Dinophora spenneroides (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Fruit
Vegetable
Medicinal
Food security

Dinophora spenneroides Benth.

Protologue: Hook., Niger Fl.: 355 (1849).

Family: Melastomataceae

Chromosome number: n = 12

Origin and geographic distribution

Dinophora spenneroides occurs from Guinea to Angola, DR Congo and Rwanda.

Uses

In Gabon and DR Congo the leaves of Dinophora spenneroides are collected from the wild and eaten as a substitute for Hibiscus sabdariffa L. The taste is acidulous. The fruit contains some sweet pulp which is eaten by children in Gabon. A leaf decoction is recommended for stomach problems, dysentery and haemorrhoids. In Gabon heated leaves are applied to ulcers and sprains, and eaten to treat stomach-ache. A leaf infusion is used against cough, loss of voice and laryngitis, and powdered leaves are applied to sores and wounds.

Botany

• Spreading shrub up to 4 m tall, with slender branches, quadrangular when young, later becoming terete, glabrescent.
• Leaves opposite, simple, those of the same pair usually unequal in size; stipules absent; petiole 1–10 cm long; blade ovate-oblong to lanceolate, 5–22 cm × 1.5–8 cm, base usually rounded-cordate, apex acuminate, margin serrate with mucronate teeth, densely short-pubescent above, glabrous below, with 5–7 prominent ascending veins and parallel transversal veinlets.
• Inflorescence a terminal, lax, hanging panicle up to 20 cm × 27 cm, consisting of cymes.
• Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous; pedicel 0.5–1.5 cm long, gradually enlarging into an obconical hypanthium; calyx tubular, 4–5 mm long, fleshy, with small teeth; petals ovate, c. 1 cm long, fleshy, pink or white; stamens 10, arranged in 2 whorls, filaments curved, anthers with a 2-lobed appendix at base, opening by an apical pore; ovary inferior, connate with hypanthium, many-celled, style sigmoid, thickened above, c. 1 cm long, ending in a small circular stigma.
• Fruit an ellipsoid to globose false berry c. 1.5 cm long, whitish, many-seeded. Seeds shell-shaped, c. 1 mm long.

Dinophora comprises a single species.

Ecology

Dinophora spenneroides occurs in forest undergrowth, preferring more open locations, e.g. along paths and on former cultivation sites, from sea-level up to 2000 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Dinophora spenneroides is widespread and not in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

Dinophora spenneroides will remain a minor leaf vegetable of only local importance. Its nutritional and medicinal properties deserve investigation.

Major references

• Burkill, H.M., 1997. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 4, Families M–R. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 969 pp.

• Jacques-Félix, H., 1983. Mélastomatacées (Melastomataceae). Flore du Cameroun. Volume 24. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. 192 pp.

• Raponda-Walker, A. & Sillans, R., 1961. Les plantes utiles du Gabon. Paul Lechevalier, Paris, France. 614 pp.

Other references

• Keay, R.W.J., 1954. Melastomataceae. In: Keay, R.W.J. (Editor). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Volume 1, part 1. 2nd Edition. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. pp. 245–263.

• Troupin, G., 1982. Flore des plantes ligneuses du Rwanda. Publication No 21. Institut National de Recherche Scientifique, Butare, Rwanda. 747 pp.

Author(s)

• P.C.M. Jansen, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Jansen, P.C.M., 2004. Dinophora spenneroides Benth. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands.

Accessed 18 December 2024.