Himatanthus bracteatus

Plumeria bracteata

Himatanthus bracteatus, commonly known as the "Manihot" or "Apocynaceae" species, is a significant medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, it contains bioactive alkaloids used traditionally to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and various infections, offering vast potential for modern pharmacological research and development.

  • Scientific name: Himatanthus bracteatus
  • Family: Apocynaceae
  • Native range: Southern America

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Himatanthus, specifically as the species Himatanthus bracteatus.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Gentianales WCVP
Family Apocynaceae WCVP
Genus Himatanthus WCVP

Common Names

This plant is known by several different names depending on the language and region. In English, it is commonly referred to as Plumeria bracteata, while in Dutch, it shares the same name, Plumeria bracteata. In Portuguese, it is known as Janaúba, and in Arabic, it is written as بلوميريا براكتياتا.
Language Common Name Source
en Plumeria bracteata Wikidata
pt Janaúba Wikidata
nl Plumeria bracteata Wikidata
arz بلوميريا براكتياتا Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the tropical regions of South America. In Northern South America, its presence is documented in French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. It also extends its range into the country of Venezuela within the same northern sector. Furthermore, the distribution reaches into Western South America, specifically within Ecuador. Consequently, these specific regions define the known geographical footprint of Himatanthus bracteatus.

Region Area Source
Northern South America French Guiana WCVP
Northern South America Guyana WCVP
Northern South America Suriname WCVP
Northern South America Venezuela WCVP
Western South America Ecuador WCVP
Western South America Peru WCVP
Brazil Brazil West-Central WCVP
Brazil Brazil Northeast WCVP
Brazil Brazil Southeast WCVP
Brazil Brazil North WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as Devil's's Trumpet or Sandpaper Tree, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, specifically focusing on the protective outer layers of its structure. The stem barks are frequently harvested for their bioactive compounds, which are often processed to create traditional remedies. Furthermore, the bark itself contains a milky latex that is characteristic of the species and is studied for its various pharmacological potential in treating different ailments.
Total parts
2
Scientific sources
2
Plant Part Sources Confidence
stem barks 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Himatanthus bracteatus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.

Total uses
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆