Dicoma sessiliflora

NAME: Dicoma sessiliflora

FAMILY NAME: Compositae

COMMON NAMES: Dicoma

LOCAL NAMES: Doda

MORPHOLOGY: A perennial herb with pithy stems from a few inches to 4 ft. high from a woody stock. Florets yellowish in heads 1-1/2 in. long. The leaves often tinged wine-red. A slender, erect perennial herb, to c. 1 m. tall from a small woody rootstock; roots numerous, thong-like. Stems annual, usually solitary, simple, leafy with the largest leaves somewhat clustered on the lower stem, closely appressed white araneose-lanate to glabrescent.

PART(S):  Whole plant

GENERAL USES: Medicinal use

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Zimbabwe, Ghana

WHY IS IT GREEN: Antipyretic, aphrodisiac, cough, stomach ache

FURTHER READING:

WFO (2022): Dicoma sessiliflora Harv. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000083214. Accessed on: 24 Jan 2022

Digitaria horizontalis

NAME: Digitaria horizontalis

FAMILY: Poaceae (Grass family)

COMMON NAMES: Creeping crabgrass, Summer grass

LOCAL NAMES: Shama grass (India), Tokouso (West Africa)

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Digitaria horizontalis, commonly known as creeping crabgrass, is a warm-season annual grass that spreads by creeping stolons. It typically grows in dense mats with wiry, thin stems that can reach up to 50 centimeters in height. The leaves are slender, linear, and arranged alternately along the stem. The inflorescence consists of numerous tiny spikelets arranged in branched, digitate clusters. The spikelets contain small, grain-like seeds.

USEFUL PART(s): The entire plant, including the leaves, stems, and seeds, can have various uses.

GENERAL USES:

1. Forage: Digitaria horizontalis is often used as forage for livestock due to its high nutritional content. It provides a valuable source of food for grazing animals.

2. Erosion control: The dense mat-like growth of creeping crabgrass helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion in areas with disturbed or bare soil.

3. Lawn grass: In some regions, creeping crabgrass is cultivated as a lawn grass due to its ability to tolerate heat and drought conditions.

4. Medicinal uses: In traditional medicine, some cultures use Digitaria horizontalis for its purported medicinal properties, such as in the treatment of digestive disorders and skin ailments.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: Digitaria horizontalis is native to tropical and subtropical regions, and it has a wide distribution across different continents. It can be found in parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. It thrives in warm and humid environments, often growing in disturbed areas, cultivated fields, lawns, and along roadsides.

WHY IS IT GREEN? Like other plants, Digitaria horizontalis appears green due to the presence of chlorophyll in its cells. Chlorophyll is a pigment that plays a vital role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy to fuel their growth. Chlorophyll molecules absorb light from the red and blue regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and reflect green light, giving plants their characteristic green color.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

1. Invasive potential: Digitaria horizontalis can sometimes become invasive, spreading rapidly and outcompeting native plant species. It can colonize disturbed areas, agricultural fields, and gardens, reducing biodiversity and affecting ecosystem dynamics.

2. Weed pressure: Creeping crabgrass can be a problematic weed in lawns and agricultural fields, as it competes with desired plants for resources such as nutrients, water, and sunlight.

3. Erosion control: On the positive side, Digitaria horizontalis can contribute to erosion control by stabilizing soil with its dense mat-like growth, particularly in areas prone to soil erosion.

FUN FACT:

Digitaria horizontalis is known as "crabgrass" due to its habit of growing low to the ground and spreading horizontally, resembling the creeping movement of crabs. Despite its reputation as a weed, creeping crabgrass has adapted to survive in diverse environments and has found useful applications in different cultures around the world.

FURTHER READING:

1. "Weeds of North America" by Richard Dickinson and France Royer - This comprehensive guide provides information on various weeds, including Digitaria horizontalis, and their identification, ecology, and control.

2. "Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems" by Quentin C.B. Cronk and Janice L. Fuller - This book explores the impacts of invasive plant species on natural ecosystems, including the ecological implications of Digitaria horizontalis.

3. "Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design" by Nancy J. Ondra and Saxon Holt - Although not specifically focused on Digitaria horizontalis, this book provides valuable insights into the world of ornamental grasses, including their selection, cultivation, and design uses.

4. Research articles: You can search for scientific articles on Digitaria horizontalis in online databases such as Google Scholar or PubMed. Topics to explore can include its ecological impacts, physiological adaptations, genetic diversity, or ethnobotanical uses.

Dichrostachys cinerea

NAME: Dichrostachys cinerea

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: West African sickle bush, Princess's earrings, Chinese lantern tree, Kalahari Christmas tree, Bell mimosa

LOCAL NAMES: Kara, Ajagboluti, Ami ogwu, Dundu

MORPHOLOGY: They typically grow up to 7 metres (23 ft) in height and have strong alternate thorns, generally up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. The bipinnately compound leaves are up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long. Flowers of the Dichrostachys cinerea are characteristically in bicoloured cylindrical spikes that resemble Chinese lanterns and are 6 to 8 centimetres (2.4 to 3.1 in) long and fragrant. ­­Upper flowers of a hanging spike are sterile, and are of a lilac or pale purple. Pods are usually a mustard brown and are generally twisted or spiralled and may be up to 100 by 15 millimetres (3.94 in × 0.59 in). The species can be subcategorized with two slight variations that have been recognised: D. cinerea ssp. africana and D. cinerea ssp. nyassana, the latter which is typically larger and less hairy in its foliage.

PART(S):  Bark, root, latex

GENERAL USES: Planted to serve as live fencing and as a fodder. The roots are used as a local anaesthetic for ailments such as snake bites, scorpion stings and toothache

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Cameroon, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, India, Indonesia and Australia

WHY IS IT GREEN: Treat dysentery, headaches, toothaches, elephantiasis, leprosy, syphilis coughs, Fever, stomach ache, toothache, diuretic, astringent, anthelmintics, scald,

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The leaves, rich in nutrients, are frequently used as a green manure. The sickle bush can be planted in the garden to show off the beautiful pink and yellow lantern flowers during early summer and the interesting branching pattern during winter. D. cinerea fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

It is also used in soil improvement, revegetation, land reclamation, soil conservation, erosion control, hedging and live fencing. It has been used for the stabilization of sand dunes and in soil conservation.

FUN FACT: The roots are used as a local anaesthetic for ailments such as snake bites, scorpion stings and toothache

FURTHER READING:

http://pza.sanbi.org/dichrostachys-cinerea

http://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=675

Fournet J, 2004. Dichrostachys cinerea. Global Invasive Species Database. New Zealand: University of Auckland. http://issg.appfa.auckland.ac.nz/database/species/ecology.asp?si=161&fr=1&sts=sss.

Hernández G, 2002. Invasive bush in Cuba: the case of marabú. Invasives in Mesoamerica and the Carribean, Costa Rica: IUCN. http://www.iucn.org/places/orma/publica_gnl/especies.pdf.

Dialium guineense

NAME: Dialium guineense

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Black tamarind, Tumble tree, Black velvet, Sierra Leone tamarind, Velvet tamarind

 LOCAL NAMES: Awin, Icheku, Tsamiyar kurmi

MORPHOLOGY: Velvet tamarind is an evergreen shrub or a tall, tropical, fruit-bearing tree with a densely leafy, compact crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall but is often smaller and shrubby. The often short bole can be up to 80cm in diameter and is free of buttresses but has narrow, thin, butt flares. It has small, typically grape-sized, edible fruits with brown, hard, inedible shells.

PART(S):  Leaves, fruit, bark, twigs

GENERAL USES: Food and Medicinal

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome et Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo

WHY IS IT GREEN: Fever, coughs, bronchitis, toothache, astringent, diuretic

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The tree is used as natural fallow species for fertility restoration. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen

FURTHER READING:

ressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Dialium guineense". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.

https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dialium+guineense

https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014409/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/Sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=673

Desmodium gangeticum

NAME: Desmodium gangeticum

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Shalparni

LOCAL NAMES: Ewe-emo

MORPHOLOGY: Salparni is a sub-erect, diffusely branched undershrub, up to 120-cm tall. Stem is short and woody at base. Leaves are unifoliate, ovate to ovatelanceolate, membranous, and mottled with grey patches and up to 15cm in length. Flowers are purple/white in colour. Pods are thin, flat, curve carrying 6-8 nodes and also bear the hair like structure on them

PART(S):  Leaf, root, Whole plant

GENERAL USES: Medicinal

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Tropical Africa, E. Asia - China, Japan, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia

WHY IS IT GREEN: Astringent, urinary disorder, fever, chest infection, anthelmintic, treat kidney problems, oedema, swellings, chronic fever, coughs, biliousness, diarrhoea and dysentery; or as a sedative for children

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Serves as green manure, weed-controlling ground cover[,cover crop for rubber plantations and for erosion control

FUN FACT: it has a sweet, bitter taste. The sexual reproductive system is hermaphroditic

FURTHER READING:

Ken Fern. Tropical Plants Database. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-01-24. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Desmodium+gangeticum

https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/shalparni-desmodium-gangeticum/

https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/desmodium-gangeticum/

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/desmodium_gangeticum.htm

https://senthuherbals.blogspot.com/2015/01/pullati-desmodium-gangeticum-sal-leaved.html

Khare, C.P. (2007), "Desmodium gangeticum DC.", Indian Medicinal Plants, New York, NY: Springer New York, p. 1, doi:10.1007/978-0-387-70638-2_486, ISBN 978-0-387-70637-5, retrieved 2020-12-12

Desmodium adscendens

NAME: Desmodium adscendens 

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Desmodium, Strong Back Herb

LOCAL NAMES: Epa-ile, aberodefe, Nbasioku

MORPHOLOGY: Desmodium adscendens is a herbaceous perennial plant with creeping to erect stems that are often much-branched from the base and can become somewhat woody. The stems sometimes root at their lower nodes. The plant can grow up to 100cm tall

PART(S):  Leaves, whole plant

GENERAL USES: medicinal 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Peru, Jamaica, Central America and West Africa

WHY IS IT GREEN: Constipation, convulsions, gonorrhoea, viginal discharge, urinary tract cleanser, dysentery. Diarrhea, syphilis, bronchial asthma, sperm count enhancer, malaria,  relieve back pain and neck pain

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen

The plant is often used as a cover crop and a green manure in various plantations

FURTHER READING:

OSBOURNE QUAYE (1998), BIOCHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY OF DESMODIUM ADSCENDENS. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh

Dennettia tripetala

NAME: Dennettia tripetala    

FAMILY NAME: Annonaceae

COMMON NAMES: Pepperfruit

LOCAL NAMES: Igbere, Nmimi

MORPHOLOGY: D. tripetalais a small woody shrub with a height of about 12-18 m. The wood is soft, white in colour and liable to termite attack. It has a fibrous bark which has a very strong characteristic scent. The leaves are 3 – 6 inches long by 1.5–2.5 inches broad, elliptic in shape, shortly acuminate and broadly connate to round at the base. The plant usually produces fruits between March and May (12). The outside of the flower is light brown while the inside is red and the flower is usually in small clusters on the young or older wood. The fruit appear green when unripe and red when ripe. There is a finger-like carpel constriction between the seeds. The young leaves and fruit when ripe has a peppery and spicy taste when chewed

PART(S): Leaves, Fruits, Seed, Root, Bark, Stem, whole plant

GENERAL USES: The fruits and leaves are commonly used as a spices or seasonings

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon

WHY IS IT GREEN: Treatment of fever, cough, asthma, catarrh, toothache, diarrhea and rheumatism and serves as Insect repellant, stimulant

FURTHER READING:

Ihemeje A, Ojinnaka MC, Obi KC,Ekwe CC. Biochemical Evaluation of Pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala) and its use as Substitute for Ginger in Zobo Drink Production. Academic Research International. 2013; 4(6):513–521.

Anaga AO,Asuzu IU. Antihyperglycaemic Properties of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Dennettia tripetala in Diabetic Rats. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2010; 7: 1553-3840.

D. Muhammed  Y. H. Adebiyi, B. O. Odey and et al., Dennettia tripetala (Pepper Fruit), a review of its ethno-medicinal use, phyto[1]constituents, and biological propertie. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 06(03), 035–043

Mordi, J.C., Ichipi-Ifukor, P.C., Kweki, G.R. et al. Preliminary toxicology profile of Dennettia tripetala (Pepper Fruit) methanolic leaves extract. Clin Phytosci 7, 61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-021-00298-w

Delonix regia

NAME: Delonix regia

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Flame of the forest, Red Flame, Phoenix tree, Royal Poinciana, Flame Tree, Poinciana, Flamboyant Tree

LOCAL NAMES: Seke seke, ayin.

MORPHOLOGY: Delonix regia is a conspicuous, fast growing almost evergreen legume tree that can be 10-30 m in height and is shallow-rooted. Tree can shed its leaves in areas with a marked dry season. The bole is sometimes relatively short. The trunk may reach 2 m in girth and it can be buttressed towards the base. The bark is smooth, sometimes slightly cracked, with lenticels. The crown is umbrella-shaped, broadly spreading its long horizontal branches. The overall tree is thus larger in diameter than in height. The twigs are stout, greenish, finely hairy when young becoming brown. The leaves are bipinnate, alternate, feathery, 20-60 cm long, bearing 10-25 pairs of pinnae, each with 30-60 opposite leaflets. The leaflets are 0.5-1 cm long, stalkless, minutely hairy on both sides. The inflorescences are slightly fragrant corymbs borne laterally at the end of the twigs. The inflorescence bears large (5-13 cm), magnificent flowers, orange-red in colour, loosely arranged on 5-7.5 cm long stalks. The 4 clawed-petals are spoon-like in shape and the 5 sepals are thick, green in color, finely hairy. The fruit is a 30-75 cm long pod, It is green and flaccid when young, turning to brown and woody at maturity. The pods remain on the tree after it has shed its leaves. The 30-45 seeds contained in the pods are hard, greyish, mottled, oblong in shape, looking like date pits. They are hardcoated. The taxon name Delonix regia is after the greek "delos" meaning visible and "onyx" meaning claw and the latin "regia" meaning royal, magnificent. Most of the common names for Delonix regia (see Common names) are derived from the colour of its flowers

PART(S): Leaves, bark, seeds, flowers

GENERAL USES: It is an outstanding flowering tree for gardens, parks, along streets, and for large front yards. Mature trees provide excellent shade

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Madagascar, Isreal, USA, Mauritus, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Cyprus, Spain Lebenon, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Australia, Taiwan

WHY IS IT GREEN: Diuretic, anthelmintics, astringent, leucorrhoea

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The leaves and flowers have been reported to have herbicide effects on Mikania micrantha, an invasive climber. The wood ash of Delonix regia could significantly reduce several fungi and insects.

It serves as shade tree, Delonix regia is helpful in maintaining soil moisture and reducing soil temperature. Flamboyants have been planted on eroded sites for erosion control, and for soil rehabilitation

The flamboyant is a N-fixing legume that can improve soil N status. Leaf and green stem prunings applied to a calcareous soil for 5 years resulted in improvement of 13% in N and higher organic C and mineralization

FUN FACT: The tree has been known to collapse without warning.

There is a popular belief among Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala that when Jesus was crucified, there was a small royal poinciana tree nearby his Cross. It is believed that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed over the flowers of the tree and this is how the flowers of royal poinciana got a sharp red color.

FURTHER READING:

Heuzé V., Tran G., Lebas F., 2020. Flamboyant (Delonix regia). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/308 Last updated on October 30, 2020, 18:10

Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Delonix regia". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.

Rivers, M. (2014). "Delonix regia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T32947A2828337. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T32947A2828337.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

Deinbollia pinnata

NAME: Deinbollia pinnata 

FAMILY NAME: Sapindaceae

COMMON NAMES: Water willow

LOCAL NAMES: Ogiri-egba, Ekusi-Oloko

MORPHOLOGY: A small tree with strong, woody, glabrous or slightly grey-downy branches. Petiole 2–3 in. long; leaflets in 5–6 short-stalked pairs 1–2 in. apart, oblong, 3–4 in. long, half as broad, the point acute, the base a little rounded, the edge quite entire; texture coriaceous, colour pale green, both sides glabrous or the lower a little silvery with the veins and veinlets in relief. USEFUL PART(S): Leaves, root

GENERAL USES: For food and medicine

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

WHY IS IT GREEN: Cough, bronchial asthma, aphrodisiac, genital stimulants/depressants

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The plant serves as brushwood fuel in Ghana

FUN FACT: The fruit use in superstition and magic

FURTHER READING:

Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.

Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141.

 The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/

Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. & Keay, R.W.J. (1954-1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 1-828.

Datura stramonium

NAME: Datura stramonium

FAMILY NAME: Solanaceae

COMMON NAMES: Stink weed, thorn apple, devil's trumpet, jimson-weed, devil's snare

LOCAL NAMES: Apikan, ododo-omode, zakami suturamai rawiya, Myaramuo

MORPHOLOGY: Datura stramonium is an erect, annual, freely branching herb that forms a bush up to 60 to 150 cm (2 to 5 ft) tall. The root is long, thick, fibrous, and white. The stem is stout, erect, leafy, smooth, and pale yellow-green to reddish purple in color. The stem forks off repeatedly into branches and each fork forms a leaf and a single, erect flower. The leaves are about 8 to 20 cm (3–8 in) long, smooth, toothed, soft, and irregularly undulated. The upper surface of the leaves is a darker green, and the bottom is a light green. The leaves have a bitter and nauseating taste, which is imparted to extracts of the herb, and remains even after the leaves have been dried.

USEFUL PART(S): Leaves, seeds, root

GENERAL USES: employed in traditional/modern medicine to treat a variety of ailments

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: USA, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, Europe

WHY IS IT GREEN: Asthma, cough, astringent, aphrodisiac, mental disorders, gonorrhoea, lumbago, neuralgic, insomnia, anodyne, sedative, antispasmodic

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:  The extracts could serve as botanical pesticides. It also serve as Host of pest

FUN FACT: Ornament and accidentally as a contaminant.

Competes aggressively with native plants and crops

FURTHER READING:

Priyanka S., Anees A. S., Jaya D., and Vishal S., 2012, Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium L. as a potential medicinal tree: An overview. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60014-3

Swathi S, Murugananthan G, Ghosh SK, Pradeep AS. Larvicidal and repellent activities of ethanolic extract of Datura stramonium leaves against mosquitoes. Int J Pharm Phytochem Res. 2012;4(1):25–27.

Khandare KR, Salve SB. Management of wilt of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) through biopesticide (leaf extracts) Int Refer Res J. 2011;2(18):21–22. 

Bouzidi A, Mahdeb N, Kara N. Toxicity studies of alkaloids of seeds of Datura stramonium and synthesis alkaloids in male rats. J Med Plants Res. 2011;5(15):3421–3431. 

Oviedo Prieto R, Herrera Oliver P, Caluff MG, et al. , 2012. National list of invasive and potentially invasive plants in the Republic of Cuba - 2011. (Lista nacional de especies de plantas invasoras y potencialmente invasoras en la República de Cuba - 2011). Bissea: Boletín sobre Conservación de Plantas del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba, 6(Special Issue 1):22-96

Macharia, I., Backhouse, D., Wu, S. B., Ateka, E. M., 2016. Weed species in tomato production and their role as alternate hosts of Tomato spotted wilt virus and its vector Frankliniella occidentalis. Annals of Applied Biology, 169(2), 224-235. doi: 10.1111/aab.12297

Ðikić M, Suljić N, Sarajlić N, Gadžo D, 2017. Distribution of jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) in the city of Sarajevo. Radovi Poljoprivrednog Fakulteta Univerziteta u Sarajevu\Works of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Sarajevo. 62 (67(2)), 279-286.

Gharabadiyan F, Jamali S, Yazdi AA, Hadizadeh MH, Eskandari A, 2012. Weed hosts of root-knot nematodes in tomato fields. Journal of Plant Protection Research, 52(2):230-234. http://versita.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=428087616X360N23

Witt A, Beale T, Wilgen B W van, 2018. An assessment of the distribution and potential ecological impacts of invasive alien plant species in eastern Africa. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 73 (3), 217-236. DOI:10.1080/0035919X.2018.1529003

Fuhlbohm, M. J., Ryley, M. J., Aitken, E. A. B., 2012. New weed hosts of Macrophomina phaseolina in Australia. Australasian Plant Disease Notes, 7(1), 193-195. doi: 10.1007/s13314-012-0082-6

Witt A, Luke Q, 2017. Guide to the naturalized and invasive plants of Eastern Africa. [ed. by Witt A, Luke Q]. Wallingford, UK: CABI. vi + 601 pp. http://www.cabi.org/cabebooks/ebook/20173158959 DOI:10.1079/9781786392145.0000

Datura metel

NAME: Datura metel 

FAMILY NAME: Solanaceae

COMMON NAMES: Devil's trumpet, Angel’s trumpet, hairy thorn apple, Horn of Plenty, Downy Thorn Apple

LOCAL NAMES: Apikan, Ajegun-eegun, gegemu, Furenjuuji

MORPHOLOGY: Datura metel is a annual growing to 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. It is hardy and somewhat furry, having dark violet shoot with ova to broad oval leaves which are often dark violet as well. This species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.

USEFUL PART(S): Leaves, flower, root bark and seeds

GENERAL USES: Medicinal

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Panamá, Texas

WHY IS IT GREEN: Anaesthetic, anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, bronchodilator, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and mydriatic

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: . It is noted for its pleasant scent.

FUN FACT: it is a highly narcotic, producing a stupefying effect that it is not easy to remove. It is also noted for its scent. All part are toxic if ingested

FURTHER READING:

Datura metel. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/datura-metel/

https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/dhattura-datura-metel/

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/datura-metel

Daniellia thurifera

NAME: Daniellia thurifera

FAMILY NAME: Fabaceae

COMMON NAMES: Frankincense tree, Niger Copal Tree, Sierra Leone Frankincense

LOCAL NAMES: Iya

MORPHOLOGY: Daniellia thurifera is a large tree growing up to 45 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be around 40cm in diameter. The stem is long and column-like, hardly tapering; crown fairly small, deltoid, flattened, fairly open

USEFUL PART(S): Stem-wood dust

GENERAL USES: Medicinal, Wood

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo

WHY IS IT GREEN: Scabies, coughs, skin diseases and parasitic infections[

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The wood is used for plywood, joinery, general millwork, furniture components, boxes and crates, a decorative veneer can be produced from selected logs

FUN FACT: Gum exudates from cracks and wounds in the trunk are used to make a varnish called 'West African Gum Copal'. A frankincense, it is sold as a perfume.

The gum when burnt keep away evil spirits.

FURTHER READING:

Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141.

Lock, J.M. (1989). Legumes of Africa a check-list: 1-619. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.

The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/

https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Daniellia+thurifera

http://www.liberianfaunaflora.org/liberian-flora/leguminosae-caes/3493-daniellia-thurifera

CIRAD Forestry Department, 2009. Faro. [Internet] Tropix 6.0. http://tropix.cirad.fr/africa/faro.pdf. Accessed January 2012.

Daniellia oliveri

NAME: Daniellia oliveri

FAMILY NAME: Fabaceae

COMMON NAMES: African copaiba, Balsam tree, Niger-copal, Maaje

LOCAL NAMES: Iya, Kadaura, Ozabwa, Maje

MORPHOLOGY: Daniellia oliveri is a slow-growing, deciduous tree with a flat-topped, spreading, dense crown; usually growing 9 - 25 metres tall, but with occasional specimens as tall as 45 metres. The cylindrical bole, which can be straight or twisted, can be 150 - 200cm in diameter, unbranched for the first 8 - 10 metres; unbuttressed but with root flutes at the base

USEFUL PART(S): Gum, bark, Leave, Gum

GENERAL USES: Food and Medicinal

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Sudan, Uganda

WHY IS IT GREEN: Dysentery, diarrhoea, toothache, urinary infection, stomach troubles, diabetes, dysmenorrhoea, haemorrhoids, astringent, gonorrhoea and skin diseases

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Use as carbon farming

FUN FACT: This species does not fix atmospheric nitrogen

FURTHER READING:

Dave Jacke, Eric Toensmeier. Edible Forest Gardens. Chelsea Green Publishing Co 2015. ISBN: 9781890132606

Fern, Ken. "Daniellia oliveri". Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 9 June 2019.

Eric Toensmeier. The Carbon Farming Solution. A Global Toolkit of Perennial Crops and Regenerative Agriculture Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Food Security. Chelsea Green Publishing Co. 2016. ISBN: 9781603585712

Lemmens, R.H.M.J.; Louppe, D.; Oteng-Amoako, A.A. Timbers 2. PROTA. pp. 274–278. ISBN 978-92-9081-495-5.

Food Plants International. http://foodplantsinternational.com/plants/

Tomas Remiarz. Forest Gardening in Practice: An Illustrated Practical Guide for Homes, Communities and Enterprises. Permanent Publications. 2017. ISBN: 185623293X

Dalbergiella welwitschii

NAME: Dalbergiella welwitschii

FAMILY NAME: fabaceae

COMMON NAMES: West African black wood

LOCAL NAMES: Emosho-elemosoo, emeso-igangan, afoso,

MORPHOLOGY: Dalbergiella welwitschii is a deciduous, straggling shrub or climbing plant that usually grows 5 - 8 metres tall, but can reach up to 17 metres if it has support. The slender stem is generally around 2cm in diameter, becoming rather flattened with age, with stellately arranged spines in the middle. Often in riverain forest. Flowers pinkish-white or yellow with a large red streak on the standard, fragrant.

USEFUL PART(S): Stem, twigs, roots, leaves

GENERAL USES: Medicine, Wood

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zaïre

WHY IS IT GREEN: Bronchial ailments, purgative, anthelmintic, menstrual disorder.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None known

FUN FACT: The wood is tough and flexible. It is used traditionally for carving and making drum hoops, toys, household items

FURTHER READING:

Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141

Dalbergia saxatilis

NAME: Dalbergia saxatilis

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Flat bean

LOCAL NAMES: Ogundu, Paran, runhun zaki, Obunzizi

MORPHOLOGY: Dalbergia saxatilis is usually a vigorous climbing shrub producing stems up to 20 metres long, though sometimes it remains smaller, growing as a shrub only 2 - 3 metres tall. The stem is usually up to 5cm in diameter near the base, but can occasionally reach 15cm. The branches are very tortuous, with some of them modified as woody spine hooks

USEFUL PART(S): Leaves, bark, roots

GENERAL USES: food and medicinal

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Senegal, DR Congo, Angola

WHY IS IT GREEN: Cough, small pox, skin lesions, bronchial ailments, toothache, treat leprosy, arthritis, rheumatism, small-pox, chicken-pox, measles, dropsy, swellings, oedema

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

FUN FACT: Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils and are notorious for causing allergic reactions due to the presence of sensitizing quinones in the wood.

FURTHER READING:

Vatanparast M; Klitgård BB; FACB Adema; Pennington RT; Yahara T; Kajita T (2013). "First molecular phylogeny of the pantropical genus Dalbergia: implications for infrageneric circumscription and biogeography". S Afr J Bot. 89: 143–149. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.07.001

Cardoso D; Pennington RT; de Queiroz LP; Boatwright JS; Van Wyk B-E; Wojciechowskie MF; Lavin M (2013). "Reconstructing the deep-branching relationships of the papilionoid legumes". S Afr J Bot. 89: 58–75. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.05.001

Dalbergia lactea

NAME: Dalbergia lactea

FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Flat bean

LOCAL NAMES: Ojiji, Abinrere

MORPHOLOGY: Small tree or shrub, generally scandent if support available and sometimes with aid of coiled branchlets or peduncles, 3–9 (–25) m. tall, evergreen; bark purplish-brown (at least when dried) and striate on branches, ultimately brown and rather fibrous.

USEFUL PART(S): Bark, stem-dust,

GENERAL USES: Medicine

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique

WHY IS IT GREEN: Pimples, anthelmintic, ease labour, treat hepatitis, arthritis, rheumatism

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: It is a very good material for decorative work and carvings.

FUN FACT: Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils and are notorious for causing allergic reactions due to the presence of sensitizing quinones in the wood.

FURTHER READING:

Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 74 - 75.

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 157.

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 297.

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20.

Dacryodes edulis

NAME: Dacryodes edulis 

FAMILY NAME: Burseraceae

COMMON NAMES: Native pear, African plum, Bush butter tree

LOCAL NAMES: Elemi, Ube

MORPHOLOGY: Dacryodes edulis is a medium-sized, evergreen tree attaining a height of 18-40 m. The bole is rather short, slightly fluted, 50-170 cm in diameter and more or less sinuous. The scented, pale grey, rough bark exudes a whitish resin.

USEFUL PART(S): Bark, leaves, fruits, Gum or resin

GENERAL USES: Serves as food

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, Malaysia

WHY IS IT GREEN: Jiggars, skin diseases, acute malaria, anthelmintics, astringent, wounds, clearing pregnancy stretch marks, elephantiasis.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The plant is used as an ornamental plant and is known to improve soil quality by providing large quantities of biomass.

FUN FACT: The trees are male, female, or hermaphroditic

FURTHER READING:

Orwa C, A Mutua, Kindt R , Jamnadass R, S Anthony. 2009 Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sites/treedbs/treedatabases.asp)

Anegbeh PO, Ladipo DO, Tchoundjeu Z. 2005. Using marcotting technique for fruit development in the African pear Dacryodes Edulis: Scientia Africana. 4(1&2):102-108.

Simons AJ, Leakey RRB. 2004. Tree domestication in tropical agroforestry: Agroforestry Systems. 61:167-181.

Anegbeh PO, Ukafor V, Usoro C, Tchoundjeu Z, Leakey RRB, Schreckenberg K. 2005. Domestication of Dacryodes edulis: 1. phenotypic variation of fruit traits from 100 trees in southeast Nigeria: New Forest. 29(2):149-160

CABI. 2000. Global Forestry Compendium. CD-ROM. CABI

FAO. 1982. Fruit-bearing forest trees: technical notes. FAO-Forestry-Paper. No. 34. 177 pp