Rothmannia longiflora
Salisb.
Purple trumpet
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit is edible.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,700 m altitude. It grows in woodlands and in palm groves. It grows in gaps exposed to light in forest.
Africa*, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It can be 5 m high. The stems have many branches. The leaves are shiny. They are oval and 6 cm long by 4 cm wide. They flowers are long, white and funnel shaped. They can be 25 cm long. They are held fairly erect. The fruit are round and 5 cm across.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is often used in traditional medicine in Africa, where it is valued especially for its febrifugal and analgesic properties. Research has demonstrated the presence of medically active compounds in the plant. The N-glycoside 4-oxonicotinamide-1-(1’-β-D-ribofuranoside) has been isolated from the fruits, branches and leaves. This compound had previously only been known from human urine, and had never been isolated from other higher plants. It is an interesting compound, particularly in influencing enzymatic processes. The fruits contain monomethyl fumarate, which is used to treat psoriasis. The fruits contain D-mannitol, which is used as a nutrient, dietary supplement and a texturizing agent. Due to its low hygroscopicity, it is often used as a dusting powder to protect products against moisture pick-up. A major use of D-mannitol is in chewing gum and it is also widely used in intestinal permeability tests. A decoction of the leaves, twigs, bark and roots is applied internally or externally in lotions, washes and baths. The roots are used to treat bowel complaints. A root infusion is applied as a treatment for throat abscesses, toothache and leprosy. Drinking the leaf juice is said to help during labour and childbirth. The leaf pulp is used as an enema against kidney pain and diarrhoea with blood. The leaves are used to treat itching skin diseases. The fruit pulp is said to be emetic. The seed is used to treat ulcers.
Other Uses
The fruits are commonly used to make blue-black markings on the hands, face and body, sometimes to imitate tattooing. Plant fibres are coloured by soaking them in swamp mud to which the fruits and leaves of this plant have been added. A dye and an ink-like extract known as 'katambiri' is made from finely crushed seeds. To make a stronger dye and ink, the extract is sometimes mixed with leaves of Gardenia, Indigofera, Nauclea or Vitex and sugar or honey. A black dye can be prepared from the flowers. The twigs are used as chewsticks. The stems are used to make shafts of a long-handled chisel that is used for harvesting fruit bunches of oil palm, and elsewhere to make spear handles.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rothmannia longiflora a tree to about 9 m (30 ft) height and native to tropical Africa, in the family Rubiaceae. It is noted for its white and purple trumpet-shaped flowers, which may exceed 25 cm (9.8 in) in length.
Production
Fruit form about 3 months after flowering.
Names & Synonyms
Fina, N'sambokatch, Terompet ungu
References (9)
- Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 891
- Codjia, J. T. C., et al, 2003, Diversity and local valorisation of vegetal edible products in Benin. Cahiers Agricultures 12:1-12
- Jansen, P.C.M., 2005. Rothmannia longiflora Salisb. [Internet] Record from Protabase. Jansen, P.C.M. & Cardon, D. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands. < http://database.prota.org/search.htm>. Accessed 22 October 200922 October 2009.
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 158
- Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 59
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 707
- The paradisus londinensis t. 65. 1807
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
