Capraria

Capraria biflora

Capraria is a genus in the plant family of the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ). The only four species are widespread in the Neotropics from USA to Peru.

Description

Capraria species grow as perennial herbaceous plants or small shrubs. The alternate arranged leaves are longer than wide with serrated leaf edge.

The stalked flowers stand singly in the leaf axils. The hermaphrodite flowers are fünfzählig double perianth. The five nearly equal sepals are narrow. The five white petals are fused bell-shaped and end in five flat Corolla lobe. There are usually four stamens present. The lokuliziden fruit capsules are short. The seeds have a net-like surface.

System

The genus Capraria was erected in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, p 628. Type species is Capraria biflora L..

The genus belongs to the tribe Capraria Gratioleae within the family Plantaginaceae. Previously, she was assigned to the family Scrophulariaceae, Gratiolaceae or Veronicaceae.

There are only four Capraria types:

• Capraria biflora L.
• Capraria frutescens (Mill.) Briq. ( Syn: . Capraria saxifragifolia Cham & Schltdl. )
• Capraria mexicana Moric. ex Benth.
• Capraria peruviana Benth. It occurs in Peru and Ecuador.

No longer belongs to this genus:

• Capraria integrifolia M.Martens & Galeotti is a synonym of L. Nama jamaicense within the Boraginaceae.

Use

Capraria biflora is versatile used in folk medicine.

One uses Capraria biflora for reclamation of disturbed areas.