Commelina madagascarica

Commelina madagascarica
A mass of Commelina madagascarica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Commelina
Species:
C. madagascarica
Binomial name
Commelina madagascarica
C.B. Clarke

Commelina madagascarica is a monocotyledonous, herbaceous plant in the dayflower family from Madagascar.[1] It is commonly known as nifin'akanga in Madagascar,[2] where it is used medicinally as an abortifacient,[3] a galactogogue,[4] and a treatment for conjunctivitis[5] and acne.[4][3][6] It is also used for ritual purposes in joro or ancestral invocation around the Lake Alaotra region.[7]

It has delicate, richly blue flowers, narrow leaves, and bushy stems.[8][9] Its roots are fibrous, fleshy, and fusiform. These roots, and the plant's buried rhizome, make it very resistant to prairie fires.[9]

The species was first described by Charles Baron Clarke in 1881.[10] Commelina madagascarica is one of the most common plants found in the pseudo-steppe grasslands formed anthropogenically by grass fires in Isalo Massif.[11] Generally, it is common to dry prairies and rocky areas between 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) and 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level.[9]

The Malagasy Nifin'akanga abortion-rights movement group takes its name from the plant, since it is commonly used in illicit abortions.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Commelina madagascarica C.B.Clarke | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  2. ^ Rakotobe, Rovanirina; Razafindrakoto, Malalatiana; Ravonjiarison, Nasandratra; Blanchart, Éric; Andriamifidy, Tantely Razafimbelo; Bernard, Laetitia; Raminoarison, Manoa; Rakotomalala, Heriniaina Hobiarivelo; Ratsiatosika, Onja; Autfray, Patrice (2024). "Recherche-action en partenariat et ressources végétales mobilisables pour la production de lombricompost dans les Hautes Terres de Madagascar". BASE (in French): 131–146. doi:10.25518/1780-4507.20867. ISSN 1780-4507.
  3. ^ a b Randriamiharisoa, Maria Nirina; Kuhlman, Alyse R.; Jeannoda, Vololoniaina; Rabarison, Harison; Rakotoarivelo, Nivo; Randrianarivony, Tabita; Raktoarivony, Fortunat; Randrianasolo, Armand; Bussmann, Rainer W. (December 2015). "Medicinal plants sold in the markets of Antananarivo, Madagascar". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 11 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1186/s13002-015-0046-y. ISSN 1746-4269. PMC 4517502.
  4. ^ a b Jenkins, Martin; International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, eds. (1987). Madagascar: an environmental profile. Gland: IUCN. ISBN 978-2-88032-607-4.
  5. ^ Novy, Julia W. (1997-01-01). "Medicinal plants of the eastern region of Madagascar". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 55 (2): 119–126. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(96)01489-4. ISSN 0378-8741.
  6. ^ Bussmann, Rainer W.; Paniagua-Zambrana, Narel Y.; Njoroge, Grace N. (2020), Bussmann, Rainer W. (ed.), "Commelina africana L. Commelina benghalensis L. Commelinaceae", Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Africa, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–9, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77086-4_47-1#doi, ISBN 978-3-319-77086-4, retrieved 2024-10-19
  7. ^ Rakotoarivelo, Nivo H.; Manjato, Nadiah V.; Andriamiarisoa, Lala R.; Bernard, Roger; Andriambololonera, Sylvie (2022-02-11). "Useful plants in the Park Bandro and its surroundings, Lake Alaotra, Madagascar". Madagascar Conservation & Development. 16 (2s): 25–32. doi:10.4314/mcd.wetlands.4. ISSN 1662-2510.
  8. ^ Baron, Richard (July 1889). "The Flora of Madagascar". Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany. 25 (171): 246–294. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1889.tb00798.x. ISSN 0368-2927.
  9. ^ a b c Laboratoire de phanérogamie (Muséum national d'histoire naturelle); naturelle), Laboratoire de phanérogamie (Muséum national d'histoire (1920). Notulae systematicae. Vol. v.4-5(1920-1935). Paris: J. Dumoulin.
  10. ^ Cufodontis, Georg (1971). "Supplement: Enumeratio Plantarum Aethiopiae Spermatophyta (Sequentia)". Bulletin du Jardin botanique national de Belgique / Bulletin van de National Plantentuin van België. 41 (3): 1483–1578. doi:10.2307/3667456. ISSN 0303-9153.
  11. ^ Świerkosz, Krzysztof (2012). "Vegetation of southern part of the Isalo Sandstone Massif (Central Madagascar, Africa) – differentiation and threats". In Hartel H.; Cilek V.; Hebren T. A. Jackson; R. Williams (eds.). Sandstone Landscapes. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.92596.
  12. ^ "Who are we ? - Nifin'Akanga". www.nifinakanga.org. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  13. ^ "Madagascar's 'angel makers' flourish in ban on abortion". France 24. 2019-09-01. Retrieved 2024-10-19.