Hello everyone. I'm very happy to be among you guys photograph lovers. I will like to appreciate thank this community for this great opportunity to share what I have with with me. Today I decided try something new and I was able to come up with some photograph of few plants found in northern part of Nigeria which are;
1.calotropis procera
Calotropis procera, commonly known as:
- Sodom apple
- Giant milkweed
- Akund or Rubber bush
*Identification Features:
- Large, thick, oval leaves with a gray-green color
- Produces milky latex when broken
- Often has purple or white star-shaped flowers
- Grows in dry, sandy soils and roadsides
Uses:
- Traditional medicine: Used for treating skin diseases, pain, and inflammation (with caution due to toxicity)
- Fiber: Stem bark used for making ropes
- *Ornamental or boundary plants
Caution:
- The latex is toxic and can irritate skin or eyes
- Not safe for ingestion without proper preparation
2.Senna obtusifolia
Senna obtusifolia*
commonly known as
- Sicklepod
- Chinese senna
- Coffee senna
Identification Features:
- Broad, oval (obovate) leaflets in pairs (usually 3 pairs per leaf)
- Erect, branched herb or shrub
- Often grows in disturbed areas, farms, or along roadsides
Uses:
- Traditional medicine: used as a laxative or for treating skin issues in some cultures
- Leaves and seeds are used in herbal preparations (with caution)
Problems:
- It's also considered a troublesome weed in farms (especially in crops like maize, soybean, and cotton)
- Competes aggressively for nutrients and space
3.Gomphrena celosioides
Gomphrena celosioides*, commonly known as Soft khaki weed or Wild globe amaranth.
Features:
- White, round flower head
- Broad, hairy leaves
- Low-growing or spreading weed
- Common in tropical and subtropical regions
Here’s some info on Gomphrena celosioides (Soft khaki weed):
Uses:
- Traditional medicine (in some cultures):
- Used for treating coughs, wounds, and inflammation.
- Acts as a mild astringent and antimicrobial (folk use; not clinically proven).
- Soil cover/erosion control:
- Its spreading habit helps prevent erosion in open soil.
Weed control (if unwanted):
Manual control:
- Uproot before flowering/seeding to prevent spread.
- Easy to pull due to shallow roots.
Chemical control:
- Use broadleaf herbicides like 2,4-D or glyphosate (spot-spray with care).
- Best applied when the plant is young and actively growing.
Cultural control:
- Maintain healthy ground cover (like grass) to suppress its growth.
- Avoid overgrazing or clearing soil, which allows it to spread.
In conclusion all things creat are useful to Man kind and the world at large.
