Smeathmannia pubescens
Sol. ex R.Br.
Passifloraceae
Common Name:
General Information
Smeathmannia pubescens is a much-branched, evergreen shrub or small tree; it can grow up to 10 metres tall[
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.
,
573- Title
- Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson G. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Upcott Gill; London.
- Year
- Not given
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of the major gardening dictionaries of the 19th century, it contains information on plants not found in modern works. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The bole is up to 30cm in diameter[
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.
,
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/
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. The plant has large, showy flowers and is sometimes grown as an ornamental in greenhouses in the temperate zone[
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/
,
573- Title
- Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson G. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Upcott Gill; London.
- Year
- Not given
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of the major gardening dictionaries of the 19th century, it contains information on plants not found in modern works. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
515- Title
- Flora of Tropical Africa Vol 1 - 8
- Publication
-
- Author
- Var
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L.Reeve & Co.; Ashford, Kent.
- Year
- 1868 - 1917
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very little information on habitat, range and uses, but gives good descriptions of the plants. It can be downloaded from the internet.
Range
West tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria.
Habitat
Fringing and open forest[
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.
]. Thickets along the edges of lagoons; fringing forest; secondary thickets[
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.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The pulp of the fruits is edible, but astringent[
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.
]. The white or reddish fruit is a leathery, ovoid, three-valved capsule[
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.
].
Medicinal
A bark decoction is taken to treat dysentery[
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.
].
The inner bark is used as a poultice to treat toothache[
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.
].
The sap from crushed leaves is taken to treat acute enteritis[
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.
].
A mixture of the cyanogenic glycosides epitetraphyllin B (volkenin) and tetraphyllin B (barterioside) has been isolated from a leaf extract[
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.
].
Other Uses
The reddish wood is hard but too small to be of much service. It is split into sections to produce chew sticks, which are used to maintain dental hygiene[
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.
]
The wood is used for fuel[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood[
573- Title
- Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nicholson G. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- L. Upcott Gill; London.
- Year
- Not given
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of the major gardening dictionaries of the 19th century, it contains information on plants not found in modern works. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
