Terminalia schimperiana

Taxobox
name = "Terminalia schimperiana"


image_width =
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Myrtales
familia = Combretaceae
genus = "Terminalia"
species = "T. schimperiana"
binomial = "Terminalia schimperiana"
binomial_authority =Hochst.
synonyms = "Terminalia glaucescens"
Planch. ex Benth. "Terminalia togoensis"
Engl. & Diels "Terminalia baumanii"
Engl. & Diels "Terminalia passargei"
Engl. in Engl. & Diels "Terminalia longipes"
Engl.

"Terminalia schimperiana" is a species of "Terminalia", native to tropical Africa from Guinea and Sierra Leone east to Uganda and Ethiopia.African Plants Database: [http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=713 "Terminalia schimperiana"] ]

It is a broadleaved small tree that can reach up to 7–14 m, variably deciduous in the dry season to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. The leaves are alternate, simple, elliptic to obovate, entire, 9–15 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, green above with pale undersides. The flowers are tiny and form pale spikes at the base of the leaves. The fruit is a samara with a single wing 6–9 cm long, that turns brown with age.Arbonnier, M. (2004). "Trees, shrubs and lianas of West African dry zones". Margraf Publishers ISBN 3-8236-1419-3.]

It can be found in open forest habitats with more than 1300 mm of rainfall per year. [cite web | last =Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Country profiles / Forest cover - natural woody vegetation (Sudan) | work = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/6469/en/sdn/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-06-08 ] [cite web | last =Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Country profiles / Forest cover - natural woody vegetation (Cote d'Ivoire) | work = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/6469/en/civ/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-06-09] as well as closed forest. When it is found in closed forest, it typically is part of the forest canopy. [Jones, E. W. (1963). The Cece Forest Reserve, Northern Nigeria. "Journal of Ecology" 51 (2): 461-466.] It may be the dominant large tree species where it is found. Fire and debarking by elephants can damage the trees. [Buechner, H. K., & Dawkins, H. C. (1961). Vegetation Change Induced by Elephants and Fire in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. "Ecology" 42 (4): 752-766.]

Uses

In parts of West Africa, "T. schimperiana" is used as a medicinal plant. [cite web | last =Sofonara | first = | authorlink = | coauthors =Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | title = Appendix 5 - Medicinal Plants in Common Use in West Africa | work = | publisher = | date =1982 | url =http://www.fao.org/docrep/t9450e/t9450e0f.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-06-08 ] The bark is applied to wounds, and the twigs may be chewed to promote oral hygiene. In laboratory experiments, extracts of the plant were effective as antibiotics against "Staphylococcus". [Akande, J. A., & Hayashi, Y. (1998). Potency of extract contents from selected tropical chewing sticks against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus auricularis. "World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology" 14 (2): 235-238. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/r875l65841xr0533/ Abstract] , doi 10.1023/A:1008838331079.] The plant extracts also have antifungal properties. [Batawila, K. (2005). Antifungal activities of five Combretaceae used in Togolese traditional medicine. "Fitoterapia" 76 (2): 264-268. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15752646&dopt=AbstractPlus Abstract] .]

References