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hippocratea
Scientific Name: Hippocratea
Family: Hippocrateaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Hippocratea
Hippocratea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Celastraceae family.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Hippocratea L.
- Family: Celastraceae
- Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
- Synonyms:
- Apodostigma R. Wilczek
- Elachyptera A.C. Sm.
- Loeseneriella A.C. Sm.
- Prionostemma Miers.
The genus Hippocratea was established by Carl Linnaeus.
Distribution and Habitat
- The genus Hippocratea, comprising approximately 115 species, is primarily found in tropical regions of America, Africa, and Asia.
- Hippocratea myriantha is distributed from Guinea to Ghana and from Nigeria to the Central African Republic, DR Congo and Angola.
Morphological Characteristics
- These plants can be tropical trees or twining shrubs.
- Some species, like Hippocratea volubilis, are scrambling woody lianas.
- Woody vine stems often form coils and knot-like bends around supports.
- Leaves are elliptic or ovate.
Traditional and Medicinal Uses
- The root of Hippocratea welwitschii has been traditionally used by natives in Akwa Ibom.
- Hippocratea excelsa root bark has demonstrated gastroprotective activity.
- Hippocratea africana root extracts have shown analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, antidiabetic, and hypolipidaemic activities in studies.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Hippocratea excelsa and Hippocratea celastroides have shown interactions with Sitophilus zeamais.
Further Resources
- Tropicos
- GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network)
- International Plant Names Index
- Catalogue of Life
- Discover Life
- Plantillustrations.org
- PlantNET Flora Online