Common Name:

General Information

Alepidea amatymbica is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant producing a basal rosette of leaves and a flowering stem up to 2 metres tall from a fleshy rhizome[].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. The roots are sold for medicinal use in many parts of S. Africa.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Grassland[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The underground rhizomes are able to withstand the heat of bush fires and send out new growth once the fire has passed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The rhizome and roots are commonly used in traditional medicine. Screening tests have indicated that they have antimicrobial, diuretic and hypotensive properties. They are used to treat colds, coughs, asthma, influenza and chest complaints in general; rheumatism and abdominal cramps[, ]. The plant is usually combined with Cannabis sative when used to treat asthma[].
The smoke from burning roots is used as a mild sedative[].
The roots are used externally to treat wounds[].

The roots and rhizomes contain high concentrations of several diterpenoids of the kaurene type (up to 27% dry weight). The plants medicinal activity is probably due to these triterpenoids[].

Other Uses

When smoked in combination with marijuana (Cannabis sativa), it is said to take away the smell of the marijuana[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow the fresh seed in trays filled with a very well-drained seedling mix. Once sown, the seed should be lightly covered and kept watered until germination takes place. The seedlings are very prone to damping off and so watering should be carefully monitored. Once potted into individual pots, the plants need to be grown until the underground stem develops, after which they can be planted out[].

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