Thalia geniculata
Thalia geniusta, commonly known as the Water Hyacinth or Water Thalia, is a versatile aquatic perennial. Renowned for its striking appearance and rapid growth, this plant holds significant medicinal potential. It is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues through its bioactive properties.
- Scientific name: Thalia geniculata
- Family: Marantaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Thalia geniculata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Zingiberales. Finally, it is a member of the family Marantaceae within the genus Thalia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Marantaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Thalia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Thalia geniculata, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Tamil, it is referred to as தாலியா ஜெனிகுலேட்டா, while in Indonesian, it is commonly called Kana air. Its names in Chinese characters include 垂花水竹芋, which is used in both simplified (zh) and traditional (zh-tw) scripts, and in Japanese, it is known as タリア・ゲニクラータ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ta | தாலியா ஜெனிகுலேட்டா | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 垂花水竹芋 | Wikidata |
| ja | タリア・ゲニクラータ | Wikidata |
| id | Kana air | Wikidata |
| zh | 垂花水竹芋 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 垂花水竹芋 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 垂花水竹芋 | Wikidata |
| fr | Thalie géniculée | Wikidata |
| zh | 垂花再力花 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its presence is officially documented in the nation of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. Additionally, it can be found throughout the territories of Burkina and Ghana. The species also extends its range into Guinea-Bissau, contributing to its regional prevalence. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the country of Guinea, marking a significant portion of its western habitat.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | 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 | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Thalia geniculata, is a perennial aquatic herb that utilizes its specialized underground structures for survival and propagation. The most significant medicinal and anatomical component of the species is its thick, fleshy rhizomes. These rhizomes serve as a vital storage organ, housing nutrients that allow the plant to persist through varying environmental conditions and facilitate vegetative spreading within its wetland habitat.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rhizomes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Thalia geniculata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include iron.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |