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Harrisonia abyssinica

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Harrisonia abyssinica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Subfamily: Cneoroideae
Genus: Harrisonia
Species:
H. abyssinica
Binomial name
Harrisonia abyssinica
Synonyms
  • Clausena impunctata Welw. ex Hiern
  • Ebelingia abyssinica (Oliv.) Kuntze
  • Ebelingia occidentalis (Engl.) Kuntze
  • Fagara guineensis (Stapf) De Wild.
  • Harrisonia occidentalis Engl.
  • Zanthoxylum guineense Stapf

Harrisonia abyssinica is a species of shrub or small tree in the genus Harrisonia, family Rutaceae. Native to tropical Africa, its habitat is usually in transitional zones between deciduous woodlands and evergreen forest.[1]

Description

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Harrisonia abyssinica grows up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall with spines up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long on outgrowths on the branches.[2] It flowers from August to November with white to yellow petals.[3] The fruits are red to black, 4–9 centimetres (1.6–3.5 in) in diameter and edible.[4]

Medicinal properties

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The roots and bark from the stem are used to treat gonorrhoea, dysentery and tuberculosis as well as an ascaricide.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Harrisonia abyssinica". www.mozambiqueflora.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  2. ^ "Harrisonia abyssinica". Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv". Zambia Flora. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Compilation Harrisonia abyssinica". JSTOR. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. ^ Baldé, A.; Pieters, L.; De Bruyne, T.; Geerts, S.; Vanden Berghe, D.; Vlietinck, A. (1995). "Biological investigations on Harrisonia abyssinica" (PDF). Phytomedicine. 1 (4): 299–302. Retrieved 30 December 2019.