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Useful Tropical Plants

Kniphofia foliosa

Hochst.

Asphodelaceae

+ Synonyms

Kniphofia arussi Rendle

Kniphofia densiflora Engl.

Kniphofia quartiniana A.Rich.

Tritoma quartiniana (A.Rich.) W.Mast.

Common Name:

Kniphofia foliosa
Plants growing in native habitat
Photograph by: Rafael Medina
Creative Commons License
Kniphofia foliosa Kniphofia foliosa Kniphofia foliosa

General Information

Kniphofia foliosa is a robust, perennial plant forming dense clumps of growth up to 175cm tall from a thick, erect rhizome. The plant is usually stemless, though stems up to 40cm long are occasionally formed; it produces a basal rosette of sword-shaped leaves up to 100cm long and 4 - 7cm wide[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and possibly also as a food. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental in Europe[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

515
Title
Flora of Tropical Africa Vol 1 - 8
Publication
 
Author
Var
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L.Reeve & Co.; Ashford, Kent.
Year
1868 - 1917
ISBN
 
Description
Very little information on habitat, range and uses, but gives good descriptions of the plants. It can be downloaded from the internet.

Range

Northeast Africa - Eritrea, Ethiopia.

Habitat

Along roadsides, in overgrazed grassland with scattered trees, on hillsides with rocky outcrops and on mountains, at elevations from 2,500 - 4,000 metres299].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.50 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of higher elevations in Ethiopia, where it can be found at elevations from 2,500 - 4,000 metres[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It can be cultivated in the subtropics and in milder areas of temperate zones.
Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a light, sandy soil. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season, but the soil must be well-drained and preferably not too wet in the dormant season[
573
Title
Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening.
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson G. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
L. Upcott Gill; London.
Year
Not given
ISBN
 
Description
One of the major gardening dictionaries of the 19th century, it contains information on plants not found in modern works. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

The rhizome is said to be edible[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Medicinal

The rhizomes are used for the treatment of abdominal cramps[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The plant is also used to eradicate endoparasites in cattle[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Knipholone was isolated from the roots. It was the first phenylanthraquinone to be isolated and has since also been found in plants in the genera Bulbinella, Bulbine and Senna. Phenylanthraquinones have antiplasmodial activity with little cytotoxicity. The antiplasmodial activity is slightly less than that of chloroquine, and chloroquine resistant Plasmodium strains are resistant to the Kniphofia compounds as well[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The roots also contain the anthraquinone chrysophanol as well as putrescine-derived amides[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Kniphofia+foliosa>

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