Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
HILLERIA LATIFOLIA
Botanical Name —
Hilleria latifolia
H. Watt.
Synonyms —
Hilleria elastica
Vell., l.,
Mohlana latifolia
(Lam.) Moq.,
Rivina latifolia
Lam.
Family —
Phytolaccaceae
African Names —
Igbo: aka-ato; Yoruba: ago
Description —
This is a slender herb up to 1 m tall. The leaves are oval in shape, slightly elon-
gated toward the apex, about 15 cm long and 6 cm broad. The surface is covered with numerous
short lines of crystals. There are six prominent lateral veins on either side of the midrib. The leaf-
stalk is long and covered with stiff hairs in the upper side. It has small pinkish or whitish flowers,
borne on terminal long common stalks of up to 12 cm long, which are unclustered by the leaves.
There are no petals; the sepals and stamens are 4 each, with one very short style. It produces more
or less globose, smooth, and reddish fruits, about 2 mm in diameter and net veined.
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Habitat and Distribution —
It is a lowland rainforest plant and prefers rich clay soil where its
presence is believed to indicate soils suitable for growing cocoa.
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Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The decoction of the leaves and twigs is used in Ghana for the treat-
ment of jaundice; it is also used as a steam bath for the same purpose. The herb is boiled alone or in
palm oil soup and drunk as a remedy for guinea worms and urethral discharges.
Constituents —
There is no isolation work reported on this species. Preliminary phytochemical
spot tests showed the presence of saponins and flavonoids.
Pharmacological Studies —
An extract of the plant was found effective
in vitro
against
Onchocera-volvulus filaroidea
adults and microfilariae.656
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HOLARRHENA FLORIBUNDA
Botanical Name —
Holarrhena floribunda
(G.Don) Dur. et Schinz.
Synonyms —
Holarrhena Africa
A. DC.,
Holarrhena wulsbergii
stapf.,
Rondeletia floribunda
G. Don.
Family —
Apocynaceae
Common Names —
Holarrhena (English, French)
African Names —
Arabic: ola-ina; Bambara: fufu, nofo, kedan; Pehul: indama, taraki; Sukuma:
mweriweri; Yoruba: ako-ire, are-ibeji, areno, isai
Description —
This is a big tree, reaching 15 m high and 1 m in girth. The bark is gray, smooth,
with a pale brown slash and yielding copious latex. The leaves are small and lanceolate, 8-12 cm long
and 4-6 cm broad; it is glabrous below, with 8-12 pairs of prominent lateral nerves, which fade close
