Mostuea hirsuta
(T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.) Baill. ex Baker
Gelsemiaceae
Coinochlamys angolana S.Moore
Coinochlamys congolana Gilg
Coinochlamys gabonica (Baill.) Soler. ex Durand & Jackson
Coinochlamys hirsuta T.Anderson ex Benth. & Hook.f.
Coinochlamys poggeana Gilg
Coinochlamys schweinfurthii Gilg
Mostuea angolana (S.Moore) Hiern
Mostuea congolana (Gilg) Baker
Mostuea gabonica Baill.
Mostuea periquetii Pellegr.
Mostuea poggeana (Gilg) Baker
Mostuea schweinfurthii (Gilg) Baker
Common Name:
General Information
Mostuea hirsuta is an erect, much branched, very slender shrub or undershrub, sometimes slightly scandent; it grows from 30 - 200cm tall[
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.
,
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
544- Title
- Cataloge of African Plants Collected by Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch in 1853 - 1861
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Longmans & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In 6 volumes, it gives botanical descriptions and some uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and material for making brooms.
Known Hazards
The roots are used as an ingredient of arrow poison[
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.
].
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
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, south to Angola and DR Congo.
Habitat
Open localities in rainforest or secondary forest, gallery forest or savannah, sometimes in moist localities, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,000 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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant is resistant to bush fires[
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.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
Mostuea hirsuta is taken as an analgesic[
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 ground young leaves are used as a dressing to treat initial stages of leprosy[
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 leaf pulp is massaged on painful areas caused by pulmonary infections, abdominal pains and umbilical hernia in infants[
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 leaf sap is applied to treat pain caused by caries[
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.
].
A root infusion is taken to treat colds[
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.
]. A root infusion is taken to treat rheumatism[
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 grated roots are used to dispel sleep or as an aphrodisiac with similar action to that of Tabernanthe iboga. It is consumed alone or mixed with Tabernanthe iboga; extended use may lead to cerebral troubles[
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 leaf or root sap is taken to treat pain[
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.
].
Mostuea hirsuta contains indole alkaloids, probably sempervirin and gelsemine or closely related compounds[
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.
].
Extracts of the plant have analgesic properties, lower heart action and stimulate respiration in low dosage; high dosage can cause death by paralysis of respiration[
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
The branches are used as brooms[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
