Terminalia glaucescens
Planch. ex Benth.
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Description
A tree. It grows 20 m high. The trunk is short and gnarled. The bark is dark grey and cracked.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The root is chewed as a traditional practice. Leaves are occasionally eaten.
Traditional Uses
The root is chewed. It is used as a chewstick and due to small amounts of alkaloids has an antibiotic effect helping prevent teeth decay.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
In parts of West Africa, T. schimperiana is used as a medicinal plant. The bark is applied to wounds, and the twigs may be chewed to promote oral hygiene. In laboratory experiments, extracts of the plant were found to have in vitro antibiotic properties against Staphylococcus. The plant extracts also have antifungal properties in vitro.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in savannah woodlands and on the edges of forests. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 1,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa,
Other Information
The leaves are only occasionally eaten.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Dagabero
References (7)
- Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
- Bonou, A., et al, 2013, Valeur economique des Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux (PFNL) au Benin. Editions Universitaires Europeennes p 91
- Burckill, H. M., 1985,
- Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.
- Dansi, A., et al, 2008, Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2008) 55:1239–1256
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- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 87
- Salako, V. K. et al, 2013, Home gardens: an assessment of their biodiversity and potential contribution to conservation of threatened species and crop wild relatives in Benin. Genet Resour Crop Evol
