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Useful Tropical Plants

Tetradenia riparia

(Hochst.) Codd

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Basilicum myriostachyum (Benth.) Kuntze

Basilicum riparium (Hochst.) Kuntze

Gumira ferruginea (A.Rich.) Kuntze

Iboza riparia (Hochst.) N.E.Br.

Moschosma myriostachyum Benth.

Moschosma riparium Hochst.

Plectranthus riparius Hochst.

Premna ferruginea A.Rich.

Common Name: Ginger Bush

Tetradenia riparia
Cultivated plant at Palheiro Gardens, Madeira
Photograph by: Hedwig Storch
Creative Commons License
Tetradenia riparia Tetradenia riparia Tetradenia riparia

General Information

Ginger bush is a tall shrub with sticky, aromatic foliage, growing up to 3 metres tall with occasional specimens reaching 5 metre[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The plant is a popular traditional medicine throughout its range. It is also grown as an ornamental, being valued especially for its flowers[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Southern Africa - Angola to Mozambique, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Along river banks, forest margins, dry wooded valleys and hillsides in areas where there is little frost[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
HabitShrub
Height3.00 m
Growth RateMedium
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Usually prefers a sunny position, but in very hot areas grows better with some shade[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. It grows easily in light, well drained and well composted soil[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
A fairly fast-growing plant, able to increase height by 80cm a year and flowering in its first year from seed[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Plants respond well to trimming - they are best cut back hard after flowering in order to keep the plant neat and floriferous[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves and young stems of ginger bush are a commonly used traditional medicine throughout the plant's range[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
]. They are valued as an antiseptic, and are used as a treatment for coughs; respiratory problems; stomach ache; diarrhoea; dropsy; angina pectoris; fever; malaria and dengue fever; yaws; headache; and toothache[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].

An infusion of the leaves and roots is used as an emetic[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

Inhaling the scent of the crushed leaves apparently relieves headaches[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].

The plant contains a number of medicinally active compounds including diterpenes; an essential oil (1.9%) of which the main components are: α-terpineol (22.6%), fenchone (13.6%), β-fenchyl alcohol (10.7%), β-caryophyllene (7.9%) and perillyl alcohol (6.0%); and phytosterols[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
Moderate antimalarial activity of the leaf essential oil against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum has been reported[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
A diterpene has been shown to possess papaverine-like antispasmodic activity[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
Leaf extracts (80% ethanol), tested for antimicrobial and antiviral activity, inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Bacillus subtilis[
395
Title
Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
Publication
 
Author
Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
 
Description
A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings are easy to root - even large branches can be used[
295
Title
PlantZAfrica.com
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.plantzafrica.com
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tetradenia+riparia>

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