Erythrina addisoniae
Erythrina addisoniae, commonly known as the Addison's coral tree, is a distinctive medicinal plant native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its vibrant red flowers, various parts of this species are traditionally utilized in ethnomedicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to inflammatory conditions, showcasing its significant pharmacological potential.
- Scientific name: Erythrina addisoniae
- 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 into the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Erythrina, specifically as the species Erythrina addisoniae.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Erythrina | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Erythrina addisoniae, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly referred to as the coral tree, while in isiZulu, it is known as umkhanyakude. In isiXhosa, the plant is called umkhanyakude, and in Sesotho, it is identified as mofatle.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is found throughout specific regions of West Tropical Africa. Its natural range includes the coastal and inland areas of Ghana and Ivory Coast. Furthermore, it is documented to grow within the territories of Liberia and Sierra Leone. The distribution also extends significantly into Nigeria. Consequently, these five nations represent the primary geographical locations for this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Erythrina addisoniae, is valued in traditional medicine for the therapeutic properties found within its structural components. Both the stem bark and the general bark of the tree contain bioactive compounds that are often utilized in medicinal preparations. These parts are carefully harvested to extract the substances necessary for various healing applications, highlighting the importance of the plant's protective outer layers in its pharmacological profile.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Erythrina addisoniae has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include warangalone.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| warangalone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Erythrina addisoniae has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |