Morinda chrysorhiza
(Thonn.) DC.
Rubiaceae
This name is not universally accepted. We are following the treatment in the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families', but some other treatments, such as the African Plant Database[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
], use Morinda geminata DC., as the correct name[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Morinda batesii Wernham
Morinda geminata DC.
Psychotria chrysorhiza Thonn.
Common Name:
General Information
Morinda chrysorhiza is an evergreen shrub or a tree, sometimes multi-stemmed, that can grow up to 9 metres tall. The bole is 12 - 40cm in diameter[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is a popular traditional medicine, especially for the treatment of fevers. It is harvested from the wild for this purpose, and also for its use as a dye plant and fuel. The leaves are sold in Freetown markets for medicinal use, whilst the tree is sometimes planted for its various uses near to houses in Sierra Leone[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
West tropical Africa - Senegal to Togo, also in Cameroon, Central African Republic and DR Congo.
Habitat
Rainforest, secondary rainforest and scrub[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 7.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Semi-cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant flowers throughout the year[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A decoction of the leaves is used as a purge, and is also bathed in when suffering from malaria[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A decoction of the dried leaves is taken as a treatment for malaria[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Decoctions of either the root or the leaves are both used in the treatment of fevers, and are supposed to be particularly efficacious in cases of yellow fever[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A decoction of the roots is given to weakly babies, and the babies are also washed in it to make them grow strong[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The root bark is used to dye traditional cotton cloth bright orange-red and the bark is also chipped and added to indigo baths to promote fermentation and to produce darker blue colours[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The yellow wood is hard and resistant. It is not used as a timber, but is used as a fuel[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
