Hoya

Waxflower

Hoya, commonly known as wax plants, are captivating tropical climbers celebrated for their thick, waxy, star-shaped blossoms. Beyond their stunning ornamental appeal, various species offer traditional medicinal uses, ranging from treating skin ailments to soothing digestive issues. These resilient plants blend aesthetic beauty with fascinating ethnobotanical properties.

  • Scientific name: Hoya
  • Family: Apocynaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

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. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Hoya.

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

Common Names

This plant, known by various names depending on the region and language, is referred to as 球兰属 in zh-hans, 蜂出巢屬 in zh-hant, 蜂出巢屬 in zh-hk, and 蜂出巢属 in zh-sg, while it is commonly called Hoja in pl.
Language Common Name Source
zh-hans 球兰属 Wikidata
zh-hant 蜂出巢屬 Wikidata
zh-hk 蜂出巢屬 Wikidata
zh-sg 蜂出巢属 Wikidata
pl Hoja Wikidata
sk hoja Wikidata
ru Хойя Wikidata
tr Mum çiçeği Wikidata
hu viaszvirág Wikidata
et Vahalill Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution throughout various regions of East Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central provinces to the island of Hainan. Its presence also extends into the Southeast regions of the country and up into the high altitudes of Tibet. Beyond the Chinese mainland, the species is widely distributed across Eastern Asia. Specifically, its range includes the islands of Japan, completing its regional footprint.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China Hainan WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
China Tibet WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP
Eastern Asia Nansei-shoto WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP

Activities

Hoya has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Parasympatholytic.

Total activities
5
Scientific sources
5

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antibacterial 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antinociceptive 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Parasympatholytic 1 ★☆☆☆☆