Hernandia nymphaeifolia
Lantern tree
Hernandia nymphaeifolia, commonly known as the Getlyn or Sea Hernandia, is a versatile coastal tree valued in traditional medicine. Its leaves and bark possess significant bioactive properties, often utilized to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues. This resilient species remains a vital resource for ethnobotanical healing practices.
- Scientific name: Hernandia nymphaeifolia
- Family: Hernandiaceae
- 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 Laurales, it is classified under the family Hernandiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Hernandia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Laurales | WCVP |
| Family | Hernandiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hernandia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Hernandia nymphaeifolia, is referred to by various names depending on the region and language. In Tonga, it is commonly called Fotulona, while in Indonesia, it is known as Kampis cina. In the Arabic-speaking world, it is identified as هرناندية نيلوفرية الأوراق, and in Chinese, it is recognized as 蓮葉桐 in Traditional Chinese characters and 莲叶桐 in Simplified Chinese.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| to | Fotulona | Wikidata |
| id | Kampis cina | Wikidata |
| ar | هرناندية نيلوفرية الأوراق | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 蓮葉桐 | Wikidata |
| zh | 莲叶桐 | Wikidata |
| su | Binong laut | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 莲叶桐 | Wikidata |
| ja | ハスノハギリ | Wikidata |
| en | lantern tree | Wikidata |
| ms | Pokok Buah Keras Laut | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various islands within the Western Indian Ocean. Its presence can be noted in the unique ecosystems of the Aldabra atoll. Furthermore, it inhabits the remote stretches of the Chagos Archipelago. The species also grows throughout the Comoros and the island of Mauritius. Finally, its geographical range extends to the large and diverse landmass of Madagascar.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Aldabra | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Kazan-retto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Ogasawara-shoto | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Hernandia nymphaeifolia, is a coastal tree whose medicinal potential is often associated with its structural components, specifically the trunk bark. The trunk bark serves as a protective outer layer for the tree, housing various secondary metabolites that may possess bioactive properties. In certain traditional applications, extracts derived from this bark are studied for their potential therapeutic uses, reflecting the importance of utilizing the entire botanical profile of the species in ethnobotanical research.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| trunk bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hernandia nymphaeifolia has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-epiaschantin, (+)-epieudesmin, (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin, (-)-maculatin, (--)-6-hydroxyyatein.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-epiaschantin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-epieudesmin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-maculatin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (--)-6-hydroxyyatein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bursehernin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| clusin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| deoxypicropodophyllin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| deoxypodophyllotoxin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| deoxypodorhizone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Hernandia nymphaeifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hernandia nymphaeifolia has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include salinity stress.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| salinity stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |