Hypoestes forskaolii

Hypoestes forskaolii is an annual or perennial herb that grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall with its stem and leaves being nearly glabrous.[1] It has pale pink or white flowers.

Hypoestes forskaolii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Hypoestes
Species:
H. forskaolii
Binomial name
Hypoestes forskaolii
(Vahl) Soland ex Roem & Schult

Habitat

Hypoestes forskaolii is widely distributed throughout Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Tropical Africa.[1] It grows under bushes and trees. Hypoestes forskaoleii appears during rains or can be seen the year round near water.[2]

Effects

Hypoestes forskaolii is extremely toxic to all livestock. It can be easily eaten in error by animals as they browse underneath trees or around water. When eaten it produces symptoms of violent shivering, head-shaking and fever. It can be fatal in smaller or less healthy livestock.[2]

Uses

Hypoestes forskaolii has recently been found of interest for containing new sources of antibiotic compounds.[3][4][5]

History

Forsskaolii commemorates the Swedish botanist Pietr Forsskal. He was the botanist on the ill-fated Danish expedition to Arabia Felix (present day North Yemen) of 1761-1763. The aims of the expedition were wide-ranging and from a botanical point of view the trip was a great success and many Arabian plants were described for the first time.[2]

References
  1. "Hypoestes forskalei". Global Plants. JSTOR. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. G. Miller, Anthony; Morris, Miranda (1988). Plants of Dhofar. Oman. p. 12. ISBN 071570808-2.
  3. Mothana, R. A.; Kriegisch, S.; Harms, M.; Wende, K.; Lindequist, U. (2011). "Assessment of selected Yemeni medicinal plants for their in vitro antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities". Pharmaceutical Biology. 49 (2): 200–10. doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.512295. PMID 20942618.
  4. Al Musayeib, Nawal M.; Mothana, Ramzi A.; Mohamed, Gamal A.; Ibrahim, Sabrin R.M.; Maes, Louis (2014). "Hypoestenonols A and B, new fusicoccane diterpenes from Hypoestes forskalei". Phytochemistry Letters. 10: 23–27. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2014.06.020.
  5. Muhammad, Ilias; Mossa, Jaber S.; Ramadan, Ahmed F.; El-Feraly, Farouk S.; Hufford, Charles D. (1998). "Additional diterpene ketones from Hypoestes forskalei". Phytochemistry. 47 (7): 1331–1336. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00709-7.
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