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Botanical description
Baccharoides adoensis is a shrub that grows up to 2.3 m high. It is thinly downy
throughout. The leaves are about 120 x 30 mm, roughly hairy, grey, hairy beneath.
The margins of the leaves are irregularly toothed, tapering to narrowly wing at the
base. The flower heads are purple, mauve, and fading white; while the bracts are
broad, loose and about 20 mm (Nergard et al., 2004).
Distribution
This plant is found in the open grassland of KwaZulu-Natal to Ethopia up to 800 m
(Nergard et al., 2004).
Conservation status
No information on its conservation status was found.
Medicinal uses
A powder made from the roots of the plant is the first-line treatment for gastro-
intestinal ailments, ulcers, gastritis and abdominal pain. The plant was also reported
to be used for the treatment of malaria, asthma, headache, men’s sexual deficiency,
reflux and nausea in pregnancy, schistosomiasis, dysmenorrhea; and, furthermore,
as an antihypertensivum, a wound-healing remedy and an aid to ameliorate
digestion (Nergard et al. 2004).
Data from ethnobotanical survey
The leaves of this plant are mixed with other unknown plant parts, ground and then
applied to the wound as much as is needed (Dindi 2007, pers. comm.).
Chemical content
Baccharoides adoensis contains arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, xylose, mannose,
glucose, fucose, glucoronic acid and galacturonic (Nergard et al. 2004).
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