Erythrina sigmoidea.
|
|
Scientific
Classification:
Synonyms:
Species
ID: NMP-222;wfo-0000181143;NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 1977555 Common
Names: Erythrina
or Coral Tree. Local
Names: Description: Erythrina sigmoidea is a variable, prickly tree typically growing between 3 to 6 meters in height. The stems are armed with stout, recurved prickles, and the bark is thick and corky, exhibiting a brownish-yellow or cream color. The leaves are trifoliate, with leaflets that are densely tomentose, usually broader than long, measuring 8 to 13 cm in length and 9 to 15 cm in width. The plant produces red flowers arranged in racemes nearly as long as the leaves. The fruits are moniliform pods, segmented into 3 to 4 parts. Distribution
and Habitat:
This species is native to West and Central Africa, with its range extending
from Senegal and Gambia to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.
It thrives in open forests on temporarily flooded sand, forest patches in
sandy-clayey soil on hardpan, savannas, and gravelly soils along streams, at
elevations ranging from 1,080 to 1,780 meters. Medicinal
Properties:
Erythrina sigmoidea is utilized in traditional medicine for various
purposes. The plant is traditionally used as an antidote, antirheumatic,
diuretic, and febrifuge. It is employed in treating conditions such as venomous
stings and bites, arthritis, rheumatism, pulmonary troubles, stomach ailments,
infectious diseases, and kidney disorders. Aqueous extracts from the leaves,
bark, and roots are used to treat gastrointestinal infections, venereal
diseases, and leprosy. Several compounds with cytotoxic properties have been
identified in the bark, including sigmoidin, atalantoflavone, bidwillon A,
neocyclomorusin, and neobavaisoflavone, which have shown good cytotoxicity
towards drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cell lines. Known
Toxicity: All
Erythrina species contain varying amounts of toxic alkaloids, which can
be found in all parts of the plant but are usually most concentrated in the
seeds. These alkaloids have a curare-like action and can cause paralysis and
even death by respiratory failure. Therefore, caution should be exercised in
any use of the plant that involves ingestion. Additional
Information:
The
wood of Erythrina sigmoidea is generally greyish-white, light in weight
but strong, with a spongy texture and not very durable. It is used for purposes
such as sieve frames, surfboards, dugout canoes, outrigger canoe floats, boxes,
and small art carvings. The plant's short stature and strongly armed stems make
it suitable for use as defensive barriers. Additionally, most Erythrina
species are very easy to grow from cuttings, with even quite large branches
striking well, making them useful for living fences to provide boundaries and
livestock-proof hedges. References:
External Links
|
|
| Compounds of Erythrina sigmoidea. | |
| References |