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Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Shrub or small tree up to c.8 m, smelling of camphor. Bark with shallow ± vertical and anastomosing ridges, these ± fibrous in appearance. Leaves: petiole 0-6 mm; lamina variable in size from c.2 × 0.5 to c.8.5(-12) × 3.5(-5) cm, narrowly oblong-elliptic, elliptic or oblanceolate to narrowly obovate; upper surface glabrescent with numerous golden glands, grey-green; lower surface white-tomentose with prominent nerves; base cuneate; apex subacute, obtuse or rounded; margin entire. Male capitula with 10-25 florets. Female capitula with 4-5 florets; achenes c.2.5-3(-4) mm, ± flattened-ellipsoid, densely covered in long, sericeous-woolly hairs.
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=159080
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Frequency

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Frequent
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=159080
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Worldwide distribution

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Widespread in Africa, from Ethiopia south to S Africa, and in Saudi Arabia.
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=159080
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
visit source
partner site
Flora of Zimbabwe

Tarchonanthus camphoratus

provided by wikipedia EN

Tarchonanthus camphoratus (known as camphor bush for its scent, or leleshwa in Kenya), is a shrub or small tree, widespread in Africa south of the Sahel.

Description

The camphor bush can reach up to 6 meters in height. The twigs and younger stems are white-felted, as are the undersides of the leaves. The upper leaf surface is dark olive-green. Bruised leaves smell strongly of camphor. Tarchonanthus camphoratus is dioecious. Flowers are usually present from December to May (in South Africa), with cream colored panicles on a discoid head. Male flowering heads have several flowers whilst the female has only a few. The fruit is a dense and woolly achene.[2]

Cultivation and uses

Tarchonanthus camphoratus wood is fragrant, close-grained, attractive, durable and rich in aromatic oils. It is used as wood fuel and a source of charcoal.[3][4] It is also used as a traditional building material, in horticulture, and in tribal papermaking. Leleshwa is also a source of aromatic oils[5][6] used as fragrances. Its leaves are used by the Maasai to scent their homes and persons.

Medicinal use

Tarchonanthus camphoratus is used as a traditional remedy for respiratory illnesses.[7] The species has wide range of local uses, including dental hygiene.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 July 2016
  2. ^ Hilliard, O.M. Compositae in Natal. University of Natal Press, 1977. pp. 110-112.
  3. ^ Young, T.P. & C. Francombe (1991). "Growth and yield estimates in natural stands of leleshwa (Tarchonanthus camphoratus)". Forest Ecology and Management. 41 (3–4): 309–321. doi:10.1016/0378-1127(91)90111-8.
  4. ^ Kennedy, A.D. (1998). "Coppicing of Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Compositae) as a source of sustainable fuel-wood production: an example from Laikipia Plateau, Kenya". African Journal of Ecology. 36: 148–158. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2028.1998.00115.x.
  5. ^ Mwangi, J.W.; Achola, K.J.; et al. (1994). "Volatile constituents of the essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 6: 183–185. doi:10.1080/10412905.1994.9698351.
  6. ^ Bishay, D.W.; Attia, A.A. & Fayed, M.A. (2002). "Flavones and a quaternary alkaloid from Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.". Bull. Pharm. Sci. Assiut Univ. 25 (1): 1–6. doi:10.21608/bfsa.2002.65503.
  7. ^ [1] "Tarchonantus Camphoratus Herba", Google Docs.
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Tarchonanthus camphoratus: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Tarchonanthus camphoratus (known as camphor bush for its scent, or leleshwa in Kenya), is a shrub or small tree, widespread in Africa south of the Sahel.

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Wikipedia authors and editors
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visit source
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wikipedia EN