Gomphrena martiana
Xeraea martiana
Gomphrena martiana, commonly known as Globe Amaranth, is a striking perennial celebrated for its vibrant, papery flowers. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical value. Often utilized in traditional medicine, its resilient properties offer potential therapeutic benefits, making it a fascinating subject for both gardeners and herbalists.
- Scientific name: Gomphrena martiana
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- 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 Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Gomphrena.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gomphrena | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by several different common names depending on the taxonomic classification and regional context, including Xeraea martiana, Gomphrena argentina, and Xeraea argentina. Additionally, specific variations are referred to as Gomphrena martiana var. microcephala, while it is also identified by the name Philoxerus heliotropifolium.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| en | Xeraea martiana | Wikidata |
| en | Gomphrena argentina | Wikidata |
| en | Xeraea argentina | Wikidata |
| en | Gomphrena martiana var. microcephala | Wikidata |
| en | Philoxerus heliotropifolium | Wikidata |
| en | Iresine heliotropifolia | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents. In South Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically within Mozambique. Moving to the Americas, it can be found in Western South America, specifically in Bolivia and Peru. Within Brazil, the species is located in the West-Central region. Interestingly, its range also extends as far north as the Northeastern United States, including New York.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Northeastern U.S.A. | New York | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
Activities
Gomphrena martiana has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Gomphrena martiana has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Sarcoma 180.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcoma 180 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |