Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
exhibit activity against sickle-cell disorder. The effects have been attributed to the presence of pip-
erine, capsaicin, cubebin, and caryophyllene or closely related compounds in the plant.
874
Toxicity —
High doses of the drug have been reported to cause convulsions and hematuria.
875
POGA OLEOSA
Botanical Name —
Poga oleosa
Pierre
Family —
Rhizophoraceae
Common Names —
Inoi nut, African Brazil nut
African Names —
Boki: onyo; Bule: angale; Duala (and Mungo): pobo, povo; Igbo: imono;
Efik: inoi; Yoruba: iku
Description —
Poga oleosa
is a dominant tree up to 33 m high, with a straight and cylindrical
stem and occasionally with buttress roots. The bark is gray and fairly smooth, with a thick, brownish,
and granular slash. The branchlets are purplish and rough. The leaves are 9-15 cm long and 5-7 cm
broad, leathery, smooth, and glossy, with a slight offset tip. The flowers are very small, without stalks,
and borne on common stalks on leafless shots. There are 4 sepals and 4 petals; each petal has a saw-
edged tip. The stamens are 8 and the styles 4. The fruits are roughly spherical and elongated, 5-6.5 cm
long and about 5 cm broad. A rind surrounds a very hard shell, which contains 2-4 seeds.
77
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The kernels are edible and contain proteins and carbohydrates; hence,
they are ground and used for cooking and as an emollient.
77
The oil is used with
Dorstenia multira-
diata
as a treatment for psoriasis.
PORTULACA OLERACEA
Botanical Name —
Portulaca oleracea Linn.
Synonyms —
P. quadrifida
Linn.
Common Names —
Pursley, pusley, wild purslane, pigweed
Family —
Portulacaceae
African Names —
Ashanti: adwere; Bambara: missidi kumbare; Efik: efere-makara; Ewe:
afiaa, devio-fe 'ama; Hausa: baba jibji, halshen saniya; Mano: toa p'lo; Malinke: mazahi; Mende:
tooge; Wolof: tanguipeta; Xhosa: igwanitsha; Yoruba: papas an; Zulu: amalenyane
Description —
Portulaca oleracea
is a diffusely branched, prostrate, succulent, short-lived
annual herb with bright yellow flowers. The leaves are very fleshy, oval shaped, about 4 cm long and
2 cm broad. They are narrower toward the base and rounded at the apex.
