Gymnosporia arenicola
Dune spike-thorn
Gymnosporia arenicola, commonly known as a medicinal shrub, is a significant plant species found in arid regions. Valued in traditional medicine, it possesses unique phytochemical properties used to treat various ailments. Understanding its botanical characteristics and therapeutic potential is essential for exploring its role in natural pharmacology and herbal remedies.
- Scientific name: Gymnosporia arenicola
- Family: Celastraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Celastrales and the family Celastraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Gymnosporia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Celastrales | WCVP |
| Family | Celastraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gymnosporia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Gymnosporia arenicola, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In English, it is commonly called the Dune Spike-thorn, while in Afrikaans, it is known as Duinpendoring.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Duinpendoring | Wikidata |
| en | Dune Spike-thorn | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within certain regions of the African continent. It can be found throughout South Tropical Africa, specifically within the country of Mozambique. Additionally, its presence extends into the Southern Africa region. Within this area, it is notably documented in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. These locations define the known natural range for Gymnosporia arenicola.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Gymnoporaria arenicola, utilizes its foliage as a primary component in traditional medicinal applications. The fresh leaf is often harvested for immediate use, while the dried leaf is frequently prepared for long-term storage or processed into powders and infusions. These various forms of the plant parts are utilized to extract bioactive compounds essential for their therapeutic properties.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Gymnosporia arenicola has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include calcium oxalate.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| calcium oxalate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |