Cussonia spicata
| Spiked cabbage tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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, which is native to the moister regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is cultivated as a garden plant in areas without extreme degrees of frost. It is one of the favorite foods of wild elephants.[1]
Description
Larger specimens develop a sturdy trunk and a rounded, spreading canopy, and can reach a height of 15 meters. The attractive leafs grow from the end of thick branches to form rounded heads. The species name spicata means "spike-like", and suggests the arrangement of its flowers.[2]
Range
It occurs naturally from southern and eastern South Africa to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and northwards into tropical Africa.[2]
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
- 1 2 Hankey, Andrew (December 2004). "Cussonia spicata Thunb.". plantzafrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
External links
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Cussonia spicata". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.