Baccharoides lasiopus
Baccharoides lasiopus is a thinly branched herb or semi shrub within the family Asteraceae.
| Baccharoides lasiopus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Baccharoides |
| Species: | B. lasiopus |
| Binomial name | |
| Baccharoides lasiopus (O.Hoffm.) H.Rob. | |
Description
A woody shrub that grows up to 3 m with stems up to 3 cm in diameter; its bark is smooth and greyish brown.[1] Leaves are ovate or elliptical in outline and can reach 25 cm in length and 9.5 cm in width but commonly shorter.[2] Inflorescence is terminal, corymbosely arranged and crowded; flowers are pale mauve, purple or white.[3]
Distribution
The species occurs in Tropical East Africa, from the Ethiopia and Sudan southwards to Northern Zimbabwe.[3] It is commonly found in bushland, riverine woodland or forest and grasslands. The plant is called muhasha in Swahili, known as Ol-euguru among the Maasai and Nkaputi among the Samburu.[1]
Uses
Powdered leaves of the species are used in a decoction to treat indigestion and stomach ache while extracts of the plant are used by the Kikuyu to treat malaria.[1] Farmers in Kenya also use the plant to ward off weevils from harvested maize.[1]
References
- Gitahi, Stephen (November 2021). Phytochemical Profiles and Bioefficacy of Selected Organic Leaf Extracts of Tithonia Diversifolia and Vernonia Lasiopus against Sitophilus Zeamais (PhD thesis). Kenyatta University.
- "Kenya Trees, Shrubs and Lianas (National Museum of Kenya, 1994, 762 p.): SPERMATOPHYTA DICOTYLEDONES: Compositae - Sunflower family". www.nzdl.org. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- Smith, C.E. 1971. Observations on stengelioid species of Vernonia. Agriculture Handbook no. 396. U.S.D.A., Agricultural Research Service.