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 Edit this 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

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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]

 
Fig. i. Pachyelasma tessmannii. A flowering branch, B bud, C flower, D flower in longitudinal section, F stamens, G pod, H pod in cross section, J seed, K seed in cross section, L seed in longitudinal section

Distribution and habitat

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Neuwinger, H. D. (2004). "Plants used for poison fishing in tropical Africa". Toxicon. 44 (4). Elsevier: 417–430. Bibcode:2004Txcn...44..417N. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.05.014. PMID 15302524.
  6. ^ 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.