Cyclopia genistoides
Common honeybush-tea
Cyclopia genistoides, commonly known as Dancing Plant, is a unique medicinal shrub native to South Africa. Renowned for its striking, bright yellow flowers, it holds significant ethnobotanical value. Traditionally used by local communities for its therapeutic properties, this species offers intriguing potential for modern pharmacological research and herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Cyclopia genistoides
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling within the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Cyclopia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cyclopia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cyclopia genistoides, is recognized by different names depending on the language; in Afrikaans, it is called Gewone Heuningbostee, while in English, it is commonly referred to as Common Honeybush-tea.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Gewone Heuningbostee | Wikidata |
| en | Common Honeybush-tea | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is native to the southern region of the African continent. Its specific geographical distribution is concentrated within the Cape Provinces. Within this area, it thrives in the unique environmental conditions of the Fynbos biome. Because of this limited range, it is considered an endemic species to these coastal and inland provinces. Consequently, the plant's natural habitat is strictly tied to the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cyclopia genistoides has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include benzophenone, dihydrochalcone, flavone, xanthone.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| benzophenone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydrochalcone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xanthone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cyclopia genistoides has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anti-allergic.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anti-allergic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |