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Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

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SPECIAL COLLECTION:
Medicinal Plants - Traditional African Medicine

Under Construction Traditional African Medicine is a very broad umbrella under which many communities, societies, and cultural practices have evolved over the past five thousand years. Africa is a rich continent hosting thousands of native plants used for medical treatment. However, past traditional and even current traditional healing incorporates plants, herbs, animals, minerals, and even worshiping of "elders." While hundreds of plants have been documented as having medicinal properties, this is only a mere handful. Deforestation in Africa and around the world is making it more difficult to record these plants.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
Greenhouse Locator Map:

data regenerated on Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:13:31 -0400

55 Accessions:

Acanthus montanus Adenium obesum Aframomum melegueta Allamanda cathartica Anacardium occidentale Ananas comosus Annona muricata Boehmeria nivea Catharanthus roseus Citrus aurantiifolia Cola acuminata Combretum molle Curcuma longa Dioscorea bulbifera Euphorbia bupleurifolia Lantana camara Melia azedarach Moringa oleifera Nerium oleander Olea europaea Piper nigrum Plumbago indica Psidium guajava Ricinus communis Spathodea campanulata Tecoma stans Thalia geniculata Thaumatococcus daniellii Whitfieldia elongata Withania somnifera

Number in parentheses references locator map icons

  • {1} Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha - Solanaceae
  • {2} Combretum molle - Velvet Bush Willow - Combretaceae
  • {3} Acanthus montanus - Bear's Breech - Acanthaceae
  • {4} Asparagus africanus - Asparagaceae
  • {4} Cissus rotundifolia - Arabian Wax Cissus - Vitaceae
  • {5} Cola acuminata - Cola Nut - Malvaceae
  • {5} Thaumatococcus daniellii - African Serendipity Berry - Marantaceae
  • {6} Whitfieldia elongata - White Candles - Acanthaceae
  • {7} Ricinus communis - Castor Bean Plant - Euphorbiaceae
  • {8} Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree - Bignoniaceae
  • {9} Thalia geniculata - Bent Alligator Flag - Marantaceae
  • {10} Catharanthus roseus - Rose Periwinkle - Apocynaceae
  • {11} Acalypha wilkesiana `Macafeana' - Copperleaf - Euphorbiaceae
  • {12} Gossypium arboreum - Tree Cotton - Malvaceae
  • {12} Plumbago indica - Scarlet Leadwort - Plumbaginaceae
  • {13} Moringa oleifera - Horseradish Tree - Moringaceae
  • {14} Piper nigrum - Black Pepper - Piperaceae
  • {15} Tacca leontopetaloides - Polynesian Arrowroot, Pia - Taccaceae
  • {16} Colocasia esculenta - Taro - Araceae
  • {17} Citrus aurantiifolia - Key Lime - Rutaceae
  • {18} Plumeria rubra - Frangipani - Apocynaceae
  • {19} Melia azedarach - Chinaberry Tree - Meliaceae
  • {20} Allamanda cathartica - Golden Trumpet - Apocynaceae
  • {21} Xanthosoma sagittifolium - Yautia - Araceae
  • {22} Jatropha curcas - Barbados nut, physic nut - Euphorbiaceae
  • {23} Anacardium occidentale - Cashew Nut Tree - Anacardiaceae
  • {23} Annona muricata - Soursop - Annonaceae
  • {24} Ananas comosus - Pineapple - Bromeliaceae
  • {25} Psidium guajava - Guava - Myrtaceae
  • {25} Tecoma stans - Yellow Bells - Bignoniaceae
  • {26} Crescentia cujete - Calabash Tree - Bignoniaceae
  • {27} Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potato - Convolvulaceae
  • {28} Lantana camara - Lantana - Verbenaceae
  • {29} Nerium oleander - Oleander, Rose Laurel - Apocynaceae
  • {29} Ruta graveolens - Common Rue, Herb-of-Grace - Rutaceae
  • {30} Olea europaea - Olive - Oleaceae
  • {31} Gymnosporia senegalensis - Confetti Tree - Celastraceae
  • {32} Kalanchoe pinnata - Air Plant, Life Plant - Crassulaceae
  • {33} Euphorbia bupleurifolia - Euphorbiaceae
  • {33} Euphorbia bupleurifolia x susannae - Euphorbiaceae
  • {34} Adenium obesum - Desert Rose - Apocynaceae
  • {34} Adenium socotranum - Socotra Desert Rose - Apocynaceae
  • {34} Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe - Asphodelaceae
  • {34} Cissus quadrangularis - Veldt Grape - Vitaceae
  • {35} Salix babylonica f. crispa - Ram's Horn Willow - Salicaceae
  • {36} Cardiospermum halicacabum - Balloon Vine, Love-in-a-puff, Heart Seed - Sapindaceae
  • {37} Eucalyptus globulus - Tasmanian Blue Gum - Myrtaceae
  • {38} Dioscorea bulbifera - Air Potato - Dioscoreaceae
  • {39} Curcuma longa - Turmeric - Zingiberaceae
  • {40} Manihot esculenta - Yuca, Bitter Cassava, Manioc, Tapioca - Euphorbiaceae
  • {41} Boehmeria nivea - Chinese Silk Plant - Urticaceae
  • {42} Aframomum melegueta - Grains of Paradise - Zingiberaceae W/C
  • {0} Lagenaria siceraria - Bushel Gourd, Calabash - Cucurbitaceae
  • {0} Mirabilis jalapa - Four O'Clock, Marvel of Peru - Nyctaginaceae
  • {0} Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettle - Urticaceae
  • WISHLIST ITEM: Achyranthes aspera - Amaranthaceae

W/C = Wild Collected
= Currently Flowering
= Image(s) Available
= map available for this accession
= voucher(s) on file at CONN for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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