PROTA4U
Record display
.PROTA4U Homepage

.Select translation pop-up:  

Alafia barteri Oliv.

Protologue  
 Hook.f., Icon. pl. 20: t. 1992 (1890).
 show more data (2)comments (0) 
 
Family  
 Apocynaceae
 show more data (5)comments (0) 
 
Synonyms  
 show more data (3)comments (0) 
 
Vernacular names  
 show more data (3)comments (0) 
 
Origin and geographic distribution  
 Alafia barteri occurs in the forests of West and Central Africa, from Guinea Bissau east to Cameroon and south to Congo.
 show more data (4)comments (0) 
 
Uses  
 In Côte d’Ivoire a leaf infusion is used to treat malaria. In Nigeria a decoction is taken to treat rheumatic pains. The roots are used as chew sticks.
The fibre of the stems is used as binding material for roofs. The latex has been used to adulterate better latex.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Properties  
 Ethanol and water extracts of the leaves of Alafia barteri showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Microsporum audoninii, Trichoderma viride and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The ethanol extracts were more effective than the water extracts.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Botany  
 Liana up to 35 m long, with clear sap or sometimes with white latex; stem up to 3 cm in diameter; bark pale grey-brown with many lenticels. Leaves opposite, simple and entire; stipules in axil of petiole; petiole 2–5(–8) mm long; blade elliptical to narrowly elliptical, 4–16.5 cm × 2–6.5 cm, base obtuse to cordate, apex rounded to shortly acuminate, leathery, glabrous. Inflorescence a rather lax terminal dichasial cyme, many-flowered; peduncle 5–20 mm long; bracts sepal-like. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, fragrant; pedicel 2–6 mm long; sepals free, ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, rounded or obtuse; corolla white, often with greenish tube, tube 5–8 mm long, 1–2 mm wide above the base, widening near the insertion of the stamens and narrowed towards the throat, glabrous or slightly hairy outside, inside with hairy belt below insertion of stamens, lobes obliquely orbicular to elliptical or obovate, 4.5–8 mm long, at apex rounded and often wavy, spreading, glabrous outside, hairy with curled to rather straight hairs at the part of the lobes covered in the bud and hairy inside at the base and in the upper part of the throat; stamens inserted halfway the corolla tube, just included or exserted, anthers sessile, arrow-shaped; ovary superior, ovoid, consisting of 2 separate carpels, style narrowly obconical, 2.5–3 mm long, pistil head consisting of basal ring, cylindrical part and 2-lobed stigmoid apex. Fruit consisting of 2 separate, cylindrical, linear follicles 15–50 cm × 0.5–1 cm, dehiscent, dark brown, many-seeded. Seeds narrowly ellipsoid, c. 20 mm long, at the top with a tuft of hairs c. 2.5 cm long.
Alafia comprises 23 species, 15 of which occur in continental Africa and 8 in Madagascar. Alafia benthamii (Baill.) Stapf is another species from West and Central Africa, usually found in periodically inundated riverine forest. In Sierra Leone a leaf infusion is used to treat fever.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Description  
 show more data (1)comments (0) 
 
Ecology  
 Alafia barteri occurs in lowland forest up to 200 m altitude.
 show more data (9)comments (0) 
 
Genetic resources and breeding  
 Alafia barteri is widespread and there are no indications that it is threatened by genetic erosion.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Prospects  
 Alafia barteri is a useful medicinal plant in rural communities. More information is needed to assess the pharmacological possibilities.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Major references  
 • Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.
• Dalziel, J.M., 1937. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. 612 pp.
• Irvine, F.R., 1961. Woody plants of Ghana, with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London, United Kingdom. 868 pp.
• Leeuwenberg, A.J.M., 1997. Series of revisions of Apocynaceae 43. Alafia Thouars. Kew Bulletin 52(4): 769–839.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Other references  
 • Adekunle, A.A. & Okoli, S.O., 2002. Antifungal activity of the crude extracts of Alafia barteri Oliver (Apocynaceae) and Chasmanthera dependens Hochst. (Menispermaceae). Hamdard Medicus 45(3): 52–56.
• Osemeobo, G.J. & Ujor, G., 1999. Non-wood forest products In Nigeria. Data collection and analysis for sustainable forest management in ACP countries – Linking national and international efforts. EC-FAO partnership programme. Federal Department of Forestry, Ajuba, Nigeria. 42 pp.
• Tra Bi, F.H., Kouamé, F.N. & Traoré, D., 2005. Utilisation of climbers in two forest reserves in West Côte d’Ivoire. In: Bongers, F., Parren, M.P.E. & Traoré, D. (Editors). Forest climbing plants of West Africa. Diversity, ecology and management. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, United Kingdom. pp. 167–181.
 show more data (1)comments (0) 
 
Afriref references  
 show more data (1)comments (0) 
 
Sources of illustration  
 • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (Editors), 2006. Flore analytique du Bénin. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. 1034 pp.
 show more data (0)comments (0) 
 
Author(s)  
 
A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands


Editors  
 
G.H. Schmelzer
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
A. Gurib-Fakim
Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
Associate editors  
 
C.H. Bosch
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
M.S.J. Simmonds
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
R. Arroo
Leicester School of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, United Kingdom
A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
General editors  
 
R.H.M.J. Lemmens
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
L.P.A. Oyen
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Photo editor  
 
A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Correct citation of this article  
 de Ruijter, A., 2006. Alafia barteri Oliv. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .



Additional references  
Citation in books
 There are 10 book citations related to Alafia barteri Oliv.. Click on "show more" to view them.
 show more datacomments (0) 
 
Citation in web searches
 There are 41 citation in web searches related to Alafia barteri Oliv.. Click on "show more" to view them.
 show more datacomments (0) 
 
Citation in scholarly articles
 There are 11 citation in scholarly articles related to Alafia barteri Oliv.. Click on "show more" to view them.
 show more datacomments (0) 
 
Citation in Afrirefs
 There are 2 citations in Afrirefs related to Alafia barteri Oliv.. Click on "show more" to view them.
 show more datacomments (0) 
 

Loading
General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal use
Essential oil and exudate use
Fibre use



Alafia barteri
1, flowering twig; 2, flower; 3, fruit. Source: Flore analytique du Bénin



Alafia barteri
leafy branch with inflorescence obtained from Tropicos


show more thumbnails



Creative Commons License
All texts are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Netherlands License
This license does not include the illustrations (Maps,drawings,pictures); these remain all under copyright.