Scutia myrtina

Scutia myrtina is a species of plant in the family Rhamnaceae. It is commonly known as cat-thorn.[1]

Scutia myrtina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Scutia
Species:
S. myrtina
Binomial name
Scutia myrtina
(Burm.f.) Kurz

Description

Scutia myrtina is a variable plant that may grow as a shrub or tree of 2-10 m tall with trunk diameter to 30 cm or often a scandent liane, climbing by means of thorns. Older bark is dark, corky and longitudinally fissured. Younger growth is hairy and branchlets green and angular.[2] The thorns are sharp, recurved and paired at the nodes, but sometimes absent.[3] The common name, cat-thorn, refers to the thorns that look like a cat's claw.

Leaves are ovate to obovate in shape, often notched at the apex, but always with mucronulate tip, opposite with usually entire margin, sometimes wavy.[3]

The fruit is a berry with black skin and white flesh containing 2 to 3 seeds.[3]

Distribution

The plant is found in Asia and Africa.[2]

Conservation

Scutia myrtina has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List (as at 2018-05-07), but is listed as least concern in the Red List of South African Plants.[4]

Uses

Several species in the genus Scutia have been used in traditional medicine, such as the Ayurvedic system from India.[5][6]

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References
  1. "Flora of Mozambique". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. "African Plant Database". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. "Plant 0f the World". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. "Red List of South African Plants". SANBI. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. Lorraine (2011-04-07). "Scutia myrtina". Kumbula Indigenous Nursery. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  6. "Scutia myrtina (Burm. f.) Kurz". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
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