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<big>''[[Alangium salviifolium]]'' (L.f.) Wangerin</big>

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Alangium salviifolium'' (PROTA)}}

:Protologue: Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 220b: 9 (1910).

The alkaloid alangine has been isolated from ''Alangium salviifolium''; this compound acts on the parasympathetic nervous system. Other alkaloids, including cephaline, emetine and psychotrine, have also been isolated. Tests on immature male rats showed that the administration of alkaloids isolated from the stem bark resulted in a significant increase in the weight of testis, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and epididymis. Leaf and wood extracts showed antifungal activity. The compounds 1-methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione and 3–0-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(24β)-ethylcholesta-5,22,25-triene have been extracted from the flowers; they showed significant activity against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Deciduous shrub or small to medium-sized tree up to 18 m tall; bark surface rough and pale brown; twigs grey or purple-brown, glabrous or pubescent, often with spines up to 12 mm long. Leaves alternate, simple, without stipules; petiole up to 1.5 cm long, hairy; blade elliptical to obovate, oblong or lanceolate, 3–23 cm × 1.5–9 cm, base cuneate or rounded, apex rounded to obtuse or acute, 3–9-veined from base. Inflorescence an axillary cyme, sessile or nearly so, golden-brown pubescent, 1–17-flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5–10-merous, white, cream with a slight orange tinge, fragrant; buds cylindrical; pedicel 2–8 mm long; calyx tube urn-shaped, 1–2.5 mm long, lobes triangular, up to 1.5 mm long; petals strap-shaped, 12–28.5 mm × 1–2.5 mm, densely pubescent outside, glabrous or pubescent inside; stamens 10–32, 5–14 mm long; ovary inferior, 1–2-celled, style 8.5–27.5 mm long, glabrous, stigma conical or head-shaped, slightly lobed. Fruit an ellipsoid drupe 9–22.5 mm long, purplish, pubescent, 1-seeded. Seeds albuminous.

The development of the tree is according to Roux’s architectural model, characterized by a continuously growing monopodial trunk with plagiotropic branches. Flowering of ''Alangium salviifolium'' in Kenya may be triggered by dry conditions created by low river levels rather than low rainfall. In East Africa trees flower in October–November, and fruits mature a few months later. In India the tree exhibits leaf shedding, flowering, fruiting and the development of new leaves during the dry season. Flowers are pollinated mainly by birds and bees, and seeds are dispersed by birds.

''Alangium'' comprises about 25 species, most of them occurring in South-East Asia. In tropical Africa 2 species are indigenous, both of which are widespread outside Africa.

== Ecology ==