Biology:Lannea edulis

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Short description: Species of shrub

Lannea edulis
Lannea edulis01.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Lannea
Species:
L. edulis
Binomial name
Lannea edulis
(Sond.) Engl.
Synonyms[1]
  • Odina edulis Lannea edulis var. edulis
  • Calesiam edule (Sond.) Kuntze
  • (Engl.) Burtt Davy
  • Lannea glabrescens Lannea edulis subsp. integrifolia
  • Engl. Sond.
  • Lannea edulis subsp. glabrescens Engl.
  • Engl. Lannea nana

Lannea edulis is a small deciduous shrub that commonly occurs in East and Southern Africa, it belongs to the Anacardiaceae family.

Description

It has leafy branches produced from underground rootstock (sub-shrub). Leaves are imparipinnately compound, about 2-4 pairs of leaflets per pinnae; leaf-blade is broadly ovate to oblong with a shiny and coriaceous surface, about 9-20 cm long and 9-12 cm wide.[2][3] Flowers are small, yellowish to cream colored and are produced on spikes or panicles near the ground, normally appears before leaves. Fruit is a berry that turns scarlet-purple when ripe.[2]

Distribution

The species is endemic to parts of Angola, can also be found in East African countries like Tanzania and in Southern African.[4]

Uses

Root extracts are used in traditional medical practices by various communities; in Zambia it is used to treat problems associated with schistosomiasis, gonorrhea and diarrhea, in parts of South Africa, it is used to treat angina pectoris.[5]

Fruit is edible and eaten by locals.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q15545115 entry