Rank Species | Genus Entada Higher classification Entada | |
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Similar Entada, Calea ternifolia, Legumes, Silene undulata, Entada phaseoloides | ||
Planting entada rheedii
Entada rheedii, commonly known as the African dream herb or snuff box sea bean, and as the cacoon vine in Jamaica, is a large woody liana or climber. Their seeds have a thick and durable seed coat which allows them to survive lengthy periods of immersion in seawater.
Contents
- Planting entada rheedii
- Entada rheedii african dream herb fast moving plant realtime video
- Naming
- Subspecies
- Traditional use
- Distribution
- Gallery
- References
Entada rheedii african dream herb fast moving plant realtime video
Naming
Though the legitimate name was first published as E. rheedii, it is often written as Entada rheedei, honouring Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Draakestein (1637–1691).
Subspecies
The following subspecies have been used:
Traditional use
The species is employed in African traditional medicine to induce vivid dreams, enabling communication with the spirit world. The inner meat of the seed would be either consumed directly, or the meat would be chopped, dried, mixed with other herbs like tobacco and smoked just before sleep to induce the desired dreams.
The plant is also used as a topical ointment against jaundice, toothache, ulcers and to treat muscular-skeletal problems. The seeds are sought after as pieces of jewelry and as good-luck charms.
Distribution
Its seeds are found on east and southern African beaches, having grown on river and estuary banks and in swamp forest. As a result of its ready dispersal by sea, Entada rheedii is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries, but strangely not the Americas. These include: Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zaire, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Togo, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe;
Australasia: Australia (Queensland), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.