Brackenridgea zanguebarica, the yellow peeling plane, is a species of plant in the family Ochnaceae. It is native to the southeastern Afrotropics. The bark of the tree is locally in high demand for traditional medicine.
| Yellow peeling plane | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Ochnaceae |
| Genus: | Brackenridgea |
| Species: | B. zanguebarica
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| Binomial name | |
| Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv. (1871)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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It is known locally as Mutavhasindi among native healers in Vhembe district of South Africa.
Description
editThe plant grows either as a shrub or tree, it is a deciduous species that can reach an height of 10 m.[2] The bark is corky and furrowed often greyish in color but sometimes black with yellow pigments and a yellow inner bark.[2] Leaves are petiolate, the stipules are markedly longitudinally striate.[2] Leaflets are obovate to elliptic in outline, up to 5 cm long and 3 cm wide and with a toothed margin. The flowers are whitish to cream in color and are solitary or in clusters of 2-8.[2]
Range
editIt occurs in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe[3] and very locally Limpopo Province of South Africa, where it is endangered. Occurs in wooded grasslands and forest margins.[2]
Uses
editThe stem bark and root extracts of the plant is used in native medicine to treat a variety of ailments that include amenorrhea, conjunctivitis, wound treatment and venereal diseases.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Verdcourt, Bernard (2005). Flora of tropical East Africa. ochn: Ochnaceae / by B. Verdcourt (1. publ ed.). Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens. ISBN 978-1-84246-108-2.
- ^ Hyde, M. A.; et al. "Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv". Flora of Zim. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ Möller, Maren; Suschke, Ulrike; Nolkemper, Silke; Schneele, Jürgen; Distl, Melanie; Sporer, Frank; Reichling, Jürgen; Wink, Michael (2010-02-18). "Antibacterial, antiviral, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties of Brackenridgea zanguebarica (Ochnaceae)". Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 58 (8): 1131–1138. doi:10.1211/jpp.58.8.0015. ISSN 0022-3573.