Trilepisium madagascariense
| Urnfig | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Trilepisium |
| Species: | T. madagascariense
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| Binomial name | |
| Trilepisium madagascariense | |
| Synonyms | |
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Trilepisium madagascariense, the urnfig or false-fig, is a species of plant in the family Moraceae, with an extensive range in the subtropical and tropical Afrotropics. It grows to a medium-sized or large tree in primary or secondary forest, or in forest patches, and is rarely cultivated.[2]
Range and habitat[edit]
It is native to tropical and subtropical West and Central Africa, and occurs southwards to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Soutpansberg, South Africa. It is also found on Madagascar and Annobón island.[3] The closely related T. gymnandrum occurs on Silhouette Island, Seychelles.[4]
It grows in evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, flooded forests or forest patches and often grows along rivers and streams,[5] extending on to the borders of savanna.[6] It is found at altitudes of up to 2,000 m[7] and higher.[8] Its status varies from rare to locally abundant and dominant.[6]
Description[edit]
They are usually short and twisted bole and is often fluted at the base,[8] with or without buttresses.[6] Large trees may be 60 cm to 1½ m in girth, and 30 m high.[6] The smooth, grey bark is very lenticellate[9] and exudes a cream-coloured latex when damaged.[7] The yellowish to pinkish slash turns purple-red as it dries.[9] It usually branches high up to form a small and loosely pyramidal crown[8] with drooping twigs. Stipules of the terminal buds eventually leave annular scars.[9]
The glossy and very dark elliptic leaves have a prominent driptip,[5] and measure up to 14 cm long.[7] They are glossy below, and have two small lobes at the base.[9]
The flowers appear in spring and are arranged in a whitish to mauve puff.[7] The puff is about 1 cm in diameter,[5] and consists of staminate male flowers and pistillate female flowers, without perianths,[7] which obscure the view of the receptacle.[3] The flowers protrude from the open apex of an urn-shaped receptacle which is about 1.5 cm long.[5]
The fig-like fruit, embedded in fleshy receptacles, are some 2 cm long.[7] They are ellipsoidal in shape and hold a nutlet each.[5][9] Ripe fruit have the appearance of blue plums[9] or elongated figs.[3]
Uses and species associations[edit]
The wood is suitable for furniture, and the sap yields a red dye.[5] Roasted seeds are eaten and the trees are sometimes cultivated.[8] It has many traditional uses.[6]
A methanol extract, fractions and isoliquiritigenin from the stem bark has been shown to possess antidiarrhoeal activities,[10] and previously unknown trilepisflavan and trilepisuimic acid compounds were isolated from it in 2012.[11]
Trilepisium madagascariense is a larval foodplant for the butterfly Cyrestis camillus sublineata.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Trilepisium madagascariense DC., False-fig (World flora)". Pl@ntNet. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
- ^ a b c Robertson, Hamish. "Trilepisium madagascariense (Urn-fig)". Biodiversity explorer. Iziko Museums. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ Baguette, F.; Baboorun, T.; Harryba, S.; Senterre, B.; Beech, E. (2018). "Trilepisium gymnandrum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44005A127865223. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44005A127865223.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Van Wyk, Braam; et al. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-86825-922-9.
- ^ a b c d e Burkill, H. M. (1985). "The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 4, Trilepisium madagascariense DC. [family MORACEAE]". JSTOR: Global Plants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Hyde, M.; et al. "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Trilepisium madagascariense DC". Base de données des plantes d'Afrique. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & SANBI. 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Jongkind, C.; et al. "Trilepisium madagascariense". Fauna and Flora of Liberia. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ Kuiate, Jules-Roger; Kuete, Victor; Teponno, Remy Bertrand; Tapondjou, Leon Azefack; Vilarem, Gerard; Teke, Gerald Ngo (2010). "Antidiarrheal activity of extracts and compound from Trilepisium madagascariense stem bark". Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 42 (3): 157–63. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.66839. PMC 2937317. PMID 20871767.
- ^ Ango, Patrick Y.; Kapche, Deccaux W.F.G.; Kuete, Victor; Ngadjui, Bonaventure T.; Bezabih, Merhatibeb; Abegaz, Berhanu M. (September 2012). "Chemical constituents of Trilepisium madagascariense (Moraceae) and their antimicrobial activity". Phytochemistry Letters. 5 (3): 524–528. Bibcode:2012PChL....5..524A. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2012.05.006.