fan flower
Scaevola · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (3 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Fan flower, scientifically known as Scaevola, is a resilient coastal shrub prized for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant holds significant traditional medicinal value. It is frequently utilized in various cultures for its potential therapeutic properties, particularly in treating skin ailments and promoting wound healing.
Names
Common Names
- Fan Flower
- fan-flowers
- fanflowers
- half-flowers
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Flores de abanico
German:
- Fächerblumen
- Nigromnia
- Fächerblumen
Scientific Names
Accepted name
ScaevolaSynonyms
- Camphusia
- Diaspasis
- Xerocarpa
- Nigromnia
- Merkusia
- Temminckia
- Baudinia
- Molkenboeria
- Crossostoma
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Asterales and the family Goodeniaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal species is identified under the genus Scaevola.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Goodeniaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Scaevola | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Additionally, the species is documented in the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Its presence extends further to include the territory of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, this medicinal plant is also widely distributed throughout Guinea and the Ivory Coast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Scaevola, utilizes its leaves as a primary component in various traditional medicinal applications. The leaves are typically characterized by their distinct shape and texture, serving as the part of the plant from which various bioactive compounds are extracted to treat different ailments. In herbal preparations, these leaves are often processed to harness their therapeutic properties, making them a vital element in the plant's medicinal profile.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Voenno-meditsinskii zhurnal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Scaevola has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lobeline.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| lobeline | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |