Thilachium africanum is a shrub or small tree within the family Capparaceae. It is found in Eastern and Southern Africa, from Kenya to Northeastern parts of South Africa and also in Madagascar[1]
| Thilachium africanum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Capparaceae |
| Genus: | Thilachium |
| Species: | T. africanum
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| Binomial name | |
| Thilachium africanum Lour.
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Description
editThe species grows up to 7 meters tall with tuberous roots; branches are brown or grey and lenticellate.[2] Leaves: simple or 3-foliate; leaflets obovate to elliptic in outline and with a leathery surface, the leaflets are about 3-9 cm long and 1-5 cm wide, apex is obtuse to rounded while base is cuneate to rounded.[2] Inflorescence is terminal or axillary raceme like, white and green with spreading and wavy stamens.[3] Fruit is cucumber like in shape, ellipsoid and up to 6 cm long and contains numerous seeds.[2]
Distribution
editOccurs in deciduous forests, opens woodland and riverine forests of Eastern Africa and in thickets.[4]
Uses
editExtracts of the species are used in preparations to ease pain, bark extracts are used to treat snake bites and diarrhoea among the Samburu people of Kenya.[4] The tuberous roots are boiled and then drained a few times to reduce toxicity. [3]
References
edit- ^ "Thilachium africanum Lour. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b c Schmidt, Ernst (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Mervyn Lotter, Warren McCleland, John Burrow. Johannesburg: Jacana. ISBN 1-919777-30-X. OCLC 51322213.
- ^ a b "Edible wild plants of Tanzania". World Agroforestry | Transforming Lives and Landscapes with Trees. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b Ndakala, Albert J. (1995). Essential oils of some plants of the family capparidaceae. as repellents for the brown ear tick, rhipicephalus appendiculatus and the maize weevil, sitophilus zeamais (Thesis thesis).