Kantuta
Cantua buxifoliaThe three colours of Bolivia’s flag (red, yellow, green) are associated with the colours of the kantuta flower.
What is Kantuta?
Kantuta (Cantua buxifolia) is a plant of the Polemoniaceae family. Traditions that use it: Andes. Part used: flowers, leaves.
What is Kantuta used for?
Traditional use: The sacred flower of the Incas, strewn on roads in ceremonies and offered to the Sun. Scientific evidence: traditional. There is very little scientific research on its medicinal uses.
Is Kantuta safe?
Safety label: generally safe. No serious toxicity is known, but there is no safety data for medicinal use either.
Traditional use
The sacred flower of the Incas, strewn on roads in ceremonies and offered to the Sun. Today it is the national flower of Peru and Bolivia.
The leaves are brewed for coughs and jaundice.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Its hanging, tubular red flowers attract hummingbirds; no poisonous look-alike is known.
Preparation
Flowers and leaves are steeped.
What science says
There is very little scientific research on its medicinal uses.
Safety
No serious toxicity is known, but there is no safety data for medicinal use either.
Similar plants
Sources
- ResearchBiogeographical Relationships and Diversity in the Peruvian Flora Reported by Hipólito Ruiz and José Pavón: Vegetation, Uses and Anthropology
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Cantua buxifolia
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe