Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 121 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).
Etymology The name ‘Psoralea’ is derived from the Greek term ‘Psoraleos’, which means “affected with itch or with leprosy”. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, and is used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment, for several diseases including such as psoriasis.
Species 127 species are accepted:
Psoralea abbottii C.H.Stirt. Psoralea accrescens Psoralea acocksii Psoralea aculeata L. Psoralea acuminata Psoralea affinis Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea afra Psoralea alata (Thunb.) T.M.Salter Psoralea albidula Psoralea angustifolia L'Hér. Psoralea aphylla L. Psoralea arborea Sims Psoralea arborescens Psoralea argentea Psoralea asarina (P.J.Bergius) T.M.Salter Psoralea axillaris L.f. Psoralea azuroides C.H.Stirt. Psoralea bolusii Psoralea bowieana Psoralea bracteolata Psoralea brilliantissima C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello Psoralea candicans Psoralea cataracta C.H.Stirt. Psoralea congesta C.H.Stirt. & Muasya Psoralea crista Psoralea curtisiae Psoralea diturnerae A. Bello, C.H. Stirt. & Muasya Two New Blue-Flowered Plant Species Discovered in South Africa Psoralea dreweae Psoralea elegans C.H.Stirt. Psoralea ensifolia (Houtt.) Merr. Psoralea fascicularis DC., syns. Psoralea tenuifolia Thunb. and Psoralea thunbergiana Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea filifolia Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea fleta C.H.Stirt. Psoralea flexuosa Psoralea floccosa C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello Psoralea foliosa Psoralea forbesiae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya Psoralea fruticans Psoralea fulva Psoralea fumea Psoralea gigantea Dludlu, Muasya & C.H.Stirt. Psoralea glabra E.Mey. Psoralea glaucescens Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea glaucina Harv. Psoralea gueinzii Harv. Psoralea hamata Psoralea heterosepala Psoralea hirta Psoralea imbricata (L.f.) T.M.Salter Psoralea imminens C.H.Stirt. Psoralea implexa C.H.Stirt. Psoralea intonsa C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello Psoralea ivumba C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya Psoralea karooensis C.H.Stirt., Muasya & Vlok Psoralea keetii Schönland ex H.M.L.Forbes Psoralea kougaensis C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello Psoralea laevigata L.f. Psoralea lancifolia Psoralea laxa T.M.Salter Psoralea lucens Psoralea luteovirens Psoralea margaretiflora C.H.Stirt. & V.R.Clark Psoralea monophylla (L.) C.H.Stirt. Psoralea montana A.Bello, C.H.Stirt. & Muasya Psoralea muirii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya Psoralea mundiana Psoralea nitens Psoralea nubicola Psoralea obliqua Psoralea odoratissima Jacq. Psoralea oligophylla Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea oreophila Schltr. Psoralea oreopola Psoralea outrampsii Psoralea pallescens Psoralea papillosa Psoralea peratica C.H.Stirt. Psoralea picta Psoralea pilifera Psoralea pinnata L. Psoralea platyphylla Psoralea plauta C.H.Stirt. Psoralea polyphylla Psoralea polysticta Psoralea prodiens Psoralea prompta Psoralea psammophila Psoralea pullata C.H.Stirt. Psoralea pungens Psoralea purpurascens Psoralea racemosa Psoralea ramulosa C.H.Stirt. Psoralea repens P.J.Bergius Psoralea restioides Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea reticulata Psoralea rhizotoma C.H.Stirt. & Muasya Psoralea rigidula C.H.Stirt. Psoralea rotundifolia Psoralea rubicunda Psoralea sabulosa Psoralea saxosa Psoralea schutteae Psoralea semota C.H.Stirt. Psoralea sericea Psoralea sordida C.H.Stirt. & Muasya Psoralea speciosa Eckl. & Zeyh. Psoralea spicata Psoralea spissa Psoralea stachyera Psoralea striata Psoralea suaveolens C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya Psoralea swartbergensis Psoralea tenuifolia Psoralea tenuissima E.Mey. Psoralea thomii Psoralea triantha Psoralea triflora Thunb. Psoralea trullata C.H.Stirt. Psoralea uncinata Psoralea usitata C.H.Stirt. Psoralea vanberkeliae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya Psoralea velutina Psoralea venusta Psoralea verrucosa Willd. ex Spreng. Psoralea vlokii Psoralea wilmsii Psoralea zeyheri
References
External links