Tarchonanthus camphoratus (known as camphor bush for its scent, or leleshwa in Kenya), is a shrub or small tree, widespread in Africa south of the Sahel.
Tarchonanthus camphoratus
Foliage and flower heads, Nature's Valley, South Africa
The camphor bush can reach up to 6 meters in height. The twigs and younger stems are white-felted, as are the undersides of the leaves. The upper leaf surface is dark olive-green. Bruised leaves smell strongly of camphor. Tarchonanthus camphoratus is dioecious. Flowers are usually present from December to May (in South Africa), with cream colored panicles on a discoid head. Male flowering heads have several flowers whilst the female has only a few. The fruit is a dense and woolly achene.[2]
Cultivation and usesedit
Tarchonanthus camphoratus wood is fragrant, close-grained, attractive, durable and rich in aromatic oils. It is used as wood fuel and a source of charcoal.[3][4] It is also used as a traditional building material, in horticulture, and in tribal papermaking. Leleshwa is also a source of aromatic oils[5][6] used as fragrances. Its leaves are used by the Maasai to scent their homes and persons.
Medicinal useedit
Tarchonanthus camphoratus is used as a traditional remedy for respiratory illnesses.[7] The species has wide range of local uses, including dental hygiene.
Galleryedit
Trunk and bark
Wood
Referencesedit
^The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 July 2016
^Hilliard, O.M. Compositae in Natal. University of Natal Press, 1977. pp. 110-112.
^Young, T.P. & C. Francombe (1991). "Growth and yield estimates in natural stands of leleshwa (Tarchonanthus camphoratus)". Forest Ecology and Management. 41 (3–4): 309–321. doi:10.1016/0378-1127(91)90111-8.
^Kennedy, A.D. (1998). "Coppicing of Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Compositae) as a source of sustainable fuel-wood production: an example from Laikipia Plateau, Kenya". African Journal of Ecology. 36: 148–158. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2028.1998.00115.x.
^Mwangi, J.W.; Achola, K.J.; et al. (1994). "Volatile constituents of the essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 6: 183–185. doi:10.1080/10412905.1994.9698351.
^Bishay, D.W.; Attia, A.A. & Fayed, M.A. (2002). "Flavones and a quaternary alkaloid from Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.". Bull. Pharm. Sci. Assiut Univ. 25 (1): 1–6. doi:10.21608/bfsa.2002.65503.
^[1] "Tarchonantus Camphoratus Herba", Google Docs.
April 11, 2024
tarchonanthus, camphoratus, known, camphor, bush, scent, leleshwa, kenya, shrub, small, tree, widespread, africa, south, sahel, foliage, flower, heads, nature, valley, south, africahabitscientific, classificationkingdom, plantaeclade, tracheophytesclade, angio. Tarchonanthus camphoratus known as camphor bush for its scent or leleshwa in Kenya is a shrub or small tree widespread in Africa south of the Sahel Tarchonanthus camphoratusFoliage and flower heads Nature s Valley South AfricaHabitScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder AsteralesFamily AsteraceaeGenus TarchonanthusSpecies T camphoratusBinomial nameTarchonanthus camphoratusL Synonyms 1 Tarchonanthus abyssinicus Sch Bip Tarchonanthus litakunensis DC Tarchonanthus procerus Salisb Contents 1 Description 2 Cultivation and uses 3 Medicinal use 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesDescription editThe camphor bush can reach up to 6 meters in height The twigs and younger stems are white felted as are the undersides of the leaves The upper leaf surface is dark olive green Bruised leaves smell strongly of camphor Tarchonanthus camphoratus is dioecious Flowers are usually present from December to May in South Africa with cream colored panicles on a discoid head Male flowering heads have several flowers whilst the female has only a few The fruit is a dense and woolly achene 2 Cultivation and uses editTarchonanthus camphoratus wood is fragrant close grained attractive durable and rich in aromatic oils It is used as wood fuel and a source of charcoal 3 4 It is also used as a traditional building material in horticulture and in tribal papermaking Leleshwa is also a source of aromatic oils 5 6 used as fragrances Its leaves are used by the Maasai to scent their homes and persons Medicinal use editTarchonanthus camphoratus is used as a traditional remedy for respiratory illnesses 7 The species has wide range of local uses including dental hygiene Gallery edit nbsp Trunk and bark nbsp WoodReferences edit The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species retrieved 1 July 2016 Hilliard O M Compositae in Natal University of Natal Press 1977 pp 110 112 Young T P amp C Francombe 1991 Growth and yield estimates in natural stands of leleshwa Tarchonanthus camphoratus Forest Ecology and Management 41 3 4 309 321 doi 10 1016 0378 1127 91 90111 8 Kennedy A D 1998 Coppicing of Tarchonanthus camphoratus Compositae as a source of sustainable fuel wood production an example from Laikipia Plateau Kenya African Journal of Ecology 36 148 158 doi 10 1046 j 1365 2028 1998 00115 x Mwangi J W Achola K J et al 1994 Volatile constituents of the essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus L Journal of Essential Oil Research 6 183 185 doi 10 1080 10412905 1994 9698351 Bishay D W Attia A A amp Fayed M A 2002 Flavones and a quaternary alkaloid from Tarchonanthus camphoratus L Bull Pharm Sci Assiut Univ 25 1 1 6 doi 10 21608 bfsa 2002 65503 1 Tarchonantus Camphoratus Herba Google Docs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tarchonanthus camphoratus amp oldid 1150714796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
