Rotheca Myriciodes

Scientific Name: Rotheca Myriciodes

Common Name: Blue Butterfly Bush

Family: Lamiaceae

Names in other languages: Boran: Mara sisa; Kamba: Kiteangwai, Muvweia; Kikuyu: Munjugu; Kipsigis: Chesamisiet, Obetiot; Luhya (Bukusu): Kumusilangokho; Luhya: Shisilangokho; Luo: Kurgweno, Okwergweno, Okwero, Okworo, Oseke, Sangla; Maasai: Olmakutukut; Marakwet: Chebobet, Chesagon; Samburu: Makutukuti; Tugen: Gobetie.

• General Information 

Found from Sudan and Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe. A common shrub in forest edges, bushland, mountain scrub, wooded grassland and in secondary vegetation, 1,500-2,400 m. Common in rocky places. Agroclimatic Zone Ill. Flowers may occur any time of the year.

Features of Bauhinia Tomentosa that make it identifiable:  

• The Bark is Pale grey, smoother or younger trees, becoming rough and furrowed, and often marked with lenticels

• The Leaves are oval

• The flowers Dainty, bilaterally symmetrical, each with 5 ovate petals, the upper 4 whitish-green, and the lower electric blue to light purple.

• The fruit  are nutlets that are dark brown to black to bright crimson

• Uses (non medicinal) 

• bee forage

• used ornamentally

•  used ceremonially

• Medicinal Uses:  

• Used for epilepsy, arthritis, typhoid, cough, eye problems, tonsillitis, rheumatism (leaves, stem and roots)