Flowers
Africa’s flora boasts not only a wide variety of trees and shrubs but also a rich diversity of flower species.
Medical significance of some flower species
Some of these flower species are used in African medicine as remedies and medicinal plants, such as the Malva sylvestris or the Stachytarpheta jamaicensis.
The wild-growing Stachytarpheta jamaicensis is of great importance in tropical medicine. The active ingredient "salicylic acid" derived from it is used in various areas of medicine.
The Malva sylvestris is another flower species considered a very significant medicinal plant. This plant is frequently used in medicine, especially in East Africa. The Malva sylvestris is also used in malaria research.
The Pentanisia prunelloides is also used in African medicine as a remedy for various diseases.
Also popular as ornamental plants in Europe
Many of the plants native to Africa can now also be found in our gardens and living rooms. Some of them in a slightly smaller form. These plants are also increasingly used as ornamental plants for parks and gardens in Africa.
The glory lily, better known as the fire lily, is one of these ornamental plants. It captivates with its size and unique floral splendor, which changes during the flowering period from green to yellow to a bright red. However, this beauty is highly toxic, especially for pets.
Another very popular plant is the parrot's beak. It is also used for garden decoration. The flower can grow up to one and a half meters tall and has bright orange-red flowers that appear tiny in comparison to its height.
The shell flower is also a beautiful sight. It is an aquatic plant with velvety, smooth leaves on the underside that resemble shells. They are used, not only in Africa, for decorating ponds and aquariums.
Other interesting flower species
The Madagascar periwinkle, a plant popular especially in Europe, is most commonly found in Kenya, Tanzania and on the East African mainland. It is very pretty with its white to pink flowers with red centers, but unfortunately highly toxic. It is used as a medicinal plant due to its high active ingredient content. The Madagascar periwinkle is also used in cancer therapy.
A very interesting-looking plant can be found in the tropical regions from West to East Africa. The so-called hook lily. The flower, which forms on a very long stem with long, narrow leaves, consists of many individual, umbel-like flowers. The hook lily can grow up to one meter tall.
The silk plant is another radiant beauty in Africa's flora. Up to six flowers adorn a silk plant. The flowers glow in radiant red-orange and form the shape of a star. In the center is another small star that glows in intense yellow. The leaves of the silk plant are long and lance-shaped with short stems.
