Thilachium africanum

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Thilachium africanum
Thilachium africanum (10348903163).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Thilachium
Species:
T. africanum
Binomial name
Thilachium africanum
Synonyms [2]
  • Thilachium ovalifoliumJuss.
  • Ritchiea langiiOberm.
  • Thilachium querimbenseKlotzsch
  • Thilachium verrucosumKlotzsch

Thilachium africanum is a species of flowering plant in the family Capparaceae . [2] [3] This shrub or small tree is native to Eswatini, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, the Northern Provinces, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. [2]

Contents

Description

The species grows up to 7 meters tall with tuberous roots; branches are brown or grey and lenticellate. [4] 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. [4] Inflorescence is terminal or axillary raceme like, white and green with spreading and wavy stamens. [5] Fruit is cucumber like in shape, ellipsoid and up to 6 cm long and contains numerous seeds. [4]

Distribution

Occurs in deciduous forests, opens woodland and riverine forests of Eastern Africa and in thickets. [6]

Uses

Extracts 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. [6] The tuberous roots are boiled and then drained a few times to reduce toxicity. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2020). "Thilachium africanum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T146231355A146443245. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T146231355A146443245.en . Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Thilachium africanum Lour. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  3. ↑ "Thilachium africanum Lour". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 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.
  5. 1 2 "Edible wild plants of Tanzania". World Agroforestry | Transforming Lives and Landscapes with Trees. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. 1 2 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).
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