Melianthus comosus
Melianthus comosus
Safety & Hazards
The plant is widely held to be toxic amongst traditional herbalists in S. Africa, where the plant is used in external medicinal applications[ 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. ].
Botanical Description
Melianthus comosus is a multi-stemmed, evergreen, perennial plant producing semi-woody stems from a woody rootstock. It grows from 70 - 240cm tall. All parts of the plant produce a strong, unpleasant smell when bruised[ 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 commonly used traditional medicine in S. Africa, where it is sold in local markets[ 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. ]. Melianthus comosus has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].