So love reading your posts! Being a part of the herb community I am so grateful for your global journeys thru the years and bringing scientific validity to what indigenous people have known and worked with for years. Thank you so much💕🙏
How interesting. I just learned that for a very long time, I have been conflating two unrelated plants with the same common name: Uncaria tomentosa and Senegalia greggii, both called cat claw, though the latter is commonly called cat claw acacia. Both are highly useful plants for indigenous people, the former for medicine, the latter mostly for handcrafts like baskets, and for food. It’s a good reminder of the importance of botanical names. Now I want to learn more about Uncaria tomentosa.
Very cool! I've never heard of Senegalia greggii - will look into it! And yes, you are absolutely right! So many plants share the same common name, but are actually very different species. Another Amazonian plant that is commonly confused on the internet is the dragon's blood tree. The Amazonian species (Croton lechleri, Euphorbiaceae) is used in an FDA-approved drug. Another species in a totally different plant family (Dracaena cinnabari, Asparagaceae) is also called dragon's blood and is found on the island of Socotra in Yemen. Very different species, very different chemistries.
So love reading your posts! Being a part of the herb community I am so grateful for your global journeys thru the years and bringing scientific validity to what indigenous people have known and worked with for years. Thank you so much💕🙏
Thank you so much, Lydia!! I really appreciate your feedback.
How interesting. I just learned that for a very long time, I have been conflating two unrelated plants with the same common name: Uncaria tomentosa and Senegalia greggii, both called cat claw, though the latter is commonly called cat claw acacia. Both are highly useful plants for indigenous people, the former for medicine, the latter mostly for handcrafts like baskets, and for food. It’s a good reminder of the importance of botanical names. Now I want to learn more about Uncaria tomentosa.
Very cool! I've never heard of Senegalia greggii - will look into it! And yes, you are absolutely right! So many plants share the same common name, but are actually very different species. Another Amazonian plant that is commonly confused on the internet is the dragon's blood tree. The Amazonian species (Croton lechleri, Euphorbiaceae) is used in an FDA-approved drug. Another species in a totally different plant family (Dracaena cinnabari, Asparagaceae) is also called dragon's blood and is found on the island of Socotra in Yemen. Very different species, very different chemistries.
In my research, I have come across 11 species whose products are called dragon’s blood. Much of it is sold under fraudulent names.
Wow! Surprising, but also not surprising. We need better quality control on herbal products sold on the market.