Cussonia holstii
Cussonia holstii, commonly known as the Holst's Cussionia, is a distinctive woody shrub native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its unique architectural foliage, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical value. Traditionally, various parts are utilized in folk medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin irritations to digestive discomforts.
- Scientific name: Cussonia holstii
- Family: Araliaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Araliaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Cussonia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Araliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cussonia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known under various taxonomic classifications and regional identifiers, is associated with several specific names across different contexts. In Spanish-speaking botanical discussions, it is sometimes referred to in relation to its close relatives or specific morphological forms, such as Cussonia bequaertii, Cussonia boranensis, Cussonia holstii f. integrifoliola, Cussonia holstii var. tomentosa, and Cussonia microstachys.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| es | Cussonia bequaertii | Wikidata |
| es | Cussonia boranensis | Wikidata |
| es | Cussonia holstii f. integrifoliola | Wikidata |
| es | Cussonia holstii var. tomentosa | Wikidata |
| es | Cussonia microstachys | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within the countries of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, the species is also found throughout Northeast Tropical Africa. Specifically, it inhabits the diverse landscapes of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Furthermore, its range extends into the Horn of Africa, specifically within Somalia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Yemen | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cussonia holstii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hederagenin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hederagenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cussonia holstii has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include trichomonas.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| trichomonas | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |