Psoralea

Psoralea
P. pinnata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Clade: Non-protein amino acid-accumulating clade
Clade: Millettioids
Tribe: Psoraleeae
Genus: Psoralea
L. (1753)
Species

127; see text

Synonyms
  • Bipontinia Alef. (1866)
  • Hallia Thunb. (1799)
  • Lotodes Kuntze (1891), nom. superfl.
  • Otholobium C.H.Stirt. (1981)
  • Ruteria Medik. (1787)

Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 121 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).

Etymology

The name ‘Psoralea’ is derived from the Greek term ‘Psoraleos’, which means “affected with itch or with leprosy”. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, and is used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment, for several diseases including such as psoriasis.

Species

127 species are accepted:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Psoralea L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Psoralea pinnata | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  3. ↑ Koul, Bhupendra; Taak, Pooja; Kumar, Arvind; Kumar, Anil; Sanyal, Indraneel (Dec 3, 2018). "Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 232 (232): 201–226. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.11.036. PMC 7127090. PMID 30521980.
  4. ↑ Two New Blue-Flowered Plant Species Discovered in South Africa
  5. ↑ "Psoralea fasicularis DC". Plants of the World Online. 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.

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