized as หญ้าเจ้าชู้ (th).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 竹节草 | Wikidata |
| pam | Sulput | Wikidata |
| ml | കുറുക്കൻ പുല്ല് | Wikidata |
| to | Matapekepeka | Wikidata |
| th | หญ้าเจ้าชู้ | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 竹節草 | Wikidata |
| ms | Kemuncup | Wikidata |
| su | Jukut jarum | Wikidata |
| as | বনগুটি | Wikidata |
| bn | চোরকাঁটা | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Chrysopogon aciculatus, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Benin. Additionally, its presence extends into the territories of Burkina Faso and Ghana. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of the Ivory Coast. Finally, its range reaches into the nation of Mali, completing its regional footprint.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Chrysopogon aciculatus, is frequently utilized in traditional medicine where the whole plant is employed for its therapeutic properties. Because the medicinal efficacy is distributed throughout its various structures—including the roots, stems, leaves, and flowering heads—the entire organism is often harvested and processed to prepare decoctions or extracts. By utilizing the whole plant, practitioners ensure that the full spectrum of its bioactive compounds is captured to address various health concerns.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Chrysopogon aciculatus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aciculatin, campesterol, citronellyl isobutyrate, citronellylisobutyrate, gamma oryzanol.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aciculatin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| campesterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citronellyl isobutyrate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citronellylisobutyrate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gamma oryzanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nudaphantin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tricin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Chrysopogon aciculatus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |