Distemonanthus_benthamianus

<i>Distemonanthus</i>

Distemonanthus

Genus of legumes

Distemonanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Dialioideae.[1] It contains a single species, Distemonanthus benthamianus, a deciduous tree,[2] which occurs widely but sparsely in the forest regions of Tropical West and Central Africa; it is sometimes confused with Pericopsis laxiflora due to similar morphological features.[3]

Quick Facts Distemonanthus, Scientific classification ...

Mature heartwood has a moderate resistance to fungi.

Description

A big tree, it grows up to 40 meters tall and 90 cm in diameter. Trunk is straight but can sometimes be slightly sinuous; fairly spreading buttress roots at the base, free of branches for up to 20 meters. Bark, brown - reddish brown. Leaves, pinnately compound arrangement, 7 - 10 leaflets. Leaf-blade, ovate - elliptical in outline. Fruit, indehiscent pods[3]

Distribution

Tree grows in the high forest of West and Central Africa. Occurs in Gabon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon. In Gabon, it is known as Movingui.[4]

Uses

Parts of the root is used as a chewing stick for dental hygiene in parts of Nigeria. Bark extracts are used to treat incidents of diarrhea by traditional health practitioners.[5] Used also for decorative veneers and joinery.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3. hdl:10568/90658.
  2. [2]
    "Distemonanthus benthamianus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  3. [3]
    Voorhoeve, A. G. (1979). Liberian high forest trees : a systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species (2nd impr ed.). Wageningen: Pudoc. p. 191. ISBN 90-220-0701-4. OCLC 63303450.
  4. [4]
    Debout, G. D. G.; Doucet, J.-L.; Hardy, O. J. (2011). "Population history and gene dispersal inferred from spatial genetic structure of a Central African timber tree, Distemonanthus benthamianus (Caesalpinioideae)". Heredity. 106 (1): 88–99. doi:10.1038/hdy.2010.35. PMC 3183855. PMID 20389306. S2CID 25410719.
  5. [5]
    William, Yousseu Nana; Gilbert, Ateufack; Shah, Abdul Jabbar; Marius, Mbiantcha; Mireille, Tchoumba Tchoumi Liliane; Vanessa, Matah Mba Marthe; Flore, Adjouzem Carine; Gires, Teboukeu Boungo; Ducret, Awouafack Maurice; Khan, Taous; Albert, Kamanyi (2019). "Extracts from the trunk bark of Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon. (Caesalpiniaceae) developed antidiarrhoeal activities in rats and mice". Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine. 19 (4): 421–433. doi:10.1007/s13596-019-00385-x. ISSN 1598-2386. S2CID 199634580.


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