Agathosma
Encyclopedia
Agathosma is a genus
of about 135 species of flowering plant
s in the family
Rutaceae
, native to the southern part of Africa
. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal
species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use. In colloquial
use however, the term (see Boegoe) is applied to a wider set of fragrant shrubs or substitutes.
They are small shrub
s and subshrub
s, mostly with erect woody stems reaching 30–100 cm tall, but low-growing and prostrate in some species. The leaves
are usually opposite, ericoid, often crowded, simple, entire, from 0.5-3.5 cm long. The flower
s are produced in terminal clusters, 0.7–2 cm diameter, with five white, pink, red or purple, petals.
Many of the species are highly aromatic, and the genus name means "good fragrance". Some species of the genus are used as herb
al remedies.
and coloquially referred to as "Buchu" are cultivated on a commercial basis for their essential oils, Agathosma betulina
and Agathosma crenulata
. The leaves of Agathosma betulina have traditionally been used as an herbal remedy
for ailments of the gastrointestinal
and urinary
tracts, as it has diuretic and antiseptic properties due to various phenolic compounds.
A tea infusion is made with the leaves, and a tincture is traditionally made by placing leaves and stalks into brandy. "Buchu vinegar", prepared by steeping the leaves and stalks in vinegar, also is a traditional remedy used for example in compresses and also taken internally.
The essential oil is used in the manufacture of flavorings and perfume. There appear to be differences in people's perceptions of the smell, possibly determined genetically, rather than by familiarity or nurture. Some people find the smell to be repulsive, while most find it pleasantly herbal. This is not particularly unusual in reaction to the smells of many aromatic Karoo shrubs.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of about 135 species of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Rutaceae
Rutaceae
Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents...
, native to the southern part of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use. In colloquial
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
use however, the term (see Boegoe) is applied to a wider set of fragrant shrubs or substitutes.
They are small shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s and subshrub
Subshrub
A subshrub or dwarf shrub is a short woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a similar term.It is distinguished from a shrub by its ground-hugging stems and lower height, with overwintering perennial woody growth typically less than 10–20 cm tall, or by being only weakly woody and/or persisting...
s, mostly with erect woody stems reaching 30–100 cm tall, but low-growing and prostrate in some species. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are usually opposite, ericoid, often crowded, simple, entire, from 0.5-3.5 cm long. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are produced in terminal clusters, 0.7–2 cm diameter, with five white, pink, red or purple, petals.
Many of the species are highly aromatic, and the genus name means "good fragrance". Some species of the genus are used as herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
al remedies.
Uses
Two species of Agathosma endemic to the Western Cape mountains of South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and coloquially referred to as "Buchu" are cultivated on a commercial basis for their essential oils, Agathosma betulina
Agathosma betulina
Agathosma betulina is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of western South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats.-Growth:...
and Agathosma crenulata
Agathosma crenulata
Agathosma crenulata is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of southwestern South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1.5-2.5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, oval, 15-35 mm long and 7-18 mm broad...
. The leaves of Agathosma betulina have traditionally been used as an herbal remedy
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
for ailments of the gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
and urinary
Urinary system
The urinary system is the organ system that produces, stores, and eliminates urine. In humans it includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder and the urethra.-Kidney:...
tracts, as it has diuretic and antiseptic properties due to various phenolic compounds.
A tea infusion is made with the leaves, and a tincture is traditionally made by placing leaves and stalks into brandy. "Buchu vinegar", prepared by steeping the leaves and stalks in vinegar, also is a traditional remedy used for example in compresses and also taken internally.
The essential oil is used in the manufacture of flavorings and perfume. There appear to be differences in people's perceptions of the smell, possibly determined genetically, rather than by familiarity or nurture. Some people find the smell to be repulsive, while most find it pleasantly herbal. This is not particularly unusual in reaction to the smells of many aromatic Karoo shrubs.
Selected species
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Agathosma serratifolia Agathosma serratifolia, known as Longleaf Buchu or Long Buchu, is an erect, South African shrub, belonging to the citrus family Rutaceae. It is one of about 135 species mainly occurring in the south-western Cape Province. .This species is strongly aromatic, and is gathered for medicinal use... |