Cleome africana
Cleome africana, commonly known as African spiderflower, is a versatile medicinal herb widely used in traditional African medicine. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, the plant is frequently employed to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to gastrointestinal issues, offering a natural resource for holistic healing and wellness.
- Scientific name: Cleome africana
- Family: Cleomaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Cleome africana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Brassicales and the family Cleomaceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Cleome.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Cleomaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cleome | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cleome africana, is referred to by various names depending on the language. In Chinese, it is called 非洲鸟足菜, which is also the standard designation used in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans) and specifically in mainland China (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 非洲鸟足菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 非洲鸟足菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 非洲鸟足菜 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found throughout the diverse landscapes of Northern Africa. Its natural range extends across the country of Algeria, where it occupies various ecological niches. It is also widely distributed within the borders of Libya and Morocco. Furthermore, the species can be identified growing in the regions of Tunisia and Western Sahara. Together, these locations highlight the specific geographical presence of Cleome africana across the northern part of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cleome africana, is a versatile medicinal herb where the whole plant is frequently utilized in traditional healing practices. From the roots and stems to the leaves and flowers, every part of the organism contains bioactive compounds that contribute to its therapeutic properties. Because the entire structure is considered beneficial, practitioners often prepare decoctions or infusions using the whole plant to address various ailments, making its complete botanical form essential to its medicinal application.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cleome africana has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |