Aspilia africana

Aspilia africana, also known as the haemorrhage plant or wild sunflower,[2] is one of about 50 species of the genus Aspilia.

Haemorrhage plant
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aspilia
Species:
A. africana
Binomial name
Aspilia africana
(Pers.) C.D.Adams[1]

Description

Aspilia africana is a semi-woody herb from a perennial woody root-stock to 25-130cm high. Leaves are 4-12cm long and lanceolate. The fruit are 3-3.5mm long achenes.[1]

It is very polymorphic with at least four varieties recognized.

Distribution and habitat

It is widely distributed across tropical Africa, occurring on grasslands, woodlands, forest margins, and abandoned cultivated zones.[1]

Traditional medicine

A. africana has been classified as a low toxicity plant and has been used in traditional African medicine to treat wounds.[2] Its leaves are taken as an infusion by women after childbirth.[2] There is no scientific evidence that it has any medicinal properties.

References
  1. "Aspilia africana (Pers.) C.D.Adams", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2019-05-02
  2. Komakech; Matsabisa; Kang (21 Jan 2019). "The Wound Healing Potential of Aspilia africana (Pers.) C. D. Adams (Asteraceae)". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019: 1–12. doi:10.1155/2019/7957860. PMID 30800171. Retrieved 13 Mar 2020.
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