Maesa lanceolata
Maesa lanceolata, the false assegai, is a tree species that is widespread in the Afrotropics, including Madagascar.[1] It occurs from the southern Arabian Peninsula, southwards to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It grows on stream verges, river banks and forest verges, where it is often a pioneer plant.
| False assegai | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Maesa |
| Species: | M. lanceolata |
| Binomial name | |
| Maesa lanceolata | |
Description edit
Maesa lanceolata grows either as a shrub or tree, when growing as a tree, it is capable of reaching 10 m tall, but it has been observed to reach 20 m.[2] It has a grey, brown to reddish brown bark that is vertically fissured, the slash is pink turning brown with a dark reddish exudate.[3] Leaves are petiolate, with the petiole capable of reaching 4 cm long.[3] Leaflets are elliptical to lanceolate in outline, they can reach 16 cm in length and 7 cm in width with a margin that tends to be either serrate to crenate; the apex is acute and base is rounded to obsute.[3] Flowers are arranged in shortly pedunculate axillary panicles, they are numerous and white to yellowish in color.[3][2]
The fruits are yellow in color and globose in shape, they contain up to 20 seeds.
Ecology edit
The yellow fruits of the species are consumed by the Yellow-whiskered greenbul and the lolive-breasted mountain greenbul but can be toxic to humans.[4][2]
Distribution edit
Occurs in Tropical Africa and the Arabian peninsula. They are commonly found in montane forest and gallery forest environments.[2]
Chemistry edit
Oleane type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins have been isolated from the leaves of the species,[5] also isolated from the leaves and fruits of the species is the bioctive benzoquinone, Maesanin.[6]
Uses edit
Though cosidered toxic to human the extracts of Maesa lanceolata have been used in different communities to treat various ailments. In East Africa root and fruit extracts are used by native healers in decoctions to treat cholera disease, tapeworm and sore throat.[7]
- Spirally arranged leaves
- Inflorescence
- Fruit
References edit
- ^ "Maesa lanceolata Forssk". African Plant Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & SANBI. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d Lemmens, Rudolphe (2023). Useful Trees of East Africa. Books on Demand. p. 210. ISBN 9782322546336.
- ^ a b c d Dale, Ivan Robert; Greenway, Percy James (1961). Kenya trees & shrubs. Buchanan's Kenya Estates. p. 331. OCLC 1035929216.
- ^ Graham, Catherine; Moermond, Timothy; Kristensen, Kurt; Mvukiyumwami, Joseph (1995). "Seed Dispersal Effectiveness by Two Bulbuls on Maesa Lanceolata, an African Montane Forest Tree". Biotropica. 27 (4): 479–86. doi:10.2307/2388961.
- ^ Sindambiwe JB, Calomme M, Geerts S, Pieters L, Vlietinck AJ, Vanden Berghe DA. Evaluation of biological activities of triterpenoid saponins from Maesa lanceolata. J Nat Prod. 1998 May;61(5):585-90. doi: 10.1021/np9705165. PMID: 9599254.
- ^ Muhammad, I., Takamatsu, S., Walker, L.A., Mossa, J.S., Fong, H.H.S. and El-Feraly, F.S. (2003), Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of alkylated benzoquinones from Maesa lanceolata. Phytother. Res., 17: 887-891. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1237
- ^ Paul O. Okemo, Harsh Pal Bais, Jorge M. Vivanco. In vitro activities of Maesa lanceolata extracts against fungal plant pathogens. Fitoterapia,Volume 74, Issue 3,2003, Pages 312-316. ISSN 0367-326X. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00039-X.
- Algemene gids tot BOME. Keith, Paul & Meg Coates Palgrave. 2000. ISBN 1-86872-527-8
External links edit
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Maesa lanceolata". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.