Alafia lucida

Alafia lucida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Malouetieae
Genus: Alafia
Species: A. lucida
Binomial name
Alafia lucida
Stapf
Synonyms[1]
  • Alafia cuneata Stapf
  • Alafia major Stapf
  • Alafia reticulata K.Schum
  • Wrightia stuhlmannii K.Schum

Alafia lucida grows as a liana up to 45 metres (148 ft) long, with a stem diameter of up to 18 centimetres (7.1 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a yellow or cream corolla, dark red at the throat. Fruit is dark brown with paired cylindrical follicles, each up to 75 centimetres (30 in) in diameter. Habitat is forests, from sea-level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) altitude. Local medicinal uses include as a treatment for jaundice, eye problems and stomach complaints. The plant has been used as arrow poison.[2] A. lucida is found in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Angola.[3]

References

  1. "Alafia lucida". The Plant List. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  2. Medicinal Plants. PROTA. 2008. pp. 5253. ISBN 978-9-05782-204-9.
  3. Search for "Alafia lucida", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 14 August 2013
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