Wissadula rostrata
(Schumach.) Hook. f.
Malvaceae
There is considerable confusion over the correct identity of the species Wissadula rostrata (Schumach.) Hook. f., and it has at times been treated as a subspecies of both Wissadula hernandioides (L'Hér.) Garcke and Wissadula amplissima (L.) R. E. Fr. We are following the treatment of P. A. Fryxell in ‘The position of the African Wissadula rostrata in the predominantly Neotropical genus Wissadula’, Bonplandia 19(1): 5-10. 2010, which accepts it as a distinct species and also as the only African species in the genus.
Abutilon polyandrum G.Don
Sida rostrata Schum. & Thonn.
Wissadula amplissima rostrata (Schumach. & Thonn.) R.E.Fr.
Wissadula hernandioides rostrata (Schumach. & Thonn.) R.E.Fr.
Common Name:
General Information
Wissadula rostrata is a perennial plant that can be herbaceous or form a woody base. It is an erect plant, branched from the base and growing about 75 - 125cm tall[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a local source of medicines, fibre etc. It is cultivated as a fibre plant in the Sudan[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
,
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
Widely distributed through most of tropical Africa
Habitat
Usually in light shade on rocky and loamy soils and in riverine vegetation in tropical Africa[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant (part not specified) is used as a laxative and to treat stomach problems, liver conditions and parasitic skin infections[
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/
].
Ethnopharmacological studies report the use of this species (probably the leaves) in folk medicine to treat vomiting, severe diarrhoea, mucosa, skin and bronchus inflammation; inflammatory diseases, fever and allergies[
1833- Title
- Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Hydro-acetonic Extract from Wissadula amplissima var rost
- Publication
- Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 10, Issue 8, 113-117
- Author
- Kiendrebeogo et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.13416
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 0975-1491
- Description
-
].
The leaves and the whole plant are analgesic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and poultice[
1832- Title
- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant activities of the leaves of Wissadula amplissima var rostrata
- Publication
- Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2011) 8(2):185-195
- Author
- Mensah A.Y.; Donkor P.O. & Fleischer T.C.
- Website
- http://10.4314/ajtcam.v8i2.63207
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
,
1833- Title
- Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Hydro-acetonic Extract from Wissadula amplissima var rost
- Publication
- Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 10, Issue 8, 113-117
- Author
- Kiendrebeogo et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.13416
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 0975-1491
- Description
-
].
The leaves are applied topically as a poultice in the treatment of spider bites as well as sting by venomous animals[
1832- Title
- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant activities of the leaves of Wissadula amplissima var rostrata
- Publication
- Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2011) 8(2):185-195
- Author
- Mensah A.Y.; Donkor P.O. & Fleischer T.C.
- Website
- http://10.4314/ajtcam.v8i2.63207
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The roots of the plant are used to treat anaemia, haemorrhages and as a fortifying agent[
1833- Title
- Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Hydro-acetonic Extract from Wissadula amplissima var rost
- Publication
- Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 10, Issue 8, 113-117
- Author
- Kiendrebeogo et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.13416
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 0975-1491
- Description
-
].
Both the leaves and the whole plant have been shown to have effective antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity[
1832- Title
- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant activities of the leaves of Wissadula amplissima var rostrata
- Publication
- Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2011) 8(2):185-195
- Author
- Mensah A.Y.; Donkor P.O. & Fleischer T.C.
- Website
- http://10.4314/ajtcam.v8i2.63207
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
,
1833- Title
- Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Hydro-acetonic Extract from Wissadula amplissima var rost
- Publication
- Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 10, Issue 8, 113-117
- Author
- Kiendrebeogo et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.13416
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 0975-1491
- Description
-
]
Other Uses
The stems are a source of fibre[
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.
,
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/
]. Used for making sails[
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.
].
The twigs are used as chewsticks for cleaning and maintaining healthy teeth[
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/
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
