NAME: Calliandra portoricensis

FAMILY: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Corpse awakener, snowflake acacia

LOCAL NAMES: Tude, ule, Oga, Mbuceioro

MORPHOLOGY DESCRIPTION: Corpse awakener is a large shrub or small tree with small bipinnate leaves have a feathery appearance and fluffy white flowers

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, twigs, roots

GENERAL USES:

Medicinal uses

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

West Indies, Mexico and Panama

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Fevers
convulsions,
treatment of breast engorgement,
stomach disorders,
purgative
amenorrhoea,
headache
lumbago

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Susceptible to red spider mite and mealy bugs

FUN FACTS

FURTHER READING

Adaramoye, O., Erguen, B., Oyebode, O., Nitzsche, B., Höpfner, M., Jung, K., & Rabien, A. (2015). Antioxidant, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activities of root methanol extract of Calliandra portoricensis in human prostate cancer cells. Journal of Integrative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60175-3

Aguwa, C. N., & Lawal, A. M. (1988). Pharmacologic studies on the active principles of calliandra portoricensis leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90231-0

Akah, P. A., & Nwaiwu, J. I. (1988). Anticonvulsant activity of root and stem extracts of Calliandra portoricensis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90128-6

Amadi, P. U., Agomuo, E. N., Bob-Chile Agada, A. I., Njoku, U. C., Ifeanacho, M. O., Okereke, J. C., Iheka, C. U., & Osuoha, J. O. (2018). Toxicities of selected medicinal plants and floras of lower phyla. Alexandria Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2018.05.001

Hernandez, H. M. (1989). Systematics of Zapoteca (Leguminosae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. https://doi.org/10.2307/2399649