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<big>''[[Erythrococca anomala]]'' (Juss. ex Poir.) Prain</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Erythrococca anomala'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Ann. Bot. 25: 614 (1911).
:Family: Euphorbiaceae
:Chromosome number: 2''n'' 2n = 30
== Synonyms ==
*''Erythrococca aculeata'' Benth. (1849).
== Vernacular names ==
*Bush lime (En).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
The roots and bark contain about 1% alkaloids, the twigs and leaves about 0.1%. Alkaloids have also been found in the seeds.
== Botany Description ==
Dioecious, spiny shrub up to 3 m tall; bark flaky, brown. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules formed into persistent spines, brown; petiole short; blade ovate to oblong, 4–5 cm × 2–3 cm, base obtuse, apex acuminate, margin wavy, glabrous, pinnately veined with 2–3 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary raceme. Flowers unisexual, minute, whitish to pale yellow; calyx 4-lobed; corolla absent; male flowers with 9–15 stamens; female flowers with superior ovary, 3-lobed. Fruit a 2(–3)-lobed capsule, red when mature. Seeds globular, pitted, covered by a thin orange to bright red aril.
== Other botanical information ==
''Erythrococca'' comprises about 40 species and is confined to mainland Africa. ''Erythrococca anomala'' is a fast growing heliophile. It flowers at the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season.
=== ''Erythrococca africana'' ===''[[Erythrococca africana]]'' (Baill.) Prain occurs from Cape Verde and Senegal to Cameroon. The powdered dry leaves are taken with food as a mild purgative; crushed leaves are applied to whitlow. In Nigeria hunters add the leaves to meat to make it tender. ''Erythrococca chevalieri'' (Beille) Prain, occurring from Guinea east to Cameroon and the Congo basin, and ''Erythrococca welwitschiana'' (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. from Central Africa have similar medicinal uses in Congo. The leaves are considered aphrodisiac and are taken against gonorrhoea and are also applied to heal sores and scabies. Leaf sap is drunk against bronchial complaints and is externally applied to treat itch and a stiff neck. An infusion of the roots is taken to relieve stomach complaints. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. In Cameroon ''Erythrococca chevalieri'' is also used in witchcraft. ''Erythrococca hispida'' (Pax) Prain occurs in forest in Cameroon. The leaves are ground with salt and applied to scarifications to treat kidney pain. Young leaves are eaten with vegetable salt and cooked banana against gastro-intestinal problems. == Description ==
=== ''Erythrococca chevalieri'' and ''welwitschiana'' ===
''[[Erythrococca chevalieri]]'' (Beille) Prain, occurring from Guinea east to Cameroon and the Congo basin, and ''[[Erythrococca welwitschiana]]'' (Müll.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. from Central Africa have similar medicinal uses in Congo. The leaves are considered aphrodisiac and are taken against gonorrhoea and are also applied to heal sores and scabies. Leaf sap is drunk against bronchial complaints and is externally applied to treat itch and a stiff neck. An infusion of the roots is taken to relieve stomach complaints. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. In Cameroon ''Erythrococca chevalieri'' is also used in witchcraft.
=== ''Erythrococca hispida'' ===
''[[Erythrococca hispida]]'' (Pax) Prain occurs in forest in Cameroon. The leaves are ground with salt and applied to scarifications to treat kidney pain. Young leaves are eaten with vegetable salt and cooked banana against gastro-intestinal problems.
== Ecology ==
== Author(s) ==
* R.B. Jiofack Tafokou , Ecologic Museum of Cameroon, P.O. Box 8038, Yaoundé, Cameroon
== Correct citation of this article ==
Jiofack Tafokou, R.B., 2008. '''Erythrococca anomala''' (Juss. ex Poir.) Prain. [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 {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
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[[Category:PROTA prov]][[Category:Medicinal plants (PROTA)]]
