| Gardenia erubescens | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Gardenia |
| Species: | G. erubescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Gardenia erubescens | |
| Synonyms | |
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Gardenia erubescens is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rubiaceae . [2] [3] It has edible fruits and occurs in the Guinea and Sudan savannah vegetation of West and Central Africa. [4]
A shrub or small tree, the species grows to 3 meters in height. Leaves are opposite, grows on the end of short branches and grouped in tufts, when dry, the foliage have a purple greyish color on the upper surface which becomes a little duller beneath, [5] [4] both sides are glabrous. Stipules are 2–4 mm long, leaf-blade is broadly obovate. [4] Inflorescence; flowers are solitary or in small clusters, calyx is tubular consisting of 6 linear lobes, corolla, also is in a tubular form, consisting of about 6 elliptic lobes. Fruit has an ellipsoid or ovoid shape, it is yellowish in color when ripe, about 3–8 cm long. [4] [6]
Commonly occurs in woodland savannas in West African countries of Senegal, Nigeria, and eastwards towards Central Africa.
Test on plant extracts identified the presence of the compounds beta-sitosterol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and a group of methylated flavonoids that includes 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone and triterpenoids. [7] [8] [9]
In parts of Northern Nigeria, a decoction of the species is used to treat a variety of health issues including gonorrhea, ascites and loss of appetite, extracts are also used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant. [7] Its edible fruit are consumed by locals.
