Landolphia dulcis is a climbing shrub or liana within the Apocynaceae family.[1]
| Landolphia dulcis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Landolphia |
| Species: | L. dulcis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Landolphia dulcis (Sabine ex G.Don) Pichon
| |
Description
editThe species is capable of growing up to 5m tall as a sarmentose shrub and reach a height of 10m as a liana.[2] Leaves, the glabrous or pilose petiole is 2-17 mm long; leaf-blade is ovate to obovate in outline, leaflets have a coriaceous surface, leaf apex is emarginate to acuminate while the base is cordate to cuneate.[2] The inflorescence is axillary with 1-3 flower per axil, peduncle is 0.5-5.5 mm long, pedicels are 0.1-3.1 mm long.[2] The flowers are fragrant, the calyx is green, brown or violet, 2-2.9 mm long with 4 or 5 unequal sepals. The corolla is often discolorous and is commonly dark green, yellow, violet, cream or reddish.[2] Fruit is globular, 5-50 seeded, commonly green, orange, yellow or red turning blackish or reddish when cut.[2][1]
Distribution
editLargely occurs in West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria, also found in Central Africa, in particular, Gabon and Angola.[2]
Chemistry
editRoot of the species contains aromadendrene compounds, a group of sesquiterpenes.[3]
Uses
editLeaf and stem bark extracts are part of a decoction used by herbalists in treating chronic sore, body pains and dysentery. Its fruit is edible and eaten by locals. Latex is sometimes used as birdlime.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Quattrocchi, Umberto (2012). CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants : common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 2206. ISBN 978-1-4200-8044-5. OCLC 774639599.
- ^ a b c d e f g The African species of Landolphia P. Beauv. : series of revisions of Apocynaceae XXXIV. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Agricultural University. 1992. pp. 53–59. ISBN 90-6754-234-2. OCLC 31208098.
- ^ Staerk, Dan; Skole, Brian; Jørgensen, Flemming S.; Budnik, Bogdan A.; Ekpe, Patrick; Jaroszewski, Jerzy W. (2004). "Isolation of a library of aromadendranes from Landolphia dulcis and its characterization using the VolSurf approach". Journal of Natural Products. 67 (5): 799–805. doi:10.1021/np0340450. ISSN 0163-3864. PMID 15165140.