Atroxima afzeliana

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.[1][3] It was first described in 1868 by Daniel Oliver, at which point it was described as a new Carpolobia or a new genera.[4] In 1905, Otto Stapf classified it into the atroxima genera.[2][5]

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[1]
  • Atroxima congolana E.M.A.Petit
  • Atroxima macrostachya (Chodat) Stapf
  • Atroxima zenkeri (Gürke ex Stapf) Stapf
  • Carpolobia afzeliana Oliv.[2]
  • Carpolobia macrostachya Chodat
  • Carpolobia zenkeri Gürke ex Stapf

Description

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.[1] 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.[1][4] It produces an orange, roughly spherical, crustaceous fruit which is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and edible.[1][6]

Uses

Apart from the fruit being edible, the stem, root, and leaves of the plant are used as medicine to treat various illnesses.[7]

References
  1. "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv. ex Chodat) Stapf". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Harvard University; Australian National Herbarium. "Atroxima afzeliana". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  3. "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv.) Stapf". www.ville-ge.ch. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  4. Oliver, Daniel (1868). Flora of tropical Africa. L. Reeve and Co. p. 136. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  5. London, Linnean Society of (1904). The Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green. pp. 85–86. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. "Atroxima afzeliana (Oliv.) Stapf [family Polygalaceae] on JSTOR". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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