Strobilanthes alternata
Metal-leaf
Strobilanthes alternata, commonly known as Malabar Melastome, is a versatile medicinal shrub cherished in traditional Ayurvedic practices. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it serves as a natural remedy for various ailments, including inflammation, skin disorders, and respiratory issues, offering significant therapeutic potential in modern herbal pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Strobilanthes alternata
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Lamiales, it is a member of the family Acanthaceae. Finally, it is taxonomically identified under the genus Strobilanthes.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Acanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Strobilanthes | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known by various names across different languages and regions, is referred to as 假紫苏 and 灰姑娘 in Chinese (zh). In English (en), it is commonly called metal-leaf or red-flame.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 假紫苏 | Wikidata |
| zh | 灰姑娘 | Wikidata |
| en | metal-leaf | Wikidata |
| en | red-flame | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Benin. Its presence extends to Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically in the country of Chad. Moving toward the ocean, the species is also located in the Chagos Archipelago within the Western Indian Ocean. Finally, it inhabits the Indo-China region, with recorded occurrences in both Myanmar and Thailand.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
| Malesia | Malaya | WCVP |
| Malesia | Maluku | WCVP |
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Strobilanthes alternata, is primarily recognized for the therapeutic properties found within its leaves. These foliage components are characterized by their distinct shape and arrangement, serving as the principal part used in traditional medicinal preparations. When processed, the leaves are often utilized to extract bioactive compounds that contribute to the plant's overall healing potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |