Croton sylvaticus is a tree in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is commonly known as the forest fever-berry. These trees are distributed in forests from the east coast of South Africa to Tropical Africa. It grows 7–13 metres (23–43 ft) in height, occasionally up to 30 metres (100 ft), in moist forests, thickets and forest edges at altitudes of 350–1,800 metres (1,100–5,900 ft).
| Forest fever-berry | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fruiting branches, winter | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Croton |
| Species: | C. sylvaticus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Croton sylvaticus Muell. Arg.
| |
Flowers and fruit
editGreenish cream flowers, up to 3 millimetres (15⁄128 in) long (all male or female or mixed flowers), in racemes, 10–30 centimetres (4–12 in) long. Fruit, light green when young, turning to orange or red, trilobed, oval in shape, hairy.
Uses
editUsed as a general timber, for poles, posts and as a fuel.
Phytochemistry
editMwangi et al 1998 find β-caryophyllene oxide, α-humulene-1,2-epoxide, hardwickiic acid, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol in the extracts.[1][2][3] This contrasts with Sadgrove et al 2019 who find almost entirely bicyclogermacrene in the essential oil.[3]
Traditional medicine
editSap from leaves is used for healing cuts, bark is used in the treatment of malaria, a decoction from the bark of the roots is taken orally as a remedy for tuberculosis, an infusion of the leaves acts as a purgative.[4]
Gallery
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Tree -
Leaves -
Foliated sprigs -
Crown -
Young stem -
Flower buds on inflorescence -
Flower -
Fruit -
Fruit -
Seeds
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Maroyi, Alfred (2017). "Traditional usage, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Croton sylvaticus Hochst. ex C. Krauss". Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 10 (5): 423–429. doi:10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.05.002. ISSN 1995-7645. PMID 28647178.
- ^ Mwangi, Julius Wanjohi; Thoithi, Grace Njeri; Kibwage, Isaac Ongubo (2010-01-11). "Essential Oil Bearing Plants from Kenya: Chemistry, Biological Activity and Applications". ACS Symposium Series. Vol. 1021. Washington DC: American Chemical Society. pp. 495–525. doi:10.1021/bk-2009-1021.ch027. ISBN 9780841269873. ISSN 0097-6156.
- ^ a b Moremi, Matenyane P.; Makolo, Felix; Viljoen, Alvaro M.; Kamatou, Guy P. (2021). "A review of biological activities and phytochemistry of six ethnomedicinally important South African Croton species". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 280. International Society of Ethnopharmacology (Elsevier): 114416. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114416. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 34265381.
- ^ Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa by Najma Dharani, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa, 2002, ISBN 1-86872-640-1
- Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.