Dombeya rotundifolia
Dombeya rotundifolia, commonly known as the Madagascar Bugloss, is a striking evergreen shrub prized for its spectacular, lace-like clusters of pink or white flowers. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this medicinal plant is utilized in traditional practices to address various ailments, showcasing a unique blend of aesthetic and therapeutic value.
- Scientific name: Dombeya rotundifolia
- Family: Malvaceae
- 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 Malvales, it is classified under the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is categorized within the genus Dombeya.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dombeya | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Dombeya rotundifolia, is recognized by various regional and taxonomic names across different linguistic contexts. In Rwanda, it is referred to as Umukore, while in the Bemba language, it is called Ncafajɛ. In Shona, the plant is known as Musiyasitu. Additionally, within certain Spanish-language botanical contexts, it has been associated with the names Dombeya gossweileri and Dombeya quinqueseeta.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| rw | Umukore | Wikidata |
| bm | Ncafajɛ | Wikidata |
| sn | Musiyasitu | Wikidata |
| es | Dombeya gossweileri | Wikidata |
| es | Dombeya quinqueseta | Wikidata |
| es | Assonia cuanzensis | Wikidata |
| es | Assonia huillensis | Wikidata |
| es | Dombeya delevoyi | Wikidata |
| es | Dombeya condensiflora | Wikidata |
| es | Dombeya melanostigma | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several key regions across the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species can also be found within the borders of Ethiopia. Additionally, the distribution extends into East Tropical Africa, specifically in Kenya. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive across various tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Dombeya rotundifolia, possesses distinct morphological features, most notably its large, heart-shaped leaves. These leaves are characterized by their rounded structure and often feature a velvety or slightly hairy texture on the surface, which can aid in moisture retention. In the context of traditional medicine, the leaves are the primary part of the plant utilized, as they contain various bioactive compounds that are extracted for their therapeutic potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dombeya rotundifolia has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ROS, flavonoid, flavonoids, phenol, saponins.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ROS | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Dombeya rotundifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dombeya rotundifolia has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cancer.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |