Diospyros dichrophylla
Poison starapple
Diospyros dichrophylla, commonly known as the Ebony tree, is a significant medicinal plant native to various tropical regions. Renowned for its dense wood, its leaves and bark possess potent bioactive compounds. Traditionally, various extracts are utilized in folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, infections, and promote overall healing.
- Scientific name: Diospyros dichrophylla
- Family: Ebenaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Ebenaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Diospyros, specifically as the species Diospyros dichrophylla.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Ebenaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Diospyros | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Diospyros dichrophylla, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language. In English, it is commonly called the Poison Starapple or poison star-apple, while in Afrikaans, it is known as Gifsterappel or Bostolbos.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Diospyros dichrophyllaGifsterappel | Wikidata |
| af | Gifsterappel | Wikidata |
| af | Bostolbos | Wikidata |
| en | Poison Starapple | Wikidata |
| en | poison star-apple | Wikidata |
| en | Bostolbos | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is found across several key regions within the southern portion of the continent. Its distribution extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically within the country of Mozambique. Within the Southern African region, it is documented in the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, the species can be located in Esswatini. Finally, its range includes the Northern Provinces of Southern Africa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | St.Helena | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Diospyros dichrophylla, is a medicinal species where the seed serves as a significant component of its biological structure. Within the fruit of the plant, the seed contains the essential genetic material and stored nutrients necessary for the propagation of the species. In many medicinal contexts involving the Diospyros genus, various parts of the plant are studied for their bioactive compounds, and the seed often holds specific chemical properties that contribute to the plant's overall pharmacological potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Diospyros dichrophylla has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include isodiospyrin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| isodiospyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |