Genus Physostigma (Noun)
Meaning
African woody vines: calabar beans.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- Physostigma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, native to tropical Africa, commonly known as calabar beans due to their association with the Calabar region of Nigeria.
- The genus Physostigma consists of about 15 species of African woody vines, including the well-known calabar bean.
- Physostigma venenosum, a species within the genus Physostigma, is a perennial vine native to tropical Africa and is also known as the calabar bean.
- The genus Physostigma has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in West Africa where the calabar bean is native.
- Physostigma species, including the calabar bean, have been used as a source of the alkaloid physostigmine, which has been used to treat a variety of conditions.