Trilepisium madagascariense

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Urnfig
Trilepisium madagascariense00.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Trilepisium
Species:
T. madagascariense
Binomial name
Trilepisium madagascariense
Synonyms
  • Bosqueia angolensis Ficalho
  • Bosqueia phoberos Thouars ex Baill.
  • Pontya excelsa A.Chev.[1]

Trilepisium madagascariense, the urnfig or false-fig, is a species of plant in the family Moraceae, with an extensive range in the subtropical and tropical Afrotropics. It grows to a medium-sized or large tree in primary or secondary forest, or in forest patches, and is rarely cultivated.

Range and habitat[]

It is native to tropical and subtropical West and Central Africa, and occurs southwards to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Soutpansberg, South Africa. It is also found on Madagascar and Annobón island.[2] The closely related T. gymnandrum occurs on Silhouette Island, Seychelles.[3]

It grows in evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, flooded forests or forest patches and often grows along rivers and streams,[4] extending on to the borders of savanna.[5] It is found at altitudes of up to 2,000 m[6] and higher.[7] Its status varies from rare to locally abundant and dominant.[5]

Description[]

The usually short and twisted bole and is often fluted at the base,[7] with or without buttresses.[5] Large trees may be 60 cm to 1½ m in girth, and 30 m high.[5] The smooth, grey bark is very lenticellate[8] and exudes a cream-coloured latex when damaged.[6] The yellowish to pinkish slash turns purple-red as it dries.[8] It usually branches high up to form a small and loosely pyramidal crown[7] with drooping twigs. Stipules of the terminal buds eventually leave annular scars.[8]

The glossy and very dark elliptic leaves have a prominent driptip,[4] and measure up to 14 cm long.[6] They are glossy below, and have two small lobes at the base.[8]

The flowers appear in spring and are arranged in a whitish to mauve puff.[6] The puff is about 1 cm in diameter,[4] and consists of staminate male flowers and pistillate female flowers, without perianths,[6] which obscure the view of the receptacle.[2] The flowers protrude from the open apex of an urn-shaped receptacle which is about 1.5 cm long.[4]

The fig-like fruit, embedded in fleshy receptacles, are some 2 cm long.[6] They are ellipsoidal in shape and hold a nutlet each.[4][8] Ripe fruit have the appearance of blue plums[8] or elongated figs.[2]

Uses and species associations[]

The wood is suitable for furniture, and the sap yields a red dye.[4] Roasted seeds are eaten and the trees are sometimes cultivated.[7] It has many traditional uses.[5]

A methanol extract, fractions and isoliquiritigenin from the stem bark has been shown to possess antidiarrhoeal activities,[9] and previously unknown trilepisflavan and trilepisuimic acid compounds were isolated from it in 2012.[10]

Trilepisium madagascariense is a larval foodplant for the butterfly Cyrestis camillus sublineata.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Robertson, Hamish. "Trilepisium madagascariense (Urn-fig)". Biodiversity explorer. Iziko Museums. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ^ Baguette, F.; Baboorun, T.; Harryba, S.; Senterre, B.; Beech, E. (2018). "Trilepisium gymnandrum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44005A127865223. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44005A127865223.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Van Wyk, Braam; et al. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-86825-922-9.
  5. ^ a b c d e Burkill, H. M. (1985). "The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 4, Trilepisium madagascariense DC. [family MORACEAE]". JSTOR: Global Plants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Hyde, M.; et al. "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". Base de données des plantes d'Afrique. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & SANBI. 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Jongkind, C.; et al. "Trilepisium madagascariense". Fauna and Flora of Liberia. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  9. ^ Kuiate, Jules-Roger; Kuete, Victor; Teponno, Remy Bertrand; Tapondjou, Leon Azefack; Vilarem, Gerard; Teke, Gerald Ngo (2010). "Antidiarrheal activity of extracts and compound from Trilepisium madagascariense stem bark". Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 42 (3): 157–63. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.66839. PMC 2937317. PMID 20871767.
  10. ^ Ango, Patrick Y.; Kapche, Deccaux W.F.G.; Kuete, Victor; Ngadjui, Bonaventure T.; Bezabih, Merhatibeb; Abegaz, Berhanu M. (September 2012). "Chemical constituents of Trilepisium madagascariense (Moraceae) and their antimicrobial activity". Phytochemistry Letters. 5 (3): 524–528. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2012.05.006.
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