Libidibia coriaria
Libidibia coriaria, commonly known as the African locust bean, is a vital medicinal and nutritional plant native to sub-Saharan Africa. Rich in proteins and bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used to treat various ailments, including digestive issues and inflammation, playing a significant role in both local diets and herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Libidibia coriaria
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Libidiibia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Libidibia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Libidiibia coriaria, is known by various common names across different languages and regions. In Kannada, it is referred to as ಡಿವಿಡಿವಿ ಮರ, while in Arabic, it is called دفدف. The plant is also identified in Chinese as 豹苏木 (zh), 豹苏木 (zh-cn), and 豹蘇木 (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| kn | ಡಿವಿಡಿವಿ ಮರ | Wikidata |
| zh | 豹苏木 | Wikidata |
| ar | دفدف | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 豹苏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 豹蘇木 | Wikidata |
| fr | Dividivi | Wikidata |
| fr | Caesalpinia coriacea | Wikidata |
| fr | Caesalpinia coriaria | Wikidata |
| fr | Caesalpinia thomaea | Wikidata |
| fr | Poinciana coriaria | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Ghana. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within East Tropical Africa, the species is documented in both Tanzania and Uganda. Finally, the plant's range reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is distributed in Mozambique.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Libidibia coriaria (commonly known as velvet bean), utilizes various components for its medicinal and industrial purposes. The pods are particularly notable for their hard, woody structure and are often used in traditional practices or as a source of tannins. Additionally, the foliage plays a vital role in the plant's biological processes and can also be incorporated into certain herbal applications due to its specific chemical properties.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pods | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| foliage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Libidibia coriaria has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |