Rhaphiostylis beninensis

Rhaphiostylis beninensis is a woody, sprawling or scrambling glabrous, evergreen shrub or liane native to Tropical Africa, belonging to the family Metteniusaceae, and one of 3 species in the genus Rhaphiostylis.[1] It is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory by the Bantu people of Africa.[2]

Rhaphiostylis beninensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Metteniusales
Family: Metteniusaceae
Genus: Rhaphiostylis
Species:
R. beninensis
Binomial name
Rhaphiostylis beninensis
(Hook.f. ex Planch.) Planch. ex Benth.
Synonyms
  • Apodytes beninensis Hook.f. ex Planch.
  • Rhaphiostylis zenkeri Engl. (1909)
  • Rhaphiostylis latifolia Pierre (1897)
  • Rhaphiostylis scandens Engl. (1909)
  • Rhaphiostylis jollyana Pierre (1897)
  • Ptychopetalum cuspidatum R. E. Fr. (1914)
  • Rhaphiostylis stuhlmannii Engl. (1893)
  • Rhaphiostylis heudelotii Planch. ex Miers

Occasionally forming thickets, it is found in or on the margins of rain-forest, where, as a climber, it reaches 10-15m in height, and rarely as a free-standing tree 5-8m. Its bark is smooth and dark grey, while young branches are reddish-brown to purple. Leaves are alternate and elliptic-lanceolate in shape with acuminate apex. Flowers in axillary clusters, white and fragrant.[3] Fruit flattened and sub-reniform, persistent lateral style, reticulate or wrinkled, bright red turning black when ripe.[4]

This species occurs in Liberia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Senegal, Gambia, Congo and Angola.

Citations

Hook., Niger Fl.: 259, t. 28 “Apodytes beninensis” (1849). — R.E.Fr., Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Rhod.-Kongo-Exped. 1: 130 (1914). — Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 2: 256 (1921), “Raphiostyles”. — Sleumer in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 20b: 368 (1942). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1, 2: 343 (1951). — Keay, F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1, 2: 638 (1958). — Boutique, F.C.B., 9: 275 (1960). — White, F.F.N.R.: 221 (1962). TAB. 73. Type from Liberia.

References
  1. "Rhaphiostylis beninensis (Hook.f.) Planch. [family ICACINACEAE] on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  2. Ofeimun, J.; Ayinde, B.; Igbe, I.; Choudhary, MI; Husain, I.; Adhikari, A. (2012). "Isolation characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of Rhaphiostylis beninensis Planch. Ex Benth (Icacinaceae)". Planta Medica. 78 (11). doi:10.1055/s-0032-1321014.
  3. CJB, CJB, DSIC, Cyrille Chatelain -. "CJB - African plant database - Detail". www.ville-ge.ch. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  4. "Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia" - F. White (OUP 1962)
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