Rauvolfia afra is a tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is commonly known as the quinine tree. These trees are distributed from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to tropical Africa and are found in low-lying forests near rivers and streams, or on floodplains.
| Quinine tree | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rauvolfia afra stem and leaves | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Rauvolfia |
| Species: | R. afra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rauvolfia afra Sond. (emended)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Taxonomy
editThe original etymology of the species name caffra is related to kaffir, an ethnic slur used towards black people in Africa. At the July 2024 International Botanical Congress, a vote was held with the result that "caffra" related names will be amended to afra related ones, with this being implemented at the end of July 2024.[3]
Gallery
edit-
Fruit and leaves -
Fruit panicles -
Foliage
_(11452988133).jpg)
References
edit- ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Rauvolfia afra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146221735A146221737. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146221735A146221737.en.
- ^ "Rauvolfia afra Sond". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ McKie, Robin (20 July 2024). "Botanists vote to remove racist reference from plants' scientific names". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
Further reading
edit- Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
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