Cuphea
Cuphea, commonly known as various names including the Pipoca plant, is a versatile genus of flowering plants within the Lythraceae family. Renowned for their vibrant, colorful blooms and ornamental appeal, many species are studied for their diverse phytochemical properties, offering potential therapeutic benefits in traditional and modern medicinal practices.
- Scientific name: Cuphea
- Family: Lythraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Lythraceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Cuphea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Lythraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cuphea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Cuphea, is recognized by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In Russian, it is known as Куфея, while in Ukrainian, the name is written as куфея. In Arabic, the plant is referred to as كوفيا, and in Chinese, it is identified as 萼距花属. Additionally, in German, it is commonly called Köcherblümchen.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Куфея | Wikidata |
| ar | كوفيا | Wikidata |
| zh | 萼距花属 | Wikidata |
| uk | куфея | Wikidata |
| de | Köcherblümchen | Wikidata |
| de-ch | Köcherblümchen | Wikidata |
| sv | Blossblommor | Wikidata |
| pl | kufea | Wikidata |
| fi | tulitorvet | Wikidata |
| cs | hlazenec | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in Great Britain. Its range extends southward into Northern Africa, specifically within the borders of Morocco. The species is also present in Macaronesia, inhabiting the Azores islands. Finally, it is documented in West Tropical Africa, appearing in both Guinea and Liberia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Azores | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the pipeweed or bushy hemp, is valued in various traditional practices, and its medicinal potential is often linked to the chemical properties found within its components. While much of its botanical interest lies in the foliage and flowers, the extraction of seed oils from the plant provides a concentrated source of bioactive compounds. These oils are frequently studied for their therapeutic properties, as they may contain specific fatty acids or phytochemicals that contribute to the plant's overall pharmacological profile.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cuphea has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, triterpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cuphea has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, hypertension, pain, parasitic infections, rheumatism.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| parasitic infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |