Cussonia holstii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Cussonia
Species:
C. holstii
Binomial name
Cussonia holstii
Harms ex Engl.

Cussonia holstii is a small to medium size tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. The tree is similar in shape to a paw paw tree.[1]

Description

The species can grow up to 20 m tall, the trunk is straight and can reach 1 m in diameter. Its bark is fissured and scaly and commonly dark greyish in color.[1] The species has digitately compound adult leaves clustered at the end of branches, with 3-7 leaflets that are broadly ovate in outline with a crenate margin; the apex is acuminate while the base is cuneate to cordate.[2] Petiole is present and up to 40 cm long. Flowers are in spikes, green to yellow in color, can be up to 30 together at apex of branches.[2][1]

Distribution

The species occurs in East Africa from Somalia southwards to Tanzania.[3]

Uses

A decoction of leaf extracts is used in traditional medicine to treat abdominal pain while a bark decoction is used during child birth to clean the uterus and expel the placenta.[2] Leaves are also used as fodder for goats.

Wood is soft and used to make doors and beehives.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dale, Ivan Robert; Greenway, Percy James (1961). Kenya trees & shrubs. Internet Archive. Nairobi : Buchanan's Kenya Estates. p. 51.
  2. 1 2 3 Bussmann, Rainer W., ed. (2021). Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Africa. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 375–376. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-38386-2. ISBN 978-3-030-38385-5.
  3. ↑ "Cussonia holstii - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  4. ↑ Chalo, Duncan M. (2015). Evaluation of antimicrobial activity, toxicity and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants of losho, narok county, Kenya (PhD thesis). University of Nairobi.
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