Huernia hystrix explained

Huernia hystrix, the porcupine huernia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to southeastern Africa.[1] [2] A succulent, it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

H. hystrix is extensively sold in Zulu markets throughout South Africa for its supposed medicinal and protective magical properties,[4] and in Eswatini as an alleged aphrodisiac.[5] Extracts from its stem and leaves may contain chemicals with anti-inflammatory properties,[6] It has been proposed as a treatment for people suffering from HIV/AIDS.[7]

It is highly drought-tolerant and grows well in pots, and so is a good species for ornamental xeriscaping.[8] Destructive whole-plant harvesting has led to concerns about its survival.[9] Researchers at University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden have discovered multiple shoots can be propagated from a single explant by treatment with Murashige and Skoog medium + 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid + 6-Benzylaminopurine with 95% survival rates.

Subtaxa

The following subspecies are accepted:[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Huernia hystrix (Hook.f.) N.E.Br. . . Plants of the World Online . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . 10 April 2021.
  2. News: Huernia hystrix (Porcupine Huernia) . . 2020 . World of Succulents . 10 April 2021 . Common Names ... Toad Plant.
  3. Web site: Huernia hystrix . The Royal Horticultural Society . 10 April 2021.
  4. Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham AB (1996) Zulu medicinal plants. An inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  5. Long, C. "Swaziland’s flora: siSwati names and uses." Swaziland National Trust Commission: Mbambane, Swaziland (2005).
  6. Amoo . S. O. . Finnie . J. F. . Van Staden . J. . 2009-03-01 . In vitro propagation of Huernia hystrix: an endangered medicinal and ornamental succulent . Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture . en . 96 . 3 . 273–278 . 10.1007/s11240-008-9484-8 . 30950587 . 1573-5044.
  7. 2004052868. Composition treating for AIDS and associated conditions. US. application. 2004-03-18. Asiedu. William. Frederick. Asiedu. Manny. Ennin. Michael Doudu; Charles Boateng; Kwasi Appiah-Kubi; Seth Ware; Debrah Boateng; Kofi Ampim; William Owusu; Akwete Adjei., since abandoned.
  8. Al-Turki TA (2002) An initiative in exploration and management of plant genetic diversity in Saudi Arabia. In: Engels JMM, Ramanatha Rao V, Brown AHD, Jackson MT (eds) Managing plant genetic diversity. IPGRI, Rome, Italy, pp 339–349
  9. Ndawonde . BG . Zobolo . AM . Dlamini . ET . Siebert . SJ . 2007-07-01 . A survey of plants sold by traders at Zululand muthi markets, with a view to selecting popular plant species for propagation in communal gardens . African Journal of Range & Forage Science . 24 . 2 . 103–107 . 10.2989/AJRFS.2007.24.2.7.161 . 83672511 . 1022-0119.

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