Hypoestes forskaolii is an annual or perennial herb that grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall with its stem and leaves being nearly glabrous.[1] It has pale pink or white flowers.

Hypoestes forskaolii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Hypoestes
Species:
H. forskaolii
Binomial name
Hypoestes forskaolii
(Vahl) Soland ex Roem & Schult

Habitat

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Hypoestes forskaolii is widely distributed throughout Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Tropical Africa.[1] It grows under bushes and trees. Hypoestes forskaolii appear during rains or can be seen the year round near water.[2]

Effects

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Hypoestes forskaolii is extremely toxic to all livestock. It can be easily eaten in error by animals. It produces symptoms of violent shivering, head-shaking, and fever when eaten. It can be fatal in smaller or less healthy livestock.[2]

Uses

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Hypoestes forskaolii is of interest for containing new sources of antibiotic compounds.[3][4][5]

History

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Forsskaolii commemorates the Swedish botanist Pietr Forsskal. He was the botanist on the ill-fated Danish expedition to Arabia Felix (present-day North Yemen) of 1761–1763. The expedition's aims were wide-ranging, and from a botanical point of view, the trip was a great success. Many Arabian plants were described for the first time.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hypoestes forskalei". Global Plants. JSTOR. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c G. Miller, Anthony; Morris, Miranda (1988). Plants of Dhofar. Oman. p. 12. ISBN 071570808-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Mothana, R. A.; Kriegisch, S.; Harms, M.; Wende, K.; Lindequist, U. (2011). "Assessment of selected Yemeni medicinal plants for their in vitro antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities". Pharmaceutical Biology. 49 (2): 200–10. doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.512295. PMID 20942618.
  4. ^ Al Musayeib, Nawal M.; Mothana, Ramzi A.; Mohamed, Gamal A.; Ibrahim, Sabrin R.M.; Maes, Louis (2014). "Hypoestenonols A and B, new fusicoccane diterpenes from Hypoestes forskalei". Phytochemistry Letters. 10: 23–27. Bibcode:2014PChL...10...23A. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2014.06.020.
  5. ^ Muhammad, Ilias; Mossa, Jaber S.; Ramadan, Ahmed F.; El-Feraly, Farouk S.; Hufford, Charles D. (1998). "Additional diterpene ketones from Hypoestes forskalei". Phytochemistry. 47 (7): 1331–1336. Bibcode:1998PChem..47.1331M. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00709-7.