Voacanga thouarsii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Voacanga |
Species: | V. thouarsii
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Binomial name | |
Voacanga thouarsii | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Voacanga thouarsii, the wild frangipani, [2] is a species of small tree in the family Apocynaceae.
Voacanga thouarsii grows as a small tree up to 20 metres (70 ft) high, with a trunk diameter of up to 80 centimetres (30 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a pale green, creamy or white corolla. The fruit is dark green, spotted with paired follicles, each up to 10 centimetres (4 in) long. [3]
Voacanga thouarsii grows natively in tropical and southern Africa and in Madagascar. [2] Its habitat is forest and savanna from sea-level to 600 metres (2,000 ft) altitude. [3]
Local medicinal uses of Voacanga thouarsii include as a treatment for wounds, sores, gonorrhoea, eczema, heart problems, hypertension, rheumatism, stomach-ache and snakebite. [3]