Genus of legumes
Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 111 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa.[1] In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).[2]
Etymology
The name ‘Psoralea’ is derived from the Greek term ‘Psoraleos’, which means “affected with itch or with leprosy”.[3] 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
111 species are accepted:[1]
- Psoralea abbottii C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea accrescens (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea aculeata L.
- Psoralea acuminata Lam.
- Psoralea affinis Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea alata (Thunb.) T.M.Salter
- Psoralea angustifolia L'Hér.
- Psoralea aphylla L.
- Psoralea arborea Sims
- Psoralea arborescens (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea argentea Thunb.
- Psoralea asarina (P.J.Bergius) T.M.Salter
- Psoralea axillaris L.f.
- Psoralea azuroides C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea bolusii H.M.L.Forbes
- Psoralea bowieana Harv.
- Psoralea bracteolata Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea brilliantissima C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello
- Psoralea caffra Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea candicans Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea cataracta C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea congesta C.H.Stirt. & Muasya
- Psoralea curtisiae (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea diturnerae A. Bello, C.H. Stirt. & Muasya [4]
- Psoralea dreweae (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea elegans C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea ensifolia (Houtt.) Merr.
- Psoralea fascicularis DC. , syns. Psoralea tenuifolia Thunb. and Psoralea thunbergiana Eckl. & Zeyh. [5]
- Psoralea filifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea fleta C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea flexuosa (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea floccosa C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello
- Psoralea foliosa Oliv.
- Psoralea forbesiae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya
- Psoralea fruticans (L.) Druce
- Psoralea fumea (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea gigantea Dludlu, Muasya & C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea glabra E.Mey.
- Psoralea glaucescens Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea glaucina Harv.
- Psoralea gueinzii Harv.
- Psoralea hamata Harv.
- Psoralea heterosepala Fourc.
- Psoralea hirta L.
- 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 laxa T.M.Salter
- 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 Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea nitens (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea obliqua E.Mey.
- Psoralea odoratissima Jacq.
- Psoralea oligophylla Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea oreophila Schltr.
- Psoralea outrampsii (C.H.Stirt. & du Preez) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea peratica C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea picta (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea pilifera (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea pinnata L.
- Psoralea platyphylla C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea plauta C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea polyphylla Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea polysticta Benth. ex Harv.
- Psoralea prodiens (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea pullata C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea pungens (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea racemosa Thunb.
- Psoralea ramulosa C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea repens P.J.Bergius
- Psoralea restioides Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea rhizotoma C.H.Stirt. & Muasya
- Psoralea rigidula C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea rotundifolia L.f.
- Psoralea rubicunda (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea sabulosa (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea saxosa (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea semota C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea sericea Poir.
- Psoralea sordida C.H.Stirt. & Muasya
- Psoralea speciosa Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea spicata L.
- Psoralea spissa (C.H.Stirt. & Muasya) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea stachyera Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea striata Thunb.
- Psoralea suaveolens C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya
- Psoralea swartbergensis (C.H.Stirt.) C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea tenuifolia L.
- Psoralea tenuissima E.Mey.
- Psoralea thomii Harv.
- Psoralea triantha E.Mey.
- Psoralea triflora Thunb.
- Psoralea trullata C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea uncinata Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea usitata C.H.Stirt.
- Psoralea vanberkeliae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya
- Psoralea velutina E.Mey.
- Psoralea venusta Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Psoralea verrucosa Willd. ex Spreng.
- Psoralea wilmsii Harms
- Psoralea zeyheri Harv.
