Cussonia spicata
Cussonia spicata, known as spiked cabbage tree, lowveld cabbage tree or common cabbage tree, is a tree in the family Araliaceae, which is native to the moister regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is cultivated as a garden plant in areas without extreme degrees of frost. It is one of the favorite foods of wild elephants.[1]
| Spiked cabbage tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cussonia spicata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Cussonia |
| Species: | C. spicata |
| Binomial name | |
| Cussonia spicata | |
Description
Larger specimens develop a sturdy trunk and a rounded, spreading canopy, and can reach a height of 15 meters. The attractive leaves grow from the end of thick branches to form rounded heads. The species name spicata means "spike-like", and suggests the arrangement of its flowers.[2]
Range
It occurs naturally from southern and eastern South Africa to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and northwards into tropical Africa.[2]
Ethnomedical uses
It has been used in traditional African medicine and its medicinal properties are being investigated.
- A bark decoction is used in the treatment of malaria, and indigestion in a similar manner to tonic water
- A root decoction is used to treat fever, venereal disease, as well as a diuretic and laxative.
- A root bark decoction is used to treat mental illness.
References
- Minute 6-7; April 5, 2009 episode)Naked Scientists
- Hankey, Andrew (December 2004). "Cussonia spicata Thunb". plantzafrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cussonia spicata. |
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Cussonia spicata". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.