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.
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 dreweae
- Psoralea elegans <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea ensifolia <small>(Houtt.) Merr.</small>
- Psoralea fascicularis <small>DC.</small>, syns. Psoralea tenuifolia <small>Thunb.</small> and Psoralea thunbergiana <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea filifolia <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea fleta <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea flexuosa
- Psoralea floccosa <small>C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello</small>
- Psoralea foliosa
- Psoralea forbesiae <small>C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea fruticans
- Psoralea fulva
- Psoralea fumea
- Psoralea gigantea <small>Dludlu, Muasya & C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea glabra <small>E.Mey.</small>
- Psoralea glaucescens <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea glaucina <small>Harv.</small>
- Psoralea gueinzii <small>Harv.</small>
- Psoralea hamata
- Psoralea heterosepala
- Psoralea hirta
- Psoralea imbricata <small>(L.f.) T.M.Salter</small>
- Psoralea imminens <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea implexa <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea intonsa <small>C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello</small>
- Psoralea ivumba <small>C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea karooensis <small>C.H.Stirt., Muasya & Vlok</small>
- Psoralea keetii <small>Schönland ex H.M.L.Forbes</small>
- Psoralea kougaensis <small>C.H.Stirt., Muasya & A.Bello</small>
- Psoralea laevigata <small>L.f.</small>
- Psoralea lancifolia
- Psoralea laxa <small>T.M.Salter</small>
- Psoralea lucens
- Psoralea luteovirens
- Psoralea margaretiflora <small>C.H.Stirt. & V.R.Clark</small>
- Psoralea monophylla <small>(L.) C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea montana <small>A.Bello, C.H.Stirt. & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea muirii <small>C.H.Stirt. & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea mundiana
- Psoralea nitens
- Psoralea nubicola
- Psoralea obliqua
- Psoralea odoratissima <small>Jacq.</small>
- Psoralea oligophylla <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea oreophila <small>Schltr.</small>
- Psoralea oreopola
- Psoralea outrampsii
- Psoralea pallescens
- Psoralea papillosa
- Psoralea peratica <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea picta
- Psoralea pilifera
- Psoralea pinnata <small>L.</small>
- Psoralea platyphylla
- Psoralea plauta <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea polyphylla
- Psoralea polysticta
- Psoralea prodiens
- Psoralea prompta
- Psoralea psammophila
- Psoralea pullata <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea pungens
- Psoralea purpurascens
- Psoralea racemosa
- Psoralea ramulosa <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea repens <small>P.J.Bergius</small>
- Psoralea restioides <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea reticulata
- Psoralea rhizotoma <small>C.H.Stirt. & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea rigidula <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea rotundifolia
- Psoralea rubicunda
- Psoralea sabulosa
- Psoralea saxosa
- Psoralea schutteae
- Psoralea semota <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea sericea
- Psoralea sordida <small>C.H.Stirt. & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea speciosa <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
- Psoralea spicata
- Psoralea spissa
- Psoralea stachyera
- Psoralea striata
- Psoralea suaveolens <small>C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea swartbergensis
- Psoralea tenuifolia
- Psoralea tenuissima <small>E.Mey.</small>
- Psoralea thomii
- Psoralea triantha
- Psoralea triflora <small>Thunb.</small>
- Psoralea trullata <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea uncinata
- Psoralea usitata <small>C.H.Stirt.</small>
- Psoralea vanberkeliae <small>C.H.Stirt., A.Bello & Muasya</small>
- Psoralea velutina
- Psoralea venusta
- Psoralea verrucosa <small>Willd. ex Spreng.</small>
- Psoralea vlokii
- Psoralea wilmsii
- Psoralea zeyheri