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Useful Tropical Plants

Pentodon pentandrus

(Schumach. & Thonn.) Vatke

Rubiaceae


Hedyotis is a very problematic genus or group of genera. Neither the overall identity and limits of this lineage, nor the evolutionary patterns within it, are at all understood or delineated. Widely differing treatments have long been used in different regions and floras. The situation is far from resolution or even general consensus and so many authors treat the genus very broadly[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. In line with several recent (up to 2013) molecular and phylogenic studies, the Kew ‘World Checklist of Selected Plant Families’ has recognised a number of distinct genera and this is the treatment we are adopting here[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Hedyotis halei Torr. & A.Gray

Hedyotis laxiflora (Benth.) Walp.

Hedyotis macrophylla Lepr. & Perrott ex DC.

Hedyotis pentamera Hochst.

Hedyotis pentandra Schumach. & Thonn.

Oldenlandia halaei A.Wood

Oldenlandia halei (Torr. & A.Gray) Chapm.

Oldenlandia hornei Baker

Oldenlandia laxiflora Benth.

Oldenlandia macrophylla DC.

Oldenlandia pentandra (Schumach. & Thonn.) DC.

Oldenlandia succulenta C.Wright ex Griseb.

Pentas pentandra (Schumach. & Thonn.) Benth.

Pentas thonningii Walp.

Pentodon abyssinicus Hochst.

Pentodon decumbens Hochst.

Pentodon halei (Torr. & A.Gray) A.Gray

Common Name:

Pentodon pentandrus
Complete fruiting plant, harvested for use as a botanical specimen
Photograph by: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil
Creative Commons License
Pentodon pentandrus Pentodon pentandrus

General Information

Pentodon pentandrus is an annual to short-lived perennial plant with a slender rootstock and decumbent to erect stems up to 90cm long[
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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
This species is widespread, able to exploit a wide range of habitats and does not face any major threats.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

308
Title
Flora Zambesiaca
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.

Range

Africa - Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Namibia, S. Africa, Swaziland and Madagascar; Arabia - Yemen.

Habitat

Swamps, lake and river shores and on seasonally wet grounds, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,250 metres[
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.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.75 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The plant has been introduced into the southern United States, Cuba, Nicaragua and Brazil. In the United States it has become a weed known as Hale’s pentodon[
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.
].

Edible Uses

The leaves and young shoots are reportedly eaten as a vegetable[
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 decoction of the plant is used internally and externally to promote lactation in nursing mothers[
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 ground-up leaves, mixed with oil, are rubbed onto the body as a treatment against fever, rheumatism and headache. The leaf sap is instilled in the eyes to cure conjunctivitis[
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.
].

An infusion of the roots is drunk to alleviate the pain of a swollen spleen[
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

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-09. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pentodon+pentandrus>

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