Cussonia spicata
| Cussonia spicata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cussonia spicata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Subfamily: | Aralioideae |
| Genus: | Cussonia |
| Species: | C. spicata |
| Binomial name | |
| Cussonia spicata Thunb. | |
Cussonia spicata (known as spiked cabbage tree, lowveld cabbage tree or common cabbage tree) is a tree in the Araliaceae family.
It occurs naturally in southern Africa and into tropical Africa.
It is cultivated as a garden plant and can reach a height of 15 meters. It does not tolerate extreme degrees of frost. It is one of the favorite foods for wild elephants.[1]
Leaves
Ethnomedical Uses
It has been used in traditional African medicine and its medicinal properties are being investigated.
- A bark decoction is used in the treatment of malaria, and indigestion in a similar manner to tonic water
- A root decoction is used to treat fever, venereal disease, as well as a diuretic and laxative.
- A root bark decoction is used to treat mental illness.
References
- ↑ Minute 6-7; April 5 2009 episode)Naked Scientists
External links
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). [http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Cussonia+spicata&filterRegionIDs[]=6&filterRegionIDs[]=1&filterRegionIDs[]=2&filterRegionIDs[]=3&filterRegionIDs[]=5 "Cussonia spicata"]. African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.