Cotyledon orbiculata
L.
Pig's ear
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(c) Richard Gill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Richard Gill
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) lieselm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Lizelle Erasmus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lizelle Erasmus
Summary
Source: WikipediaCotyledon orbiculata, commonly known as pig's ear or round-leafed navel-wort, is a South African succulent plant belonging to the genus Cotyledon.
Description
A succulent herb in the Crassulaceae family found in subtropical regions.
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Known Hazards
Cotyledon orbiculata has a number of medicinal uses. In South Africa, the fleshy part of the leaf is applied to warts and corns. Heated leaves are used as poultices for boils and other inflammations. Single leaves may be eaten as a vermifuge and the juice has been used to treat epilepsy. However, the leaves contain a bufanolide called cotyledontoxin, which is toxic to sheep, goats, horses, cattle, poultry, and dogs, causing a condition known as cotyledonosis.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. In Hobart Botanical gardens.
Where It Grows
Africa, Australia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tasmania,
References (3)
- Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 47
- Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
