Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 121 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).

Etymology

The name ‘Psoralea’ is derived from the Greek term ‘Psoraleos’, which means “affected with itch or with leprosy”. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, and is used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment, for several diseases including such as psoriasis.

Species

127 species are accepted:

• Psoralea abbottii C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea accrescens

• Psoralea acocksii

• Psoralea aculeata L.

• Psoralea acuminata

• Psoralea affinis Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea afra

• Psoralea alata (Thunb.) T.M.Salter

• Psoralea albidula

• Psoralea angustifolia L'Hér.

• Psoralea aphylla L.

• Psoralea arborea Sims

• Psoralea arborescens

• Psoralea argentea

• Psoralea asarina (P.J.Bergius) T.M.Salter

• Psoralea axillaris L.f.

• Psoralea azuroides C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea bolusii

• Psoralea bowieana

• Psoralea bracteolata

• Psoralea brilliantissima C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello

• Psoralea candicans

• Psoralea cataracta C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea congesta C.H.Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea crista

• Psoralea curtisiae

• Psoralea diturnerae A. Bello, C.H. Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea dreweae

• Psoralea elegans C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea ensifolia (Houtt.) Merr.

• Psoralea fascicularis DC., syns. Psoralea tenuifolia Thunb. and Psoralea thunbergiana Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea filifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea fleta C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea flexuosa

• Psoralea floccosa C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello

• Psoralea foliosa

• Psoralea forbesiae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya

• Psoralea fruticans

• Psoralea fulva

• Psoralea fumea

• Psoralea gigantea Dludlu, Muasya & C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea glabra E.Mey.

• Psoralea glaucescens Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea glaucina Harv.

• Psoralea gueinzii Harv.

• Psoralea hamata

• Psoralea heterosepala

• Psoralea hirta

• Psoralea imbricata (L.f.) T.M.Salter

• Psoralea imminens C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea implexa C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea intonsa C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello

• Psoralea ivumba C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya

• Psoralea karooensis C.H.Stirt., Muasya & Vlok

• Psoralea keetii Schönland ex H.M.L.Forbes

• Psoralea kougaensis C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello

• Psoralea laevigata L.f.

• Psoralea lancifolia

• Psoralea laxa T.M.Salter

• Psoralea lucens

• Psoralea luteovirens

• Psoralea margaretiflora C.H.Stirt. & V.R.Clark

• Psoralea monophylla (L.) C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea montana A.Bello, C.H.Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea muirii C.H.Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea mundiana

• Psoralea nitens

• Psoralea nubicola

• Psoralea obliqua

• Psoralea odoratissima Jacq.

• Psoralea oligophylla Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea oreophila Schltr.

• Psoralea oreopola

• Psoralea outrampsii

• Psoralea pallescens

• Psoralea papillosa

• Psoralea peratica C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea picta

• Psoralea pilifera

• Psoralea pinnata L.

• Psoralea platyphylla

• Psoralea plauta C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea polyphylla

• Psoralea polysticta

• Psoralea prodiens

• Psoralea prompta

• Psoralea psammophila

• Psoralea pullata C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea pungens

• Psoralea purpurascens

• Psoralea racemosa

• Psoralea ramulosa C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea repens P.J.Bergius

• Psoralea restioides Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea reticulata

• Psoralea rhizotoma C.H.Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea rigidula C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea rotundifolia

• Psoralea rubicunda

• Psoralea sabulosa

• Psoralea saxosa

• Psoralea schutteae

• Psoralea semota C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea sericea

• Psoralea sordida C.H.Stirt. & Muasya

• Psoralea speciosa Eckl. & Zeyh.

• Psoralea spicata

• Psoralea spissa

• Psoralea stachyera

• Psoralea striata

• Psoralea suaveolens C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya

• Psoralea swartbergensis

• Psoralea tenuifolia

• Psoralea tenuissima E.Mey.

• Psoralea thomii

• Psoralea triantha

• Psoralea triflora Thunb.

• Psoralea trullata C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea uncinata

• Psoralea usitata C.H.Stirt.

• Psoralea vanberkeliae C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya

• Psoralea velutina

• Psoralea venusta

• Psoralea verrucosa Willd. ex Spreng.

• Psoralea vlokii

• Psoralea wilmsii

• Psoralea zeyheri

References

External links