Petchia madagascariensis
(A.DC.) Leeuwenb.
Apocynaceae
Alyxia madagascariensis A.DC.
Alyxia polysperma Scott-Elliot
Cabucala crassifolia Pichon
Cabucala fasciculata Pichon
Cabucala glauca Pichon
Cabucala intermedia Pichon
Cabucala longipes Pichon
Cabucala macrophylla Pichon
Cabucala madagascariensis (A.DC.) Pichon
Cabucala multiflora Pichon
Cabucala penduliflora Markgr.
Cabucala polysperma (Scott-Elliot) Pichon
Cabucala torulosa Pichon
Gynopogon madagascariensis (A.DC.) K.Schum.
Pulassarium madagascariense (A.DC.) Kuntze
Common Name:
General Information
Petchia madagascariensis is an evergreen shrub or a tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall. The bole is up to 25cm in diameter[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
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- 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 medicine and food.
Known Hazards
A decoction of the aerial parts is drunk as an ordeal poison[
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.
].
Botanical References
455- Title
- Flore de Madagascar et des Comores
- Publication
-
- Author
- Humbert H.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris
- Year
- 1946 - 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet.
Range
Africa - northern and eastern Madagascar.
Habitat
Humid evergreen forest, mostly near the coast, at elevations up to 600 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
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The fruit pulp is sweet and edible[
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 fruit consists of two, cylindrical follicles, each follicle is composed of 1 - 13 orange drupes, each containing a single seed[
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 leaves and stem bark are used as a bitter ingredient for the production of rum[
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 leaf decoction is drunk to cure stomach-ache, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, gout and alopecia. It is also taken as a tonic, diuretic, vermifuge and for the treatment of diseases of the spinal nerves[
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 crushed leaves are applied to insect stings[
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 decoction of the stem bark is taken against malaria[
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 root bark contains the alkaloids reserpine, cabucine and cabucinine[
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.
].
Reserpine is considered the first modern drug for the treatment of hypertension. It is a sympatolytic agent acting directly on the peripheral and central nerve terminals. Reserpine has important side effects, notably depression, peptic ulcer, and hypersensitivity to the alkaloid[
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.
].
Cabucine, a methoxyheteroyohimbine derivative, also has sympatolytic activity, but with minimal side effects[
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.
].
Yohimbine has also been isolated; it has aphrodisiac properties[
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 plant contains a white latex[
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.
]. No reports of uses have been seen[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
