bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Pericopsis laxiflora is a woody deciduous shrub or tree within the Fabaceae family. Sold commercially as satin wood,[1] it is known in some regions as Kulu Kulu,[2] among the Hausa speaking people, it is called Makarfo, the Yorubas call it Ayan and the Igbos call it Abua-Ocha.[3] It is one of three species in the genus Pericopsis genus that occurs in Africa.

Pericopsis laxiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Pericopsis
Species:	P. laxiflora
Binomial name
Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth. ex Baker) Meeuwen

The species contains the alkaloids: N-methylcytisine, ammodendrine, and choline.[4]

Description

A tree or shrub, common growth reaches between 9 and 12 meters^{[citation needed]} tall but occasionally grows up to 2 meters tall as a shrub.^{[citation needed]} Trunk usually twisted, rarely straight and with twisted branches, bark is smooth, grey to beige in color while stem is pubescent. Leaves, alternate arrangement, 4 - 6 pairs, upper surface imparipinate, shiny and lower surface glabrous.[5] Leaf-blade, lanceolate to ovate in outline, 3 – 7 cm long and 2.5 – 5 cm wide, acuminate apex with cuneate base. Petiole, 15 – 20 cm long.[5]

Distribution

Occurs widely in the Savannah and dry forest regions of West Africa.[6]

Uses

Root, bark, leaf decoctions are used to treat stomach ailments in Côte d'Ivoire, while in Guinea, plant extracts are used to treat shigellosis. In Ghana it is used as a topical treatment for body pain and among some locals in Cameroon, the plant extracts are used by diabetes patients.^{[citation needed]}

References

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