Antizoma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. The genus was described by the botanist John Miers. Species of Antizoma are native to a region extending from Angola to southern Africa.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes → Angiosperms → Eudicots
- Order: Ranunculales
- Family: Menispermaceae
- Genus: Antizoma Miers
Recognized species (as listed by major botanical databases such as Kew’s Plants of the World Online and the International Plant Names Index):
- Antizoma angolensis Exell & Mendonça
- Antizoma angustifolia (Burch.) Miers ex Harv. – an evergreen shrub found in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and northern South Africa; its root infusion has been used traditionally as an emetic, purgative, and to treat skin conditions.
- Antizoma miersiana Harv.
Distribution and habitat
Members of the genus occur in a range that spans from Angola through to the southern parts of the African continent. They are typically found in savanna and woodland habitats, often on well‑drained soils.
Ethnobotanical uses
Antizoma angustifolia is noted in ethnobotanical literature for its medicinal applications, particularly in traditional Southern African medicine where preparations from its roots are employed as an emetic and to cleanse the blood in the treatment of boils.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. “Antizoma.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antizoma (accessed 18 April 2026).
- “Antizoma Miers | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:26877-1 (accessed 18 April 2026).
Note: Information presented is derived from recognized botanical references and peer‑reviewed taxonomic databases.