IDENTIFICATION OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM A.D.C AS A MEDICINAL PLANT

(a) IDENTIFICATION

Local name: Igbo: Udara

Common name: White star apple

Botanical name: Chrysophyllum abbidum

Family:     Sapotaceae

Habitat:    Found in lowland rainforest.

(b) MORPHOLOGY

Habit: This is a large tree which is about 30-6m high and greater than 4m in diameter. It has a straight bole, deeply, fluted as a small buttresses at the base, the bark is grayish pale, it is a times associated with the lichens of various types leaves are alternate and simple with stipule in which the edges are active. They are between the range of 30-31cm in width. 

Flowers are in clusters and in auxiliary position, each with short pedicel the sepals are short coned with small yellow hairs calyx are in two whorls, while the stamens are 4-8 or whereas many as the corolla fruits are edible. They are hard and glabrous and brown in colour and copious at maturity.

(c) UTILIZATION

The stem bark is used for treating stomach pains and corm infestation. It is drunk with Allium cepa for deworning in tender children. The dried leaves of Carica papaya and this plant is used are remedy for treating abortion in female.

(d) CONSERVATION

The plant specie is grown and protected mainly on the village square or at strategic sites of the village for its fruits and the shade they provide. They are equally being sustained through agroforestry technique in the farming are, and naturally they grow freely in the forest areas.

CLICK AND READ MORE INFORMATION