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 | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Metteniusales |
| Family: | Metteniusaceae |
| Genus: | Rhaphiostylis |
| Species: | R. beninensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhaphiostylis beninensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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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
editHook., 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.
External links to images
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rhaphiostylis beninensis (Hook.f.) Planch. [family ICACINACEAE] on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
- ^ 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.
- ^ CJB, CJB, DSIC, Cyrille Chatelain -. "CJB - African plant database - Detail". www.ville-ge.ch. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia" - F. White (OUP 1962)