Zygotritonia bongensis explained

Zygotritonia bongensis is a perennial herb of the Iridaceae family. It is locally known as baka among the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria and it used by their traditional healers to treat diarrhea and dysentery.^[1] It is also considered a famine food as corms can be eaten during famine.^[2] Other names of the herb include Zygotritonia crocea (stapf).

Morphology

Zygotritonia bongensis ranges from 18 - 65 cm tall. A perennial herb, it has underground stems like corms, 15-25 mm in diameter. One to three leaves, lanceolate, plicate with three to six major veins, the largest, usually the lowermost is between 15 - 40 mm wide, the uppermost is longest, ranges 5 - 12 cm long.^[3]

Distribution

Native to West Tropical Africa, found in Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Central African Republic, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Notes and References

1. Abo. K. A.. Ogunleye. V. O.. Ashidi. J. S.. 1999. Antimicrobial potential of Spondias mombin, Croton zambesicus and Zygotritonia crocea. Phytotherapy Research. 13. 6. 494–497. 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199909)13:6<494::aid-ptr490>3.0.co;2-9. 10479760. 31969388 .
2. Adeniyi. T.. Ajayi. G.. Akinsanya. M.. Jaiyeola. T. M.. Biochemical changes induced in rats by aqueous and ethanolic corm extracts of Zygotritonia croceae. 56300910. en. Scientific Research and Essay . 5 . 1 . 71–76 . 4 January 2010.
3. Goldblatt. P.. 1989. Revision of the tropical African genus Zygotritonia (Iridaceae). 2021-06-22. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Section B . 11 . 2 . 199–212.