Rhaphiostylis beninensis
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| Rhaphiostylis beninensis | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Metteniusales |
| Family: | Metteniusaceae |
| Genus: | Rhaphiostylis |
| Species: | R. beninensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhaphiostylis beninensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Rhaphiostylis beninensis is a woody, sprawling or scrambling glabrous, evergreen shrub or liane native to Tropical Africa, belonging to the family Metteniusaceae, and one of 3 species in the genus Rhaphiostylis.[1] It is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory by the Bantu people of Africa.[2]
Occasionally forming thickets, it is found in or on the margins of rain-forest, where, as a climber, it reaches 10-15m in height, and rarely as a free-standing tree 5-8m. Its bark is smooth and dark grey, while young branches are reddish-brown to purple. Leaves are alternate and elliptic-lanceolate in shape with acuminate apex. Flowers in axillary clusters, white and fragrant.[3] Fruit flattened and sub-reniform, persistent lateral style, reticulate or wrinkled, bright red turning black when ripe.[4]
This species occurs in Liberia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Senegal, Gambia, Congo and Angola.