Waltheria
Waltheria, commonly known as velvet bush, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it has been used extensively in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, skin irritations, and digestive issues, offering a natural remedy for various healing purposes.
- Scientific name: Waltheria
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Malvaceae, specifically falling under the genus Waltheria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Waltheria | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple regions of the Atlantic and Africa. Within the Macaronesian islands, its range includes the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Moving toward the mainland, it can be found throughout parts of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence is documented in nations such as Benin and Burkina Faso. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the Gambia, highlighting its wide ecological footprint.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | 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 |
Activities
Waltheria has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antinociceptive.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |