About Thilachium africanum Lour.
Thilachium africanum Lour. is a species that grows up to 7 meters tall and has tuberous roots. Its branches are brown or grey and lenticellate. Its leaves are either simple or 3-foliate. Leaflets are obovate to elliptic in shape with a leathery texture, measuring about 3 to 9 cm long and 1 to 5 cm wide. Leaflets have an obtuse to rounded apex and a cuneate to rounded base. The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary raceme-like structure, colored white and green, with spreading, wavy stamens. The fruit is ellipsoid, shaped like a cucumber, grows up to 6 cm long, and contains numerous seeds. This species is found in deciduous forests, open woodlands, riverine forests, and thickets in Eastern Africa. Extracts from this species are used in preparations to relieve pain. Among the Samburu people of Kenya, bark extracts are used to treat snake bites and diarrhoea. The tuberous roots of Thilachium africanum Lour. are boiled and drained multiple times to reduce their toxicity.
