Atroxima afzeliana
| Atroxima afzeliana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Polygalaceae |
| Genus: | Atroxima |
| Species: | A. afzeliana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv. ex Chodat) Stapf
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Atroxima afzeliana is a species of plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It is endemic to rainforests and forest fringes with altitudes below 200 metres (660 ft) in Western Tropical Africa.[2][3] It was first described in 1868 by Daniel Oliver, at which point it was described as a new Carpolobia or a new genus.[4] In 1905, Otto Stapf classified it into the atroxima genus.[1][5]
Description[edit]
Atroxima afzeliana is a glabrous tree or shrub with a height of up to 25 feet (7.6 m). It has sweeping branches and is sometimes scandent.[2] Its leaves are leathery and elliptical. They are 2.5 to 4 inches (6.4 to 10.2 cm) long and 1.25 to 2 inches (3.2 to 5.1 cm) wide.[4] It produces 6 to 10 flowers which are mauve or cream-coloured.[2][4] It produces an orange, roughly spherical, crustaceous fruit which is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and edible.[2][6]
Uses[edit]
Apart from the fruit being edible, the stem, root, and leaves of the plant are used as medicine to treat various illnesses.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Harvard University; Australian National Herbarium. "Atroxima afzeliana". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv. ex Chodat) Stapf". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv.) Stapf". www.ville-ge.ch. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c Oliver, Daniel (1868). Flora of tropical Africa. L. Reeve and Co. p. 136. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ London, Linnean Society of (1904). The Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green. pp. 85–86. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (France) (1971). Mémoires du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. Série B, Botanique. Ed. du Museum. p. 889. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv.) Stapf [family Polygalaceae] on JSTOR". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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