Andira inermis is a nitrogen-fixing tree with medicinal properties native to the area from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America (Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil); it has been introduced to the Caribbean, the Antilles, Florida, and Africa and is often pollinated by bees. The tree has many names due to its wide distribution and multiple uses: it is also known as the almendro macho (in El Salvador), almendro de río or river almond (Honduras), bastard cabbage tree, cabbage angelin (United States), cabbage bark (in Belize and the United States), cabbage tree, carne asada (Costa Rica), guacamayo (Honduras), Jamaica cabbage tree, harino (Panama), moca (Puerto Rico), partridge wood (United States), worm bark, or yellow cabbage tree.
| Cabbage tree | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Andira |
| Species: | A. inermis
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| Binomial name | |
| Andira inermis | |
| Synonyms | |
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The tree grows to approximately 35 metres in height and 0.7 metre in diameter. It is evergreen and unbuttressed and has a dense crown and pink flowers. It grows primarily in riparian zones in forests along rivers. It can also be found in drier areas, including roadsides, pastures, and woodlands.
Known for its unpleasant cabbage-like smell, the leaves of Andira inermis are large and green when mature and tan in color when developing.[2]
The tree's wood is used for lumber, and its smooth gray bark reportedly has narcotic, laxative, and vermifuge properties.
Medicinal Applications
editAndira inermis has many connections to traditional medicine in Nigeria, where it has been historically used to alleviate sickness and treat diabetes. A study conducted on rats measuring toxicity and glucose levels confirmed that Andira inermis is a viable treatment for diabetes. Rats treated with Andira inermis had decreased blood glucose.[3] Andira inermis is often used by TMPs to get rid of intestinal worms.[citation needed]
Pollination
editAndira inermis is pollinated by many different species of bee. One study found that 70 species of bee visited the flowers of Andira inermis. Of these 70 species, it is likely that only a few of them were true pollinators.[4] These flower sites, which were on trees in Costa Rica, received an average of 800 individual bees per flower site.[5]
References
edit- ^ Rivers, M.C.; Mark, J. (2017). "Andira inermis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T60761659A60761662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T60761659A60761662.en. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Egua, Maxwell Osaronowen; Nwinyi, Florence Chimezie; Okwoche, Ode Julius; Monday, Onakpa Micheal; Ganiyat, Akande Motunrayo; Okwudili, Onoja Samuel; Garba, Mikail Hudu; Dezi, Akumka David; Mohammed, Adamu (December 2020). "Evaluation of Andira inermis stem bark extract for hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects'". Clinical Phytoscience. 6 (1). doi:10.1186/s40816-020-00225-5. ISSN 2199-1197.
- ^ Egua, Maxwell Osaronowen; Nwinyi, Florence Chimezie; Okwoche, Ode Julius; Monday, Onakpa Micheal; Ganiyat, Akande Motunrayo; Okwudili, Onoja Samuel; Garba, Mikail Hudu; Dezi, Akumka David; Mohammed, Adamu (December 2020). "Evaluation of Andira inermis stem bark extract for hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects'". Clinical Phytoscience. 6 (1). doi:10.1186/s40816-020-00225-5. ISSN 2199-1197.
- ^ Frankie, Gordon W.; Rizzardi, Mark; Vinson, S. Bradleigh; Griswold, Terry L. (January 2009). "Decline in Bee Diversity and Abundance from 1972-2004 on a Flowering Leguminous Tree, Andira inermis in Costa Rica at the Interface of Disturbed Dry Forest and the Urban Environment". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 82 (1): 1–20. doi:10.2317/JKES708.23.1. ISSN 0022-8567. S2CID 83980783.
- ^ Bawa, K. S. (1990). "Plant-Pollinator Interactions in Tropical Rain Forests". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 21: 399–422. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.21.110190.002151. ISSN 0066-4162. JSTOR 2097031.
External links
edit- Andira inermis Winrock Intl – Resource Not Found at www.winrock.org
- Andira inermis Andira inermis (Wright)DC. at www.ildis.org
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