Distemonanthus
Distemonanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Dialioideae.[1] It contains a single species, Distemonanthus benthamianus, a deciduous tree,[2] which occurs widely but sparsely in the forest regions of Tropical West and Central Africa; it is sometimes confused with Pericopsis laxiflora due to similar morphological features.[3]
| Distemonanthus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Dialioideae |
| Genus: | Distemonanthus Benth. |
| Species: | D. benthamianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Distemonanthus benthamianus Baill. | |
Mature heartwood has a moderate resistance to fungi.
Description
A big tree, it grows up to 40 meters tall and 90 cm in diameter. Trunk is straight but can sometimes be slightly sinuous; fairly spreading buttress roots at the base, free of branches for up to 20 meters. Bark, brown - reddish brown. Leaves, pinnately compound arrangement, 7 - 10 leaflets. Leaf-blade, ovate - elliptical in outline. Fruit, indehiscent pods[3]
Distribution
Tree grows in the high forest of West and Central Africa. Occurs in Gabon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon. In Gabon, it is known as Movingui.[4]
Uses
Parts of the root is used as a chewing stick for dental hygiene in parts of Nigeria. Bark extracts are used to treat incidents of diarrhea by traditional health practitioners.[5] Used also for decorative veneers and joinery.[4]
References
- The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3.
- "Distemonanthus benthamianus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- Voorhoeve, A. G. (1979). Liberian high forest trees : a systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species (2nd impr ed.). Wageningen: Pudoc. p. 191. ISBN 90-220-0701-4. OCLC 63303450.
- Debout, G. D. G.; Doucet, J.-L.; Hardy, O. J. (2011). "Population history and gene dispersal inferred from spatial genetic structure of a Central African timber tree, Distemonanthus benthamianus (Caesalpinioideae)". Heredity. 106 (1): 88–99. doi:10.1038/hdy.2010.35. PMC 3183855. PMID 20389306. S2CID 25410719.
- William, Yousseu Nana; Gilbert, Ateufack; Shah, Abdul Jabbar; Marius, Mbiantcha; Mireille, Tchoumba Tchoumi Liliane; Vanessa, Matah Mba Marthe; Flore, Adjouzem Carine; Gires, Teboukeu Boungo; Ducret, Awouafack Maurice; Khan, Taous; Albert, Kamanyi (2019). "Extracts from the trunk bark of Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon. (Caesalpiniaceae) developed antidiarrhoeal activities in rats and mice". Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine. 19 (4): 421–433. doi:10.1007/s13596-019-00385-x. ISSN 1598-2386. S2CID 199634580.