Biology:Thilachium africanum
| Thilachium africanum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Capparaceae |
| Genus: | Thilachium |
| Species: | T. africanum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thilachium africanum Lour.
| |
Thilachium africanum is a shrub or small tree within the family Capparaceae. It is found in Eastern and Southern Africa, from Kenya to Northeastern parts of South Africa and also in Madagascar[1]
Description
The species grows up to 7 meters tall with tuberous roots; branches are brown or grey and lenticellate.[2] Leaves: simple or 3-foliate; leaflets obovate to elliptic in outline and with a leathery surface, the leaflets are about 3-9 cm long and 1-5 cm wide, apex is obtuse to rounded while base is cuneate to rounded.[2] Inflorescence is terminal or axillary raceme like, white and green with spreading and wavy stamens.[3] Fruit is cucumber like in shape, ellipsoid and up to 6 cm long and contains numerous seeds.[2]
Distribution
Occurs in deciduous forests, opens woodland and riverine forests of Eastern Africa and in thickets.[4]
Uses
Extracts of the species are used in preparations to ease pain, bark extracts are used to treat snake bites and diarrhoea among the Samburu people of Kenya.[4] The tuberous roots are boiled and then drained a few times to reduce toxicity. [3]
References
- ↑ "Thilachium africanum Lour. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:148126-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schmidt, Ernst (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Mervyn Lotter, Warren McCleland, John Burrow. Johannesburg: Jacana. ISBN 1-919777-30-X. OCLC 51322213. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51322213.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Edible wild plants of Tanzania" (in en). https://www.worldagroforestry.org/publication/edible-wild-plants-tanzania.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ndakala, Albert J. (1995). Essential oils of some plants of the family capparidaceae. as repellents for the brown ear tick, rhipicephalus appendiculatus and the maize weevil, sitophilus zeamais (Thesis thesis).
Wikidata ☰ Q17248240 entry
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