Adenia globosa
| Adenia globosa | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Passifloraceae |
| Genus: | Adenia |
| Species: | A. globosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Adenia globosa | |
| Subspecies[2] | |
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Adenia globosa is a species of flowering plant in the passionflower family, Passifloraceae. It is native to tropical Africa, where it occurs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.[3] It is known as mpaga in Swahili.[4]
Description[edit]
This is a shrub or climbing plant with a warty trunk up to 8 meters tall when growing erect. It may take a shorter, wider form, becoming globular in shape and over 2 meters wide. It is usually succulent and it has thorns up to 8 centimeters long. The alternately arranged leaves are entire and triangular in shape or divided into 3 lobes. The blade is no more than 7 millimeters long. There is one gland near the base. The greenish flowers are solitary or borne in cymes of up to 5 in the leaf axils. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The male flower is up to 2 centimeters long with 5 stamens, and the female flower is about one centimeter long with three styles. The fruit is a green, leathery, rounded or oval capsule up to 3 centimeters long.[4]
Ecology[edit]
The plant grows in African scrub savanna habitat.[4]
Uses[edit]
The plant is used in traditional African medicine for abdominal pain and itching. The Maasai people use it as medicine for their cattle. In lower Taita region of Taita hills of Coastal Kenya, the pilled bulbous part of the plant is used to purify and clean dirty water. The plant is cultivated and traded as an ornamental.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ IUCN SSC East African Plants Red List Authority (2013). "Adenia globosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T179491A1580420. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T179491A1580420.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Adenia globosa Engl". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Adenia globosa". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d de Ruijter, A. 2007. Adenia globosa Engl. Archived May 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine In: Schmelzer, G. H. and A. Gurib-Fakim (Eds.) Prota 11(1): Medicinal Plants/Plantes médicinales 1. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.