UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Biodiversity Education & Research Greenhouses

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

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 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 02:13:27 -0400

1 Accessions:

Number in parentheses references locator map icons

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