Pachyelasma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae.[3] It contains only one species, Pachyelasmia tessmannii, which is native to central Africa.[2]
| Pachyelasma | |
|---|---|
| |
| A specimen of P. tessmannii from Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo that is locally known as l'arbre de l'authenticité where tribal elders held court | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Pachyelasma Harms 1913 |
| Species: | P. tessmannii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pachyelasma tessmannii (Harms) Harms 1913
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Stachyothyrsus tessmannii Harms 1910[1] | |
Description edit
Pachyelasma tessmannii is an evergreen tree growing up to 60 m (200 ft) tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. The flowers are red and the fruits are four-angled black pods that may be up to 37 cm (15 in) in length.[2][4]
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Distribution and habitat edit
Pachyelasma tessmannii can be found in the wet tropical regions of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria.[2]
Uses edit
The fruit is sometimes used by fishermen in remote areas of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo for poison fishing.[5] Some cocoa farmers in Cameroon mix the bark with other plant materials and extracts to create a natural pesticide[6]
References edit
- ^ Harms, H. (1911). Einige Nutzhölzer Kameruns. II. Leguminosae. Notizblatt Des Königl. Botanischen Gartens Und Museums Zu Berlin, 5, 9–75. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27669771
- ^ a b c d "Pachyelasma tessmannii (Harms) Harms". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3. hdl:10568/90658.
- ^ Doucet, Robin; Doucet, Jean-Loius; Lejeune, Phillipe; Verheyen, Cécile; De Mil, Tom; Martin, Patrick; Lagoute, Paul; Jourez, Benoit (2021). "Wood description and timber use investigation of Pachyelasma tessmannii (Harms) Harms". European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. 80: 199–212. doi:10.1007/s00107-021-01758-3.
- ^ Neuwinger, H. D. (2004). "Plants used for poison fishing in tropical Africa". Toxicon. 44 (4). Elsevier: 417–430. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.05.014. PMID 15302524.
- ^ Coulibaly, O.; Mbila, D.; Sonwa, D. J.; Adesina, Akin; Bakala, J. (2002). "Responding to economic crisis in sub Saharan Africa: New farmer-developed pest management strategies in cocoa-based plantations in Southern Cameroon". Integrated Pest Management Reviews. 7 (3). Kluwer Academic Publishers: 165–172. doi:10.1023/b:ipmr.0000027500.24459.fe. S2CID 83664935.
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