Galphimia gracilis Bartl.
Vernacular name: Gold Shower, Golden Thyrallis, Rain of Gold, Slender Goldshower
Species Name: Galphimia gracilis Bartl.
Family: Malpighiaceae
Habit: Evergreen ornamental shrub, about 1–2 m tall, commonly cultivated.
Stem: Much-branched; young branches reddish-hairy, becoming nearly glabrous with age.
Leaf: Opposite, simple, elliptic-oblong, entire, 3–5 × 1–2 cm, shortly petiolate.
Flowering: Almost throughout the year.
Flowers: Bright yellow, bisexual, actinomorphic, borne in terminal racemes; 5 clawed petals, 10 stamens and 3 free styles.
Fruit: Small, globose, dry fruit about 5 mm across, brown at maturity.
Uses:
- Folk remedies of Mexico and Latin America uses leaves in teas, tonics and decoctions to treat anxiety, diarrhea, asthma, hay fever and chest pain.
- Plant contains bioactive compounds like quercetin and flavonoids that are responsible for antioxidant, sedative and anti-allergic properties.
- Mainly cultivated as an ornamental shrub for its abundant star-shaped golden-yellow flowers. It is a popular garden plant in warm regions and is particularly useful as a flowering landscape shrub.
- Plant attracts various beneficial insects and pollinators.
