Commelina africana subsp. africana
Commelina africana subsp. africana, commonly known as African Coffee, is a significant medicinal shrub native to various African regions. Valued in traditional ethnobotany, this subspecies is frequently utilized for its diverse therapeutic properties, including its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, playing a vital role in local herbal remedies.
- Scientific name: Commelina africana subsp. africana
- Family: Commelinaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Commelinales and the family Commelinaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Commelina as the subspecies Commelina africana subsp. africana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Commelinales | WCVP |
| Family | Commelinaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Commelina | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Combretum molle subsp. africanum (formerly classified as Combrelina africana subsp. africana), is known by various names depending on the linguistic region. In English, it is frequently referred to as the African Combretum, while in isiZulu, it is known as isicicidini. In isiXhosa, the plant is called ucmomoka, and it is also identified as ukhanyisela in Sesotho.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows in specific local habitats. It can also be found throughout the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species extends its range into Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, the geographical footprint of this subspecies includes the country of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Commelina africana subsp. africana, is frequently studied for its therapeutic potential, particularly focusing on its vegetative components. The leaves serve as a primary source of bioactive compounds, containing various phytochemicals that contribute to the plant's medicinal properties. Because of this high concentration of nutrients and secondary metabolites, leaf extracts are often prepared through various solvent processes to isolate these active ingredients for pharmacological research and traditional healing applications.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |