Some Botswana Traditional Medicinal Plants held at PSUB Herbarium
Citation
Murray-Hudson F, Madome J (2024). Some Botswana Traditional Medicinal Plants held at PSUB Herbarium. Okavango Research Institute. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/bmnd3f accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.Description
These 50 herbarium specimens of Traditional Medicinal Plants (TMP) are from PSUB herbarium. They were collected from the Okavango Delta and neighboring habitats. The specimens here were collected by a variety of people; from students on field-trips, to academics and ecological researchers dall during the period 1971 up to 2010. This set represents species documented as used for the management of respiratory ailments in Botswana. The selection of these species from the PSUB collection was driven, in 2020, by traditional healers’ wishing to have their herbal remedies tested for effectiveness against Covid19.
Since prehistory many healing plant species were discovered and used in traditional medicine practice. These plants remain vital sources of easily accessible medicinal remedies, especially in rural areas. The Indigenous Knowledge around the preparation and use of healing plants is part of Botswana’s cultural heritage.
The 25 species shown here are from 13 families, are all indigenous and represent a small fraction of the traditional medicinal plants used and found in Botswana.
High quality digital images of the plants, mounted on herbarium sheets, are also provided here to supplement the basic data extracted from the specimen label.
Purpose
First Botswana Traditional Medicinal Plants data set to be made available online from PSUB herbarium. Additional Traditional Medicinal Plants will be uploaded. We intend that the entire PSUB herbarium collection be uploaded and is made accessible online.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
BotswanaSampling
Over many years various collectors deposited plant specimens with PSUB herbarium. These have been mounted, researched, labelled and scanned digitally. They represent only some of the species used traditionally as medicinal treatment for various respiratory ailments.Quality Control
Comparison with duplicates held in other herbaria Data from labels entered into BRAHMS Only species with documented medicinal use by traditional healers in Botswana were included.Method steps
- BRAHMS data aligned with GBIF formats. Many sources of botanical literature were consulted in the preliminary stages but where claims were unsubstantiated they were abandoned. The main literature reference used was 'Traditional Medicine in Botswana. Traditional Medicinal Plants' Inga Hedberg & Frants Staugard. 1989, ISBN 9178103983. Their specimen collection is represented on GBIF platform: Ritva Blomberg et al. BMP, as published by: Botany (UPS). Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University.
Taxonomic Coverages
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Apocynaceae
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Asteraceae
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Convolvulaceae
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Crassulaceae
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Euphorbiaceae
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Fabaceaerank: family
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Kirkiaceaerank: family
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Malvaceaerank: family
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Plumbaginaceaerank: family
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Rubiaceaerank: family
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Solanaceaerank: family
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Thymelaeaceaerank: family
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Verbenaceaerank: family
Geographic Coverages
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Frances Murray-Hudsonoriginator
position: PSUB Data Mobilization Project Assistant
University of Botswana
Okavango Research Institute
Maun
Ngamiland
BW
Telephone: +2676817250
email: fmurray-hudson@ub.ac.bw
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-murray-hudson-9170a628
Joseph Madome
originator
position: Curator
University of Botswana
Okavango Research Institute
Maun
North-West
BW
Telephone: +2676817257
email: madome@ub.ac.bw
Frances Murray-Hudson
user
email: fmurray-hudson@ub.ac.bw
Joseph Madome
administrative point of contact
position: Curator
PSUB Herbarium
Shorobe Road
Maun
Ngamiland
BW
Telephone: +267 6817257
email: madome@ub.ac.bw
homepage: https://www.ori.ub.bw/services/psub-herbarium