Penianthus patulinervis was formerly included in this species, but their areas of distribution and morphology are clearly separate; the former occurs in West Africa, the latter in eastern Nigeria and Central Africa[].

Common Name:

General Information

Penianthus zenkeri is an evergreen shrub to small tree growing from 1 - 6 metres tall[, ].
A popular traditional medicine in Africa, where the plant is commonly harvested from the wild and is also sometimes sold in local markets.
The area of distribution of Penianthus zenkeriis rather small, its habitat is under pressure and high prices are paid for its products in the market. It is not listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, but its diversity should be guarded to ensure sustainable future supplies[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, possibly also in DR Congo.

Habitat

Rainforest undergrowth; stream banks in the rainforest; occasionally also in semideciduous forest; often on steep rocky slopes; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	4.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots are used to treat male sexual impotence, coughs and wounds[, ]. A bitter root decoction is employed as a vermifuge[].

The roots and twigs are used as an aphrodisiac and in the treatment of local infections and venereal diseases[].

A dressing made from the leaves is applied to the nails to treat whitlow[].

Several pharmacologically active terpenoids, protoberberine alkaloids and aporphine alkaloids have been isolated from Penianthus spp., but no chemical analyses have been done on Penianthus zenkeri; the analyses effected so far relate to the West African species Penianthus patulinervis[].

Other Uses

The roots and stems are used as chewsticks to maintain the health of teeth and gums[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[, ].

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