Biology:Ixora laxiflora

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Short description: Species of shrub

Ixora laxiflora
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Ixora
Species:
I. laxiflora
Binomial name
Ixora laxiflora

Ixora laxiflora is a shrub or small tree with fragrant white colored flowers belonging to the family Rubiaceae.[1]

Varieties

  • Ixora laxiflora var. laxiflora
  • Ixora laxiflora var. linderi (Hutch. & Dalziel) De Block

Description

Ixora laxiflora is a shurb or small tree that sometimes grows up to a maximum height of 15 metres (49 ft).[2] Leaves are elliptic to obovate in shape, margins entire, the longest reaches up to 20 centimetres (8 in) long and 8 centimetres (3 in) wide, the apex is acuminate while base tend to be wedged shaped. Inflorescence is a terminal branched corymbose, axis is reddish with leafy bracts growing at base of the inflorescence; flowers are white or pink, corolla tube is slender up to 2–3 centimetres (0.8–1.2 in) long.[2]

Distribution

Occurs in West Africa, from Guinea Bissau westwards to Ghana. Found in moist and gallery forests and along streams.[2]

Uses

Extracts is used in ethnomedicine for pain management.[3]

References

  1. Curtis, William (1849) (in en). The Botanical Magazine: Or, Flower Garden Displayed Etc. Couchman. https://books.google.com/books?id=FBNfAAAAcAAJ&dq=ixora+laxiflora+%22fragrant%22&pg=PP255. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Poorter, Lourens, ed (2004). Biodiversity of West African forests: an ecological atlas of woody plant species. Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 978-0-85199-734-6. 
  3. "Ixora laxiflora Sm. [family RUBIACEAE on JSTOR"]. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.upwta.4_905. 

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