Members of Malesherbia have perfecthermaphroditic flowers that come in various shades of red, pink, pale yellow, white, and purple.[3] These are tube or funnel shaped, with 10 nerves, 5 sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamen and 3-4 styles.[4] They have either solitary flowers opposite to leaves or inflorescence that look like clusters.[4]
Taxonomy
In 1794, Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez would describe Malesherbia.[5]Malesherbia was distinguished from other genera due to its small five parted limbus, ovulate open jaciniis, five petals that are inserted at the interstices of the throat of the calyx, five oblong and bilocular anthers, three pistils, and several other traits.[5] The genus is named after Chrétien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes.[5] In the original description, the type species was not named.
In 1798, Antonio José Cavanilles would describe the genera under Gynopleura. Cavanilles admitted that Malesherbia was described exactly as Gynopleura, however, the seeds of Malesherbia were not described in the original text, and thus Cavanilles felt justified in publishing the genera under Gynopleura.[6] Cacanilles would, however, establish M. tubulosa as the genera's type species.
Please note, this phylogeny does not include Malesherbia laraosensis. As of 2022, a phylogenetic analysis including M. laraosensis has not been published.
Uses
Medicinal
Malesherbia ardens is used in traditional medicine to treat colds, coughs, bronchitis, and asthma.[9] The entire plant along with Contilo, Arabisca, and Huamanripa are brewed into a tea, which is consumed three times a day.[9]
Distribution
Members of Malesherbia are native to South America, specifically the arid and Andean regions of Perú, Chile and Argentina.[10][11]
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