Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Africa (Ghana, Togo, southern Sudan and Kenya, southern Malawi, Zambia, Angola) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Evergreen tree with a dense canopy, able to grow up to about 15 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Large dark green leaves, simple and opposite arrangement, margins entire, broadly to narrowly elliptical, measuring about 10 - 50 cm long and 5 - 26 cm wide, petiole measuring about 0.6 - 2 cm long, underneath of leaf surface scattered with black dots. |
| Stems | Dichotomously branched, bark is pale-brown to greyish brown. |
| Flowers | White fragrant 5-petaled flowers borne on a corymb inflorescence about 8 - 26 cm long. |
| Fruit | Fruit is green (consisting of 2 globose follicles) and measures about 15 cm wide. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Plant exudes a milky white latex when parts of it are broken. |
| Etymology | Genus Tabernaemontana is named after Jakob Theodor von Bergzaben (1520 - 1590) (Latinised surname Tabernaemontanus meaning "tavern in the mountain"), who was a German herbalist. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Latex is used as a styptic and applied to fresh wounds to prevent infection. Dried powdered leaves are used in the treatment of sores and ulcers. Timber & Products: Wood is used to make knife sheaths, handles and combs. Also used for firewood and to make charcoal. The bark is used to make cloth in southern Nigeria. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1879 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3172 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
.jpg)
