Kingdom Plantae Family Apocynaceae Rank Species | Order Gentianales Genus Tabernaemontana | |
Similar Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Tabernaemontana crassa, Tabernaemontana corymbosa, Tabernaemontana ventricosa, Tabernaemontana | ||
Toad tree mkhalu isizulu or tabernaemontana elegans tembe comm reserve south africa
Tabernaemontana elegans is a shrub or small tree that is native to eastern Africa. Vernacular names for the plant include "Toad tree".
Contents
- Toad tree mkhalu isizulu or tabernaemontana elegans tembe comm reserve south africa
- Structure
- Range
- Uses
- Chemistry
- References
Structure
It grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimetres (12 in). Its fragrant flowers feature white, creamy or pale yellow corolla lobes. Fruit consists of 2 separate ovoid or ellipsoid pods, up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) each.
Range
Habitat is in forests or bushland from sea-level to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) altitude. The plant is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.
Uses
Its numerous local medicinal uses include the treatment of heart disease, cancer, tuberculosis and venereal diseases. T. elegans is also used as an aphrodisiac. The Zulu name for this genus, iNomfi, refers to the use of their sticky, milky latex as bird-lime.
Chemistry
Fourteen indole alkaloids have been isolated in the callus culture of Tabernaemontana elegans (isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-coronaridine, isositsirikine, geissoschizol, tabernaemontanine, vobasine, vobasinol, apparicine, 16-hydroxy-16,22-dihydro-apparicine, tubotaiwine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-conodurine and monogagaine) of which apparicine is the principal.